it seems a bit more acceptable at QB, which relatively doesn’t entail much contact. Ideally. That was contrasted with Harvin, who would figure to be touched most every time he touches the ball, but if that is double digits in a day that’s a good thing. And obviously running around and stuff is physical. But I could see the danger of it being more pronounced for RBs, linemen, LBs and safeties. More frequent collisions per game. If you get shot up and can’t feel the screaming an injury is doing during that kind of punishment, I could see some real damage getting done.

Ultimately I don’t think it’s feasible for this game to be played with any regularity if players can’t use painkillers of some sort when an injury is painful but further damage won’t directly come out of just playing. Further injury can always occur, of course, but even with the sacks and hits on Hasselbeck, it doesn’t seem like a reckless thing for the staff to put him through, giving him the spike for healing ribs.