It's a shitty situation. On one hand, we all love the NFL because of the huge hits. Huge hits are a part of the game, and when we see somebody (to quote Chris Tucker: you got knocked 'da fuck out'!") get hit it's kind of awesome.
But as much as we love big hits...we don't want to see people get injured. Especially permanently. And there's kind of a debate that you can't have it both ways. You know, you can't eat your cake and fuck it, or however that expression goes. The reality of the league is that we pay these guys millions of dollars to abuse the crap out of their bodies. NFL players have serious health problems when they retire, they live shorter lives, etc.
So on one hand, it's like "is bounty gate really a big deal." The NFL makes BILLIONS of dollars profiting off of big hits. On the other hand, these were coaches and players systemically gambling on trying to intentionally hurt other players and take them out of the game. I think the big issue here is intentions, and intentions that compromise the league's effort to keep its players safe.
Some people joke that the future of this league will be no hitting the quarterback, and focusing solely on passing. This might as well be flag football, right? It's such a heated topic I honestly don't know where I stand. So I'm just going to stop talking and post this beastly hit where Lance Briggs decks the shit out of Calvin Johnson. This was one of those debatable clean hits that he got fined for:
Still very cathartic to watch.
(that was the game the Bears crushed the Lions, the one that got chippy. so fun)