In an attempt to limit head injuries and make the game safer, Roger Goodell has been handing out fines like candy on Halloween. In general I have been in full support of his actions, from moving the kickoff location to penalizing defenders for hits to the helmet of the receivers. I played football for a long time and I know how difficult some of these hits can be to avoid, and can't even imagine how much more this is the case when the game is moving at such a fast speed. That being said, my education in athletic training and the severity of head injuries has allowed me to get past the rules that favor safety over the tradition of the game. Searcy was handed a very questionable fine for a hit on Kevin Boss that was clearly incidental contact to the head of another player. I didn't argue it because I understand the league is taking extreme measures to try to make the game safer. Then I see Brandon Spikes do this on sunday...

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=xw4dbmvovTM&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dxw4dbmvovTM

I don't know if I can recall a more blatant, intentional attempt to injure a player. Spikes comes from out of nowhere to launch himself at Scott Chandler, making helmet-to-helmet contact. It was behind the play, and Chandler was letting up because the play was essentially already over. Chandler burned NE for two TD's in the first half, and Spikes took this as an opportunity to take a cheap shot at him.

If Searcy got a fine, I expect a suspension for Spikes. This is year two of these rules being implemented. The players know what is allowed and what isn't. Spikes has a reputation as a dirty player. If this kind of play doesn't draw a suspension, then the new policies the NFL has implemented will lead nowhere. The players need to understand malicious hits like this are going to receive more than just a slap on the wrist for these rules to ever be taken seriously.