The NFL has made it a focal point to limit the number of helmet to helmet hits. They have issued huge fines like last years $75,000 given to Steelers linebacker, James Harrison, for his gruesome hit on Browns receiver, Mohamed Massaquoi. Nonetheless, these fines aren’t enough and don’t seem to be limiting the number of helmet to helmet hits we see.
During Monday Night Football between the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints, Kenny Phillips went for the head shot on Jimmy Graham, another former University of Miami player. Phillips, who has already been fined $20,000 this season for a helmet to helmet hit on Zach Miller, should be expecting number two to be a bit more expensive. At first it appeared that Graham was badly injured when he was bent over in a odd way, but thankfully for the Saints and a concerned Phillips, Graham was able to walk off the field on his own. New Orleans went on to steamroll New York, 49-24.
Jimmy Graham has one of the more interesting and heart felt stories of making it in the NFL. Originally a basketball player for the University of Miami, Graham took up football during his Senior year of college. Like previous college basketball players turned NFL tight ends (Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez), Graham is physical and has a great ability for finding the ball in the air. He leads all NFL tight ends with 957 yards receiving and is second to only Patriots Rob Gronkowski in touchdowns, with eight.
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