1 » Patrick Beverly was called for a foul on Luke Babbi

Almost once a game, an NFL player absorbs an illegal blow to the head or neck that could put his career — or worse — at risk. The NFL has been trying to prevent such blows over the past four years, targeting improper technique and making a point to penalize and fine players for hits that leave them and their opponents vulnerable. Yet an Associated Press review of penalties through the first 11 weeks of the season found those hits are still prevalent. The AP reviewed 549 penalties, 491 of which fell under the category of major infractions: unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing the passer, face masks and roughing the quarterback. Of the penalties charted over the first 162 games of the season, the AP identified 156 involving contact with the head and neck — an average of .962 per game. Of those, 38 were for head-wrenching face masks, 25 were for horse collars and 93 were for hits to the head. Quarterbacks (40) and receivers (38) shared the brunt of those hits almost equally, with players at other positions absorbing the other 15 blows. The numbers can be interpreted a variety of ways. The league declined comment, though it made a statement of sorts in the off-season when it decided against the 5 per cent hike in minimum fines, as allowed for in the union contract, after determining players were adjusting to the rules. A sentiment among the players the AP spoke to on offence was that they appreciate all the NFL has done to protect them. But, in the words of Titans running back Chris Johnson, they know that "sometimes you just cant control where you hit somebody." Defensive players acknowledged they have to do their part to make the game safer. "The face mask, thats going to happen. The pass interference, those things are going to happen. The stupid fouls, hitting the quarterbacks late and doing all the other stuff weve done, we have to eliminate it," said Titans safety Bernard Pollard, who has been fined $62,000 this season. But the defenders also reiterated a long-held belief that theyre held to a different standard than their offensive counterparts. "No doubt," Packers cornerback Tramon Williams said. "Guys are still getting penalized for clean shots, getting fined for clean shots, and theres no other explanation to it. Just like theyre holding us accountable for trying to make that right hit, theyve got to hold themselves accountable for making the right calls on the field, and making the right decision on who to fine and how much to fine." True to the defenders complaints, the AP review tallied 224 major infractions against the defence, with only 69 going against the offence. Similarly, penalties for low hits, which many thought would rise when defenders were forced to focus away from the head and neck, were relatively low — only 35. That small number included illegal cuts, chop and peelback blocks against the offence for hits on defenders — penalties the defensive players argue are called far too rarely and put their careers at as much risk as the above-the-shoulder hits. "The way offences are playing now and the way running backs block now, I think its almost every play," Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said when asked how often a defensive players legs get targeted. New England tight end Rob Gronkowskis season ended abruptly Sunday with a knee injury when he took a low hit from Cleveland safety T.J. Ward. No penalty was called. Ward said he knows he cant go for the high hit. "But we have to play this game," Ward said. "We have to play it the way that they force us to, and unfortunately, it incurred an injury for him." Of the 35 penalties for low hits, 10 came against the defence for hits to the quarterbacks. The leagues propensity for protecting the passer continues at almost every spot on the field. Over the first 11 weeks, there were 32 flags for infractions against quarterbacks that didnt involve hits to the head or legs — for example, a late hit on a sliding quarterback. The NFL still makes a big splash out of suspensions and fines levied under the umbrella of protecting players. Ndamukong Suh, a multiple offender, got a $100,000 fine — largest in league history for on-field conduct — for his Week 2 low block on John Sullivan of the Vikings during an interception return. More recently, Titans safety Michael Griffin served a one-game suspension for a low hit on Oakland tight end Mychal Rivera. When asked what he could have done differently, Griffin said a league official "told me theres no clear black-and-white answer." "You have to start thinking about how youre going to hit the guy when you get there," Titans coach Mike Munchak said. "I think its very, very hard, very difficult. It definitely is necessary. I think it has helped the game in that way. But I think youve got to be careful in how these guys are fined and things like that going forward." Whatever the mixed messages, the NFL appears satisfied with the way players are adjusting to the rules, given the leagues decision not to raise fine amounts. Total fines issued by the NFL have declined by 32 per cent from 2009 to 2012 (668 to 451) and also decreased 4.5 per cent between 2011 and 2012 (472 to 451). Fines for illegal hits on quarterbacks have declined 46.4 per cent since 2009 (114 to 61). All of which points to a safer game — but a game that nevertheless, at least on average, puts at least one player in jeopardy in every game in every stadium every Thursday, Sunday and Monday. "Its a warrior game," said Broncos defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson, on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated hip on a play in which four players took turns blocking him, both high and low. "Youre going to have collisions. Youre going to have those injuries. You just try to do the best you can with them and play within the rules they set." ___ AP Sports Writers Genaro Armas in Green Bay, Wisc., Teresa Walker in Nashville, Tenn., Tom Withers in Cleveland, Joe Kay in Cincinnati and Joseph White in Washington contributed to this report. Fake Soccer Jerseys .com) - Graeme McDowell opened up with a first- round, 5-under 67 on Thursday and he holds a 2-shot lead at the WGC - HSBC Champions. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . Ibrahimovic put PSG ahead when he got in front of his marker to neatly flick in Lucass cross in the 59th minute. New signing Yohan Cabaye came on as a second-half substitute and headed Ezequiel Lavezzis cross against the post in the 87th. 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Vandenburg was also found guilty of tampering with evidence as well as an unlawful photography charge.NEW ORLEANS - Tyreke Evans and his New Orleans teammates took notice when they saw Houston coach Kevin McHale sub out his entire starting lineup early in the third quarter.The Pelicans saw it as a chance to earn some extra rest of their own.We brought it in the huddle and just said, Keep putting the pressure on them, dont stop being aggressive, Evans recalled. We did that. We got a big lead where we could sit down and rest.Ryan Anderson scored 22 points, Evans added 21 and New Orleans routed the Rockets 111-83 on Friday night.Dante Cunningham added 13 points for New Orleans, which led by as much as 32 in the second half.Omer Asik grabbed 11 rebounds, and Anthony Davis accounted for three of the Pelicans eight blocked shots.We made the right plays defensively and it led to easy points, Anderson said. We just controlled the game for 48 minutes.Dwight Howard scored 12 points and James Harden had 11 for Houston, all in the first half. None of Houstons starters scored in the third quarter.We didnt have any effort tonight, any concentration, McHale said. We were terrible tonight. They came out and just kicked our tails up one side and down the other. We didnt come to play.Howard said he had no clue when asked if McHale wanted to send a message by benching his starters early in the third quarter, or whether the coach sought to rest top players for Saturday nights home date against Miami with the game in New Orleans showing signs of getting out of hand.When asked his opinion of the move, Howard said: Weve got to get ready for the next game.Corey Brewer scored 12 points for the Rockets, and Donatas Motiejunas had 10.Jimmer Fredette scored 10 points and sent a charge through the crowd with a fast-break lob to Austin Rivers for an alley-oop dunk that even brought Davis out of his seat on the bench.New Orleans shot 53 per cent (44 of 83). Houston missed its first five shots and wound up shooting 39.8 per cennt (35 of 88), including 20.dddddddddddd7 per cent (6 of 29) from 3-point range.It was Houstons first game this season in which it never led.Andersons first 3 — also his fifth field goal on six shots — put the Pelicans up 38-22 early in the second quarter.Anderson and Evans combined to hit 14 of 19 shots and score 32 points in the first half, helping the Pelicans to a 59-42 lead.When the second half began, Josh Smith missed a 3, Trevor Ariza turned the ball over and then Patrick Beverly was called for a foul on Luke Babbitt, whose free throws put the Pelicans up by 23 just 1:31 into the period. Thats when McHale yanked his starters.TIP-INSRockets: Officials had to call timeout in the first quarter when Motiejunas showed them a deep red scratch across the underside of his forearm. The Lithuanian 7-footer complained of the injury, which trainers covered with a bandage, shortly after being called for a foul while tangled up with Davis in the paint. ... During the eight minutes Howard played in the first quarter, he attempted only one shot, an alley-oop dunk of Motiejunas lob.Pelicans: The Pelicans 28-point margin of victory was the largest in franchise history against the Rockets. ... The Pelicans are 11-1 when blocking seven or more shots. ... One of Andersons three 3-pointers was ruled good when Howard was called for goaltending.HAPPPY COACHNew Orleans coach Monty Williams was pleased with the Pelicans dominant victory on the heels of a discouraging overtime loss at San Antonio two nights earlier, when his team lost a lead in the final second of regulation.To be able to play against a playoff team thats going to contend for a championship that way after what happened to us the other night says a ton about character and resiliency, Williams said. Our guys came focused and flushed what happened the other day.UP NEXTRockets: Host Miami on Saturday.Pelicans: Host Washington on Monday. ' ' '