Calgary Herald

HEADWAY MADE ON HIGH HITS

Penalties for helmet-to-helmet collisions declining

- DAN BARNES dbarnes@postmedia.com twitter.com/sportsdanb­arnes

You shouldn’t have to hit them over the head to change the way CFL players tackle one another.

But it does take time to change habitual behaviour on the field. The league’s continuing strategy of education, enforcemen­t and punishment, when meshed with similar efforts in youth, junior, college and university sport, is a consistent step in that direction.

After a two-year spike in hits to the head, the number appears to be on its way back down this season. The CFL issued 24 fines in 2016 for helmet-to-helmet hits and 21 last year, well up from 10 in both 2013 and 2014 and 12 in 2015.

Through Week 12’s games, there had been just eight fines for head hits this season. Last weekend, however, Edmonton quarterbac­k Mike Reilly and B.C. counterpar­t Travis Lulay took shots up high.

“I do think the number of times it has happened to me each year has gone down progressiv­ely,” said Reilly, who recalled taking “quite a few” head hits in 2013. “And I think it’s because our league fines or flags or both. The guys understand that and they’re trying to change.

“Those types of hits and tackles weren’t an issue when we were young, learning how to play ball. So the biggest thing is changing it up at the youth level and I know that’s a big emphasis in the states and Canada, trying to get guys to learn how to tackle properly. As time goes on it’s going to become less and less of an issue because the younger guys are going to become pros and their habits will show up. Until that time, it’s vets trying to break habits in lightning-speed decision time.”

He didn’t fault Calgary’s Brandon Smith for the hit that drew a roughing-the-passer penalty Saturday in Edmonton’s 48-42 win.

“I didn’t think the hit on me was malicious at all. I’ve played a lot of football against him and I know that he’s a good dude and a great football player, so I don’t think that was an intentiona­l hit. There are bodies flying around in tight windows and it all happens so fast that sometimes the target moves, you think you’re making a clean hit and it turns out not to be. The ref saw it, flagged it as it should have been. But I don’t fault him for the hit. I would not like to see him get fined for that hit.”

The hit from Ottawa linebacker J.R. Tavai that put Lulay on the turf and into concussion protocol was not penalized, but CFL director of officiatin­g Darren Hackwood said the crew missed the call.

Despite the mistake, CFL commission­er Randy Ambrosie said he has been pleased with the league’s focus on that particular offence.

“I think the crackdown, if you want to call it that, is helping to send the right message to players because here’s what I hear from the fans: the fans want our best players playing. They want our best players on the field entertaini­ng them. The game is going to result in injuries, but you shouldn’t lose a player to doing something that was silly and unnecessar­y.”

The hit on Lulay came on the heels of a two-game suspension to Tavai’s Ottawa teammate Kyries Hebert, who was punished for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Montreal receiver B.J. Cunningham. Hebert was earlier suspended for a hit on Calgary’s DaVaris Daniels. Hebert, who said he wants to “clean it up,” is more the exception rather than the rule now.

“I’ve definitely seen the behaviours change, but I’ve also seen us increase our penalties and lack of tolerance for those types of hits,” said Kevin McDonald, CFL vice-president of player safety. “There might have been a greater tolerance for incidental helmet contact 10 years ago than there is today. So you might see a lower number back then. It doesn’t mean there were less of them, just that they were not registered the same way.

“I would just say notionally we’re seeing less of them.”

Eskimos head coach Jason Maas said it’s impossible to remove all of them.

“It’s a violent, physical sport. It probably will never change,” he said.”

And Reilly is convinced the league and players are on the same page.

“I’ve seen guys get suspension­s. I know they fine guys, they flag you, they do the best they can and to be honest with you, I think the players do, too”

 ?? JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS ?? Edmonton Eskimos quarterbac­k Mike Reilly believes the number of head hits he has received has gone down “progressiv­ely” over the years with the CFL penalizing such collisions.
JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS Edmonton Eskimos quarterbac­k Mike Reilly believes the number of head hits he has received has gone down “progressiv­ely” over the years with the CFL penalizing such collisions.
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