It doesn't work, it only impacts games.

I understand the league wanting to clean up the game and protect the players, especially the stars. But what they are doing isn't doing that. They are flagging for anything close because they have been directed to caution on the side of player safety, and they are changing the outcome of games in some cases.

As player safety has played out, we have seen, that penalties don't get their attention, and even small fines don't. Only when the fines got big, and they threatened to suspend players, did we see a change in how they play.

So I suggest that they roll back the penalties for these hits, and leave the league to punish. On game review, if the league determines a player risked anothers health by hitting them in the head, go ahead and fine them and suspend them if needed. But quit impacting the game out of fear of lawsuits.

Just my opinion on the matter.

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the league has already proven they don't really care if the officials impact the outcome of the game. They are fighting for millions of dollars in the concussion lawsuit. If they told officials to throw fewer flags the plaintiffs would claim that proves that the league doesn't really care about the health of the players.

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I don't get why a rule violation shouldn't impact games. If you use illegal means to take someone down (Horsecollar, chop block) or use illegal means to hit someone in a manner likely to knock them out of the game (Helmet to helmet or other head hit), why shouldn't you be penalized? If you injure an opposing player, that player can no longer play in the game which will theoretically give your team an advantage. I don't like the flagging of borderline calls but if someone is blatantly violating rules meant to protect players, a flag penalizes a team that is trying to, or through negligence is gaining an advantage through a rule violation.