That’s one possible conclusion but not the only one. The other possibility is that they’re undisciplined.
I’ll explain the difference. A dirty player is intentionally trying to get away with hurting people. He is either hoping he’s sneaky enough to get away with it, or that the impact of the injury outweighs the penalty. If you knock the star WR out of the game then it’s worth a 15 yard penalty.
An undisciplined player isn’t intentionally trying to hurt people but ends up doing so out of sloppy play, bad decisions, or just losing his temper. He doesn’t get his helmet out of the way of a tackle, or he exchanges words with an opponent then takes a swing at him, etc.
The way you can tell the difference is that dirty players are consistent. There are certain things they do which become their signature. Ndamukong Suh has a history of “accidentally” stepping on QBs legs to injure them (Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson are two I can think of) and he was careful to make them look unintentional, but you don’t keep having the same accident over and over. Vontaze Burfict hits defenseless receivers all the time, it’s part of his gameplay. Those are dirty players and they’re consistent.
To demonstrate that the Browns are dirty you have to illustrate that they are consistent about it. But they are the most inconsistent team in the NFL. They are led by a rookie head coach who seems to have little control over his team. They have a young, brash QB who isn’t a leader (maybe someday but not now). They’re like a motorcycle that has nobody grabbing the handlebars.
The end result might be the same but I don’t think this is like the Saints targeting people intentionally. I think it’s a team that is unmanaged and has unfocused talent on it. They don’t play well as a team and aren’t coached well, and they do crazy and sometimes very bad things. They’re absolutely deserving of criticism but I don’t think being “dirty” is one of them.
Regarding Mason Rudolph, I don’t think what he did warrants any other punishment. What should’ve happened was an unsportsmanlike flag at the time. Him pulling at a helmet after being held down is not an egregious incident. If the alleged groin kick was more clearly visible, then I would think it deserves a fine/suspension, but all I see is a raised leg, not a kick.
You are the one who felt strongly enough to bring it back up in this thread. If other people also feel so strongly about it (positively or negatively), it’s clearly newsworthy. It was otherwise forgotten in this thread. Maybe take a look in the mirror?
I disagree, but I also think there’s enough room for sanctions big and small to be passed around for all the nonsense without detracting at all from the notion Garrett’s actions were totally unacceptable with no extenuating circumstances.
Rudolph doesn’t deserve a suspension or a major fine, but players are told not to escalate. Rudolph did escalate and there needs to be at least some consequence to that, but QBs do get more of a pass.
I have no problems passing around at least fines minor and major to all the players involved.
Well, it’s a lazy hook for the non-sports affiliated media to grab onto when discussing the NFL. I thought, tongue in cheek, that it might’ve had something to do with Rudolph not catching any penalty that would result in missing games. The truth is, he’s a has-been running QB whose best days are behind him, and who, I am convinced, cynically grabbed onto the BLM movement to induce the San Francisco 49ers front office to not cut him because his athleticism had slipped. It obviously didn’t work.
I think he had a shot in Baltimore, had his then fiancee decided not to stir the pot. Oh well.
Agreed that lots of people in the fracas earned fines. I go back and forth about whether kicking Garrett in the crotch earns a game off or not.
From what I read, Kaep and his representatives moved the location of the workout from Atlanta Falcons to a local high school. They also issued a press release bitching, maybe accurately, about the NFL’s handling of everything. The carnival continues.
In the neverending battle of press releases, the NFL contradicts Kaepernick’s press release, and says he skipped the workout rather than just moved it.
Both sides of this carnival annoy the heck out of me, so just wake me up when/if he ever actually sets foot on an actual NFL football field.
The NFL wanted Kap to sign a waiver that not only protected them from injury liability during the workout, but would have protected them against claims regarding employment opportunities. This was 110% about legal maneuvering ahead of a second lawsuit.
I wonder what would have happened if it were Brady who got bashed in the head with his helmet that had been ripped off his head. Garrett would probably have been sent immediately to Azkaban, not passing go, nor collecting two-hundred dollars.
In the last 5 years, teams trailing at the half by 20 were 0-99. Minnesota just became the 1 team to come back. At least I think that’s the stat Red Zone just said.
Deshaun Watson really didn’t play well. A good chunk of it was the pressure the Ravens pass rush put on him, but he looked scared and didn’t help his O line much at all.
Jimmy G overcomes two costly interceptions and a 16 point deficit to throw for over 400yds and 4 TDs. The defense held up enough to give the offense opportunities. And due to a crazy TD off a botched lateral, the 49ers not only win, but cover the ridiculous 9.5 spread.