The whole helmet to helmet thing is a real mess IMO. I think many of the cases we’ve seen the defender is trying his best to deliver a clean hit and the guy he’s tackling is doing his best to dodge or brace for the hit and the contact happens accidentally.
In Harrison’s case, though, he didn’t even try to put his head down so he deserved the penalty.
http://www.redskins.com/team/statistics.html
Above Moss - but without Davis and with a depleted line - even vs. the Patriots, the Skins will not enjoy passing success
From a fantasy perspective there might be some value there. I mean even the Colts moved the ball on the Patriots. Then again Bad Rex might show up from the first snap in which case all bets are off.
Shadarr
5205
Please don’t say this, nothing gets called every time. It makes you sound like some idiot sportscaster. If you’ve watched football for any length of time, you’ve seen hits exactly like this that weren’t called. Hence why it’s worth discussing.
Did you seriously just put someone on ignore for talking shit in a sports thread? Wow. That is some weak-ass troll fu.
Refs don’t see everything every time. But if they do see it – and if it’s on a QB, they will – they’re going to call it.
Shadarr
5207
You’re seriously going to stick with that line? So what you’re saying to me is that on this play, no refs saw Bradford’s helmet get knocked off. Right.
The problem with the helmet-to-helmet rule, as it is currently being implemented, is that runners are quickly (and I think some already have) going to learn that, if they see a tackler coming in with head and shoulder down, all they have to do is lower their own head and they are going to be rewarded with an automatic 15 yards. The rule is completely subject to manipulation by the offensive player.
Scuzz
5209
One of ESPN’s talking football heads just said that the helmet to helmet rule doesn’t apply to running backs. Amazing if true, but it would explain why you never see that called. It usually involves a receiver or QB.
Interesting, Seymore only gets fined 30k for punching someone and this is his third ejection in 2 years. I was thinking it would be at least a one game suspension based on track record and all that.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7336507/richard-seymour-oakland-raiders-fined-30k-punch
Lorini
5211
Probably because his punch didn’t cause a concussion. In fact I don’t think he’s even bruised anybody. Why he keeps hitting people that have helmets on with his fists is beyond me, but it’s his money.
From the horse’s mouth:
The (g) is highlighted in red, and there’s a note on that at the bottom of the section:
Note: This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be a defenseless player, as defined in Rule 12, Section 2, Article 9.
I’m not sure how to feel about that. I guess it’s the rules patch to keep ball carriers from just putting their heads down.
Aki
5213
Fishbreath’s post spotllights the crux of the problem as far as what’s a penalty, what’s not, what should result in a fine, etc.
The inconsistency of NFL officiating this year has completely ruined several plays this season and has arguably changed the outcome of a number of games. The most egregious example I have seen was in the god-awful Cleveland/Seattle game when a blitzing Seattle DB was flagged for form-tackling Colt McCoy: in the process the earpiece of his helmet grazed the backside of McCoy’s rib protector… a completely clean sack was instantly converted to a 15 yard gain for the Browns because of the emphasis the league has directed the officials to place on protecting the QB at all costs — to the detriment of the game.
Here’s a video of the play I’m referring to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4utf-X0qJT0
Between the “let’s just give up and become the National Flag Football League” officiating and the stupid rule changes (moving up the kickoff spot and slowing down games with automatic booth review of every scoring play) I’m concerned the NFL is going to kill the golden goose of America’s favorite spectator sport.
The league feels most concussions and injuries come from a player being lit up when they are paying attention to catching or attempting a pass. If a player has the ball in hand and sees the hit coming, they can brace for it. I am ambivalent about that line of reasoning but there you go.
And there is no argument that the roughing the passer penalties are called inconsistently. An errant grazing of the helmet with a hand, a tackling that isn’t somehow magically suspended in mid-tackle when the QB releases the ball. Neither are unnecessary roughness calls on DBs for hitting receivers making a catch. How the hell do you even play coverage without the ability to do that? I’d hate to be a defensive player.
Aki
5215
Don’t even get me started on how badly the NFL gimps what used to be the most interesting position in the game (DB). I don’t believe we would be seeing the number of scrawny little wide receivers putting up the big numbers that they do if defensive backs were allowed an even playing field.
Zuwadza
5216
Which scrawny receivers are putting up big numbers? I see Wes Welker and Steve Smith in the top five, but Calvin Johnson, Victor Cruz, Jimmy Graham are all pretty big guys. The top ten seems to be a pretty decent mix of “big” and “small” receivers (it feels weird to talk about a 5’11", 190lbs guy as small). If anything I see the opposite happening more often — huge receivers putting up big numbers against puny DBs. Even in cases where a big receiver isn’t putting up big numbers it’s usually because they’re receiving extra coverage. Case in point:
Aki
5217
haha I was actually thinking of Wes Welker, Steve Smith, and Victor Cruz when I wrote that… maybe Cruz is bigger than I think
Jimmy Graham is a TE. Of course he’s going to be big.
Megatron is one of several larger great receivers in the league. I didn’t mean that only the shrimpy guys are successful in today’s NFL… i meant that the small ones would not experience the success they do but for the way the rules hamper defenders from playing defense.
Zuwadza
5218
I still find defensive back play to be interesting, but then again I haven’t been watching football long enough to remember a time when receivers were, apparently, being ground into paste.
The NFL used to be more run-oriented. Fewer pass plays and fewer receivers flying around over the middle where they tend to get blown up.
Also, players are bigger, stronger, and faster now. There was a time when a 300 pound player was a rarity. Now we have linebackers going 260 who can fly down the field and hit like locomotives.
Hammet
5220
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx20th1gT4k
Ronnie Lott.
