SUNDAY’S GAME

Browns at Chargers, 4:05 p.m., WHIO-TV Ch. 7, AM 1290, News 95.7 WHIO Malone lower.

The fine caused Peppers to change his tune.

“I still should have went lower just to not leave any doubt,” Peppers said. “But I feel like, I know they don’t review it in the game, but I thought after the game, they’ll review it and see I didn’t maliciously try to hit a guy helmet to helmet. I was just trying to make a play and dislodge him from the ball. I could’ve made the hit way more violent than it was, but that’s not my call, man, so I’m just going to see how [the appeal] goes.”

The 2017 NFL rule book states the following: “Forcibly hitting the defenseless player’s head or neck area with the helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder, even if the initial contact is lower than the player’s neck, and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the defenseless player by encir- cling or grasping him.” Peppers believes the rule should be modified.

“In college, they go back and review if it was targeted or not,” he said. “I feel like the league should do that as well, especially in crucial moments like it was last game, where that call was one of the deciding factors. I’m not going to necessarily say I disagree with anything, but I definitely think some other changes or expansions of the rules or something need to be made because you’re defi- nitely putting guys at a disadvantage. My question is when does a guy stop being defenseless. I didn’t see the replay (immediately after the game), but when I watched it, he took a couple steps before I hit him.”

Defenders can find themselves in a tough spot. If they hit an opponent high, they risk a flag. If they take out an opponent’s legs, it’s often frowned upon by players.

“If you go too low, you’re a dirty player, you’re maliciously trying to injure someone,” Peppers said. “But at the end of the day, that’s why they pay us to make those decisions.”

In an era of concussion lawsuits, the NFL is obviously more concerned about hits to the head.

“Foot b all’s a vi o lent game,” Peppers said. “I don’t know why they’re trying to take the violence out of it. I think they’re trying to make it too friendly. We’re grown men.

“You can barely touch those [receivers] when they’re running their route. Now you can barely touch them when they’re catching the ball.”