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James Harrison Says He’ll Go After Knees With Ban of Helmet-to-Helmet Hits

It’s no secret that many players in the NFL are upset over the enforcement of the rule against helmet-to-helmet contact. The argument is typically that it’s too difficult to adjust oneself in the midst of throwing a hit, and it isn’t a realistic target to eliminate such hits from the game.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison feels the same way — and might have a rather dangerous way of making his point.

While not explicitly saying he would be targeting opponents’ knees in reaction to the enforcement of helmet-to-helmet contact, he certainly implied it pretty hard. Harrison says that he’s changed his “approach” to hitting, but the results might only be serious short-term injury rather than serious long-term injury.

“I’ve really lowered my target area to where it’s down around the knees,” Harrison told ESPN’s Mike & Mike in the Morning. “Situations come along where you could tackle the guy high. I don’t do that anymore. I tackle the guy low.”

Harrison was the first-ever player suspended under the new rules on hitting, going back one year to December 2011. He gave Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy a concussion on that play, but he points out that he also gave Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker an MCL injury on a low hit, too.

“I could have tackled him high, but if I had hit him high, I probably would have gotten a helmet-to-helmet or something and gotten fined,” said Harrison. “So I hit him low and strained his MCL.”

No doubt Harrison’s trying to make a point with his words, but does he actually intend to injure players? That remains to be seen.

Photo of the Night

Oh, it’s just J.J. Watt bro’ing it up in the club.

Photo via Instagram/itsmfarab

Quote of the Night

“I’m going to win the Heisman. I’m going to win it in 2013. If I don’t, I’m going to get very close. I’m shooting for that goal. I will gladly say it.”
–Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk, making a very bold statement

Tweet of the Night

So, we’re in the clear, right?

If the world is indeed ending, all I know is @wojyahoonba is going to beat ESPN on the story.

— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) December 21, 2012

Video of the Night

This may be from the 2011 African Championships of table tennis, but it was recently uncovered, and boy is it awesome. That’s Ibrahim Elhoseny of Egypt showing some serious no-hands skills.