The NFL is getting very serious about head injuries and protecting players form brain trauma caused by hits in their game. Personally, I’ve always wondered why big hits are targeted but slapping people in the side of the head has never been red flagged by anyone, but thanks to a boneheaded show of masculinity by linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, we may have a discussion about slapping players in the helmet after plays.
The incident in question saw LaRon Landry make a hit and then fall face first into the turn, a tell tale sign of a head inure of some kind. So the first thing that Sheppard does is man stomp up to Landry and slap him repeatedly in the head.
Slapping players in the head has always seemed like a stupid idea and has oddly been left out of the head trauma discussion, likely because too many people have been slapped in the head. But Sheppard’s actions will likely lead to more teams being more cautious about violence upon fellow teammates, even if it’s just boneheaded chest beating antics.