I've long been a proponent of keeping NFL quarterbacks healthy. I've always thought that it's ridiculous that an NFL lineman can break a quarterback's jaw, knocking him out for the season, and yet all the lineman gets is a $20,000 fine. No, the lineman should be suspended for four games if you want to stop that from happening.

But that said, I definitely don't have any problem with completely legal hits. However, it seems the NFL does.

Today, LaMarr Woodley was fined $10,000 for sacking Jason Campbell in an "intimidating manner" during last Monday night's game. What the hell? What does that even mean? I'd have to think most linebackers and d-lineman could get hit with this fine pretty much every time they hit a quarterback. After all, isn't their job to intimidate the quarterback?

Anyway, see for yourself, Woodley's sack is #5 on here and comes at the 1:15 mark.



Woodley certainly throws Campbell down hard, and it's definitely slightly dangerous, but I don't see anything illegal about it. How about instead fining him for tackling "with too much gusto."

In addition to Woodley, Justin Tuck also recently got fined $7,500 for this "illegal" hit on Brooks Bollinger.



As you can hear the ref state, Tuck got penalized for tackling the quarterback "with full body weight." Now, I've seen lineman actually try and injure quarterbacks (and sometimes succeed) by pile driving them into the turf, but considering Bollinger hopped into Tuck's arms, I actually think Tuck went pretty light on him. In all honesty, Tuck could have broken Bollinger in half over his knee - which admittedly the Cowboys probably would have preferred.

Anyway, I hope you got the message defensive players. Don't hit the quarterback at all. Otherwise, it's one less night out at strip club this year.

NFL fines LaMarr Woodley for tackling Jason Campbell in "intimidating manner." [Fanhouse]
The NFL has lost its mind: Tuck fine a joke. [The Legend of Cecilio Guante]