OK, I was listening to ESPN on the AM this weekend, and the two ESPN guys were talking about a play in which a Seattle player had been knocked out, that an “unnecessary roughness” penalty was not thrown until it was obvious that the player had been knocked out.
They both said that the Dallas player should not be penalized personally, because it was a clean hit–and he did not lead with his head, which would indicate a deliberate foul.
I didn’t see it myself, and I didn’t catch it on any highlights, so the question is “Was it a flagrant foul–or just a good hit that was a little too good.?” (I missed the name but from what I gather it was Woodson.)
Darren Woodson popped Darrell Jackson hard, so hard that he had a seizure in the locker room later, but it looked clean to me. The NFL says he led with the helmet, but I think the camera angle makes it hard to tell. It looked clean to a lot of people, including most of the people on the sidelines.
Haven’t seen the Woodson hit, but did you see that hit on Ike Hilliard Monday night? The Eagles safety (I’m blanking on his name . . . #20 or #22) hit him after three whole steps subsequent to the ball sailing over his head, and led with the top of his helmet, into Hilliard’s midsection. Ike’s out for the season (dislocated shoulder).
I watched the game and was incensed at the call. Woodson is not a dirty player. He hit him with his shoulder, not his helmet. His reaction time was split second and reasonably measured, not pre-calculated to maim.
When I heard tonite that he’d been fined 75K, I was pissed. Darren can afford it, that’s not the issue. What’s a shame is that a class act that plays hard but fair has been unfairly painted with an absurd call.
Look at it yourself and tell me that he’s out to injure. I’ll call complete and utter bullshit.
The rules in this area are very clear. An opponent may not use his helmet to butt, spear, or ram an opponent. Any player who uses the top of his helmet unnecessarily will be penalized. This breaks down into two very simple rules. You can’t cause helmet to helmet contact. You can’t put your head down while making a tackle. Woodson clearly and deliberately violated both these rules. It seems you’re allowing your opinion to get in the way of facts. If they NFL is going to eliminate this behavior that is dangerous to both offensive and defensive players, they’re going to have to do than fine the offenders. Maybe suspension for several games will do the trick.
Reason For fines: Woodson: guy had concussion/seizure. Guy who hit Rice: He hit Rice. Dawkins (IIRC): broke guys shoulder. BTW, I know they’re trying prevent another Stingley, so my ?: was Tatum fined/suspended?
The fine was not justified. Woodson didnt lead with the top of his
helmet, he lead with his face. That is exactly what he is supposed
to do. The first rule of tackling is “see what you hit”. The hit was
clean, and the reciever had the ball. There should not have been a
penalty called on the play, and last season there wouldnt have been.
The flag was thrown late, after Jackson didnt get up, which basically
indicates that Woodson wasnt flagged for anything other that the fact
that Jackson got hurt.
The hit Dawkins put on Hillard was way out of line though as it was
clear he had no shot at catching the ball as it had cleared him and
hit the ground. Also, Hillard had taken several steps as was clearly
pulling up. Dawkins also lead with the top of his helmet, which is
why he was also hurt on the play.
The new “defenseless position” rule is total crap. It basically
says that defenders cant line up for a proper tackle, and cant hit a
reciever who is in the act of catching the ball (even after he has touched the ball). Its not about preventing injuries, its about more
points being scored. If the NFL cared about injuries they would be
banning artifical turf.
I don’t know which was worse to watch, the hit on Hilliard or the 299 yards rushing the Giants gave up. And why did they give up so many yards? Because Keith Hamilton had a season ending injury in their last game and the Eagles kept running at his replacement :mad:
Between the Giants and the Jets, it’s not a good year to be a New York football fan
