By Perry Lefko

SPORTSNET.CA

The season-ending spinal injury suffered by Edmonton Eskimos receiver Jason Tucker re-emphasizes the violence of football and the dangers of using a helmet for blocking or tackling, according to the Canadian Football League’s Director of Officiating.

Tom Higgins, who was in attendance on Friday at Ivor Wynne Stadium when Hamilton defensive back Jykine Bradley collided with Tucker, told Sportsnet.ca on Saturday he does not believe the incident falls into the classic definition of helmet-to-helmet contact. Tucker had to be carted off on a stretcher because of the hit and faces season-ending surgery to repair damage to his spinal chord.

"I believe the injury occurred –- I haven’t seen it enough to be able to give you a clear picture –- with (Tucker’s) head down," Higgins said. "That’s where the damage occurs. (Tucker) was so low there was nothing else for (Bradley) to hit because he was trying to keep him from moving forward towards his own line of scrimmage.

"There is a possibility the impetus of this contact could have been with the shoulder first, but it’s hard to go into any kind of explanation without having it in front of me and being able to dissect it. But it is a refresher for all coaches and even players how dangerous it can be when you have your head down or you get hit in the head."

While the CFL has specific rules for helmet-to-helmet contact -– a 15-yard penalty and further possible disciplinary action -– the officials did not penalize the Tiger-Cats for Bradley’s hit. Higgins added he does not expect there to be any disciplinary action levied against Bradley because the incident does not fall under the clear definition of what constitutes a helmet-to-helmet penalty.

"That’s when you disregard everything, projectile yourself to lead with your helmet ... as the first point of contact and it’s with the top of helmet," he said. "With the equipment you have on, some people think they’re invincible. Well, they’re not. They’re still at risk. Even with our emphasis of trying to keep the helmet out of contact, it’s still going to happen because your head happens to be on top of your shoulders. So there’s always going to be some contact, but you’d like to make sure the contact is with your head up."

Higgins said he’s spoken to Eskimos head coach Danny Maciocia, adding there’s "a little bit of history" in this case because he once coached Tucker.

"I would do this for any player in the CFL, just to follow up," he said. "I know Jason, I know his wife, the family. I know the situation very well. We’ve gone to battle many a time together, but the only reason this is different (from any other player) is because there’s a relationship, but it’s still with the same concern regardless. I would still hopefully be handling the situation exactly the same way, whether it’s my child or somebody else’s child."

Higgins isn’t sure whether the incident and the injury that occurred will result in a revisit of the helmet-to-helmet rule, other than to re-emphasize the serious nature of playing football and the need to try to keep the head out of blocking and tackling.

"The warning on the back of the helmet scares the heck out of parents, (it’s) that serious injury, paralysis or death (could occur) if the helmet is used to spear or lead with," Higgins noted.

Bradley suffered a "stinger", an injury in which a player temporarily feels numbness or a tingling sensation in his arm, after the collision and did not return to the game. A Ticats spokesperson told Sportsnet.ca that Bradley’s injury will be updated Sunday.