And of course, Bertuzzi actually did put his skate down on a stick so it wasn’t all his fault. Still stupidity is stupidity. If either had been a teensey bit more careful - course, how careful can you be when you "play the game at 100mph :rolleyes: - this shyte would never happen.
And looking at the photo, that’s one hell of an ugly looking oopsie. Arms practically headlock wrapped around the guy. It may have been an accident, but it shoor don’t look like one.
It wasn’t late in any way, shape or form. I’m on the fence about this incident. It kinda looks to me like he was aiming for the ball, as he claims. But despite the speed of actual plays, these guys are trained professionals accustomed to such speeds, so in that respect it was a relatively big whiff.
Did you look at the first cited photo?
http://www.packersnews.com/photogallery/2004/game/121904/images/ES-FergusonDariusHit2.jpg
He’s looking at the jugular. The ball is already caught at this point.
No, the photo is irrelevant. I base my opinions on actual video footage as seen on SportsCenter, PTI, Monday Morning QB, and likely several episodes of NFL Live. Have you seen the footage, or are you basing your opinion solely on photographs?
Neither am I. It was awful and deserved the penalty, ejection and (upcoming) fine, but it happened so fast that I’m not convinced he was trying to hurt him.
“That was smart of the referee to eject Darius, because I’m pretty sure it would have gotten out of hand if he would have stayed in the game,” Bubba Franks. (AKA: The biggest guy on the Packers Offence who regularly interacts with safeties.)
Intent or not doesn’t make a difference. Either he headhunted on the play, or he was sloppy enough to accidently sprain Fergie’s neck. In my book, either way, that’s worth a suspension.
You know, that’s a pretty good point.
I guess Darius is saying he was going for the ball, and now his coach is saying it. For some reason, this just sounds even more stupid when Del Rio says it:
*
“He attempted to club at the football and ended up clubbing the guy in the head,” Del Rio said. “It was a nasty shot, but I don’t believe his intent was to head-hunt the guy.”*
I don’t think he wanted Fergie to end up with a sprained neck, not being ale to move his legs, career in jeopardy, and 2 nights at the hospital. I can’t belive there’s anyone wishing that on someone. But I do think he was trying to hurt him, maybe put him out of the game, and get his hit featured on MNF and SportsCenter. Scoring points with the national media and your teammates is how DB’s think. Out of the game brings in a punt returner as the new 3rd reciever, makes it a little easier for your team to win. A hard hit is part of the game, but this was a bit much, and clotheslining a player, especially a receiver coming across the middle, is pretty much taboo even in the NFL.
For what it’s worth, i can’t believe he held onto the ball. And hats off to the GB fans that did nothing more than boo him running off. Can’t say I’d have done just that if i was there(…maybe some day I’ll get there…)
I don’t think the head/ neck shot was purely intentional, but then again, having played defensive back myself many moons ago, there is a certain rush that comes with a wideout crossing over the middle, jumping for the ball. You never want to injure someone, but you do want to put them in a world of hurt. I saw the hit live on television, and it was absolutely vicious, I don’t have any clue how he held on to that ball.
If that was a technique that Donovan Darius was taught, then I think a new DB/ Safeties coach is in order. Not for the fact that it was a cheap headhunting maneuver, but that it is really not an effective technique for trying to seperate the reciver from the ball.
Kudos to the Pack faithful, who maintained their composure extremely well, especially considering the circumstances, brats and beers all around.
…and have cretins on ESPN shout and yell about how he JACKED UP Robert Ferguson. God, I hate that segment.
Me neither. Some WRS just have serious stones, I guess. Remember that leaping Eddie McAffrey catch three or so years ago when he just got hammered in mid-air? You could actually see his leg breaking before it hit the ground, but he made the catch (his last that season.)
Hard hits on WRs coming across the middle are part of the game strategy. Makes them (supposedly) less likely to go for the ball. Suppossedly, I said. All the good WRs and TEs do it anyways. You gotta win in the NFL.
I’m not against a hard style of play. I’m against cheap shots and needlessly reckless tackling techniques. Head tackling is a sickness spread across the entire league this year. It happened all over Monday’s game, just no one got injured.
Spearing has been outlawed. Head tackling needs to be outlawed.
Here’s why I think the hit was intentional.
Normally a DB or anyone trying to make a tackle in mid air and seperate the player from the ball will drive their shoulders and helmet into the players chest. Textbook tackle.
If Darius was trying to make a tackle he would never have tackled Furgie with one arm around the waist. The only way he was going to take Furgie down was the exact way he did it. One arm around the neck. Either the guy is a chicken shit and afraid to lead with his head and shoulders or he is a dirty player and did it on purpose. Either way your going to either get yourself or someone else hurt in the process.
My vote is he knew what he was doing and probably didn’t have time to consider the consequences. Like I said, you don’t normally try to “one arm” tackle someone in that manner, it just doesn’t work. That’s called “turnstile” tackling or the “Olay” and is not very effective.
The more I think about the hit, the more I think Darius was going for a “Holy Shit, Swami! Did you see that!?!?” kind of hit. I guess I don’t really believe he was going for an injury, but he had to know damn well how dangerous that kind of hit was and the likelihood of injury resulting from it. And I still think he was going for more than just the ball. If not, why was his arm so high and extended as to get Fergie’s neck in the crook of his elbow?
Well, for now the penalty is no suspension and a $75,000 fine. (Pending appeal of course) Considering the potential damage he’s done and that he makes $4 million a year, he’s really going to look bad in a lot of fans’ eyes IMO.
Note toward the end of the story where it seems Fergie may have taken it in stride and will accept it as a possible consequence of playing football with no hard feeling. (Though I doubt it) Robert’s just the kind of guy to roll with the punches, do what’s best for the team and the league, and keep his personal feelings out of it.
Maybe that’s why I felt so compelled to pit Darius immediately. Other than pundits, message boards are likely the only place you’ll see anyone calling out DD on this.
Considering that NFL unnecessary roughness fines are generally in the $5,000 - $15,000 range and Darius is a first-time offender, I think that fine is about right. Of course, I also think the play was unintentional.
I think my dad’s solution for illegal plays that result in injuries is ideal. If you injure somebody and get flagged in the process, then you don’t play again (or get paid) until he does. If it’s a career ending injury, it ends two careers. Somehow, I don’t think that ones getting past the union, but I do think it would work.
Am I the only person to see this thread title and wonder, “What the hell did Hootie do to warrant a Pit thread?”
I have a feeling you’ve just inspired a few. 
[sub]I assume you mean Darius Rucker?[/sub]
If Darius had been a foot to the left and caught the receiver with his shoulder pad beneath the chin the result would have been basically about the same. It would have been called a great hit.
Why is using your arm to do the same thing wrong?
Because a shoulder to the chest is not as dangerous as an arm the head. One can result in bruises or broken bones, sure, but the other can result in paralyses.
Sorry, I misread your chin as chest. It still would be bad. Tackling or hitting the head as the target opens up the door to all sorts of permanent damages.
Let’s not forget that the style of play in the NFL influences younger players who are not as strong or in as good a shape. Do you want to see high school games resulting in severed spinal columns?