Even off the field, Hanks still doling out punishment

If Merton Hanks were still an NFL player, those neon green kicks he wore to Pro Bowl practice Thursday might be flagged for unnecessary roughness on the eyes.

Do they meet the league’s standard for appropriate attire?

"Not in my book, no," says Ray Anderson, NFL executive vice president and Hanks’ boss. "But I think they’re compliant because they’re Nike.

"Let’s just say Merton tends to gravitate to the things that are a little more dramatic."

You might remember Hanks for dramatic things on the field … like the hard hitting and interceptions that helped him to four Pro Bowls as a safety and the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl XXIX. And who can forget his Chicken Dance?

Now, despite the flashy shoes, Hanks is a rather understated and stately 44-year-old quietly observing the proceedings on Earhart Field at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

His job is still to mete out punishment. But now he’s vice president of football operations for the league. Hanks is a key figure in the determination of punishment for illegal hits (as well as the lower profile issue of uniform compliance).

"As I always like to say, you need a sinner in this position," Hanks says. "The current players understand that in my experience I have certainly been in their shoes and understand the angles and the speed of the game and hopefully can make a correct judgment given the circumstances."

Each Monday during the season every play is reviewed for overzealous contact and a list is forwarded to Hanks.

"Merton’s our first line of determining whether someone has violated the rules," Anderson says. "Most of the run-of-the-mill situations he will assess discipline. If there’s a more significant fine or potential suspension then he’ll come to me and we’ll do that evaluation jointly.

"In the popular vernacular, he’s got street cred with the players because he’s been there."

Sometimes Hanks sides with defensive players, sometimes offensive players. Sometimes he deems a hit worthy of punishment even if no penalty was called.

We talked about one of this season’s officiating flashpoints: what seemed like an epidemic of calls going against defenders trying to prevent receivers from catching balls with jarring hits.

"Ultimately the easy way to remember is a player has to have an opportunity to defend himself," he says. "We’re very cognizant of making sure that proper techniques are used whether they be tackling or blocking."

Hanks says most of the players have begun to adjust to the overall increased enforcement.

"That has not diminished the intensity and the will to win as far as the game on the field. It has been uncomfortable perhaps for some but it has continually evolved to help players have long careers."

When he does his job during the season, team names don’t matter.

Of course, that changes a week from Sunday, as Hanks will be rooting for San Francisco to win its first Super Bowl since the one he helped bring to the Bay Area 18 years ago.

"He can’t hide that," Anderson says.

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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser. com or 529-4783.