Almost once a game, an NFL player absorbs an illegal blow to

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Almost once a game, an NFL player absorbs an illegal blow to the head or neck that could put his career — or worse — at risk. Rodger Saffold Jersey . The NFL has been trying to prevent such blows over the past four years, targeting improper technique and making a point to penalize and fine players for hits that leave them and their opponents vulnerable. Yet an Associated Press review of penalties through the first 11 weeks of the season found those hits are still prevalent. The AP reviewed 549 penalties, 491 of which fell under the category of major infractions: unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing the passer, face masks and roughing the quarterback. Of the penalties charted over the first 162 games of the season, the AP identified 156 involving contact with the head and neck — an average of .962 per game. Of those, 38 were for head-wrenching face masks, 25 were for horse collars and 93 were for hits to the head. Quarterbacks (40) and receivers (3 shared the brunt of those hits almost equally, with players at other positions absorbing the other 15 blows. The numbers can be interpreted a variety of ways. The league declined comment, though it made a statement of sorts in the off-season when it decided against the 5 per cent hike in minimum fines, as allowed for in the union contract, after determining players were adjusting to the rules. A sentiment among the players the AP spoke to on offence was that they appreciate all the NFL has done to protect them. But, in the words of Titans running back Chris Johnson, they know that "sometimes you just cant control where you hit somebody." Defensive players acknowledged they have to do their part to make the game safer. "The face mask, thats going to happen. The pass interference, those things are going to happen. The stupid fouls, hitting the quarterbacks late and doing all the other stuff weve done, we have to eliminate it," said Titans safety Bernard Pollard, who has been fined $62,000 this season. But the defenders also reiterated a long-held belief that theyre held to a different standard than their offensive counterparts. "No doubt," Packers cornerback Tramon Williams said. "Guys are still getting penalized for clean shots, getting fined for clean shots, and theres no other explanation to it. Just like theyre holding us accountable for trying to make that right hit, theyve got to hold themselves accountable for making the right calls on the field, and making the right decision on who to fine and how much to fine." True to the defenders complaints, the AP review tallied 224 major infractions against the defence, with only 69 going against the offence. Similarly, penalties for low hits, which many thought would rise when defenders were forced to focus away from the head and neck, were relatively low — only 35. That small number included illegal cuts, chop and peelback blocks against the offence for hits on defenders — penalties the defensive players argue are called far too rarely and put their careers at as much risk as the above-the-shoulder hits. "The way offences are playing now and the way running backs block now, I think its almost every play," Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said when asked how often a defensive players legs get targeted. New England tight end Rob Gronkowskis season ended abruptly Sunday with a knee injury when he took a low hit from Cleveland safety T.J. Ward. No penalty was called. Ward said he knows he cant go for the high hit. "But we have to play this game," Ward said. "We have to play it the way that they force us to, and unfortunately, it incurred an injury for him." Of the 35 penalties for low hits, 10 came against the defence for hits to the quarterbacks. The leagues propensity for protecting the passer continues at almost every spot on the field. Over the first 11 weeks, there were 32 flags for infractions against quarterbacks that didnt involve hits to the head or legs — for example, a late hit on a sliding quarterback. The NFL still makes a big splash out of suspensions and fines levied under the umbrella of protecting players. Ndamukong Suh, a multiple offender, got a $100,000 fine — largest in league history for on-field conduct — for his Week 2 low block on John Sullivan of the Vikings during an interception return. More recently, Titans safety Michael Griffin served a one-game suspension for a low hit on Oakland tight end Mychal Rivera. When asked what he could have done differently, Griffin said a league official "told me theres no clear black-and-white answer." "You have to start thinking about how youre going to hit the guy when you get there," Titans coach Mike Munchak said. "I think its very, very hard, very difficult. It definitely is necessary. I think it has helped the game in that way. But I think youve got to be careful in how these guys are fined and things like that going forward." Whatever the mixed messages, the NFL appears satisfied with the way players are adjusting to the rules, given the leagues decision not to raise fine amounts. Total fines issued by the NFL have declined by 32 per cent from 2009 to 2012 (668 to 451) and also decreased 4.5 per cent between 2011 and 2012 (472 to 451). Fines for illegal hits on quarterbacks have declined 46.4 per cent since 2009 (114 to 61). All of which points to a safer game — but a game that nevertheless, at least on average, puts at least one player in jeopardy in every game in every stadium every Thursday, Sunday and Monday. "Its a warrior game," said Broncos defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson, on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated hip on a play in which four players took turns blocking him, both high and low. "Youre going to have collisions. Youre going to have those injuries. You just try to do the best you can with them and play within the rules they set." ___ AP Sports Writers Genaro Armas in Green Bay, Wisc., Teresa Walker in Nashville, Tenn., Tom Withers in Cleveland, Joe Kay in Cincinnati and Joseph White in Washington contributed to this report. Eric Dickerson Jersey .com) - Even-money favorite Liams Map proved a little too tough down the stretch and won Saturdays $100,000 Harlans Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Kayvon Webster Jersey .A. Happ. The Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to improve the starting rotation ahead of next season and pitchers like Happ have a chance to show they belong as the disastrous 2013 campaign draws to a close. http://www.ramsauthenticshop.com/Youth-Jamon-Brown-Rams-Jersey/ . Green-Ellis was Cincinnatis leading rusher each of the last two seasons. His role was reduced last year when Giovani Bernard was added to the backfield. Green-Ellis ran for 756 yards and a career-low 3. TORONTO -- Randy Carlyle called Nazem Kadris performance Thursday night the best hes seen in a long time. Kadri had three assists extending his point streak to four games as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Florida Panthers 6-3. Nikolai Kulemin one-timed a Kadri feed at the four-minute mark of the third period for the game-winner. The assist was Kadris 100th career N.H.L. point. "Its a great achievement for myself, but hopefully theres a lot more to come," said Kadri, who has two goals and five assists on his current point steak. "You got to think to yourself when the points are coming easy, its just not all about that, you got to make sure youre good in your D zone, bearing down on face-offs and just allow the coaching staff to put you on the ice in those crucial situations." With the Leafs trailing 2-0 in the first, Kadri set up Cody Franson at 16:49 to get Torontos comeback rolling. Then with the Leafs leading 4-2 in the third, the 23-year-old London, Ont. native set up Joffrey Lupul at 6:22, on a power play, for the insurance marker. "Nazy was a difference maker tonight," said Carlyle. "Thats probably the best game hes played in a long time and at both ends of the rink obviously with the points and distributing the puck, that was making some big league plays." Toronto (29-21-6) also got goals from Mason Raymond, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak as they extended their win streak on home ice to five games. Florida (21-26-7) got first period goals from Nick Bjugstad and Sean Bergenheim. Dmitry Kulikov had the other Panthers goal. "When a team comes out after theyve lost the period, theyre probably getting some bad words from the coach," said Kulikov. "We knew they were going to come out strong in the second period and we didnt handle it." Scott Clemmensen made 26 saves for his fifth loss of the season. Jonathan Bernier made 35 saves in the win. Toronto won five in a row on home ice from Oct. 22 to Nov. 19. The Leafs have just two regulation losses in their past 11 gaames. Ethan Westbrooks Jersey. . Florida scored twice on their first seven shots to open a 2-0 lead in the first period. Bjugstad opened the scoring 1:39 into the first, beating Bernier with a backhand blocker side for his 12th goal of the season. Bergenheim finished off a 2-on-1 feed from Brad Boyes at 13:50 to give the Panthers a two-goal lead. The assist was the 250th of Boyes career. "We were kind of stunned," said Carlyle. "The first shot on goal was in our net. It set us back a little bit and we werent really moving our feet. We seemed to find a way to get it going." It was all Toronto after that as the Leafs scored five unanswered goals. After Franson cut Floridas lead in the first, the Leafs scored twice in the first minute of the second period to take a 3-2 lead. Raymond scored off the rush, with a wrist shot, glove-side on Clemmensen 27 seconds into the period for his 14th of the season. Van Riemsdyk tipped a Phil Kessel shot past Clemmensen at 57 seconds of the second period, on a power play. With the goal, van Riemsdyk surpassed his previous single-season goals total of 21 set during the 2010-11 season while he was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. Bozak finished off a 2-on-1 feed from Kessel at 18:37 of the third. "A few weeks ago, it felt like the sky was falling in Toronto," said Kadri of the four-game losing streak. "We understood that it was nothing to panic about, we just rallied around each other. " Added Franson: "Were moving in the right direction and I dont know if you can call it a swagger, but our play is getting better and at the end of the day thats all youre looking to do is progressively progress." Toronto concludes its three-game home stand Saturday against the Ottawa Senators. Notes: Leafs coach Randy Carlyle expects David Clarkson (elbow) to return during the teams two-game road trip in Florida. a Toronto forward David Bolland (ankle) is 50-50 to return to the lineup prior to the Olympic break according to Carlyle. a Florida forward Shawn Matthias (illness) returned to the lineup Thursday. 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