The NFL Goes With Fines This Time

The NFL will immediately begin suspending players for dangerous and flagrant hits that violate rules, particularly those involving helmets. Suspensions will be in place for this weekend's games, vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said Tuesday.

Fines were doled out for last Sunday's hits. Atlanta's Dunta Robinson knocked out both himself and the Eagles' DeSean Jackson; Patriots' safety Brandon Meriweather nailed Ravens tight end Todd Heap; and a pair of hits dealt out by the Steelers' James Harrison, which sidelined Browns receivers Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi.

Harrison was fined $75,000 on Tuesday but was not suspended. Meriweather and Robinson each were fined $50,000.

In past seasons, players were either fined or ejected for illegal hits. But after the series of recent flagrant tackles, several of which resulted in concussions, the NFL ramped up the punishment "for egregious and elevated hits," Anderson said.