This just in... all of the professional boxing federations have agreed that heavyweight boxers will not wear headgear and flack jackets...
I thought it was a BS call when I saw it live and it is a BS call today! Ryan aimed for his chest and the receiver lowered his head.
There has been lots of news coverage that has centered around head injuries in football. The press has fueled this. I think the NFL may be scared that some government jackarse may try and get involved. You never know what kind of congressional stageshow may take place. Some congressman trying to get on tv. I could be wrong but I think that's what's fueling much of this.
Like they don't have more important stuff to do......like fix the damn ECONOMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rolleye33: I didn't think it was a bad hit and certainly not bad enough for a $40k fine.
I don't think the head to head contact was intentional. Bad call. This rule is really getting out of control. Pretty soon defenders are going to be limited to arm tackling. There is no way the defenders can anticipate what the ball carrier is going to do with his head.
Why don't they just take the pads off and put flags on them? :rolleye33: This the direction it's going, IMO
I have to admit to you that I stole and modified the first line in my post from Skip Bertman. Does anyone remember who was on the mound and catching when Skip called timeout, went to the mound and told the players "You two are ruining the game of baseball?" I think it might have been Ben McDonald I heard tell the story on TV.
The whole "defenseless receiver" thing is complete nonsense. Why is he defenseless? Because he is trying to catch the ball. So, basically, defenders are being forced to abdicate their primary duty and permit the catch. The receiver has it completely within his (and his QB's) own power to defend himself and protect his own safety by not completing the catch.
People were mad when they moved from the leather head pad to the hard hat. I think it's a good rule who wants to see some guy in a wheelchair or being spoon fed mashed potatoes when he is 47? If Clark was in position he could have batted the ball away or made a legal hit. He was out of position and had to head hunt. That was the only play he could make a last second cheap shot. Put your shoulder pad in the guys chest or slap the ball away.
That's exactly what he did, shoulder to the ball. Clark did it exactly the way he's been taught to do it since he was 8 years old, because it was legal until this year. Not a cheap shot at all, just the NFL getting overly protective. Its a split second deal for everyone. Clark put the shoulder where it needed to go, both to make the play and in accordance with the rules. But a little head-to-head contact is almost impossible to avoid because (some people will be surprised by this) Clark's head is attached to his shoulders! Then, of course, the ref has a split second to decide if what he saw was really head-to-head, and was it intentional. That second part should, IMO, be a crucial element when levying fines. BTW, Clark's post fine comments are regrettable, but not because I believe for a second that he intends to start going after guy's knees or heads. I don't think the players believe that either. He was frustrated and popped off without thinking. Its regrettable because now his comments are beginning to dominate the talking head conversations about this incident. They should be talking about whether or not the ruling was correct and how Goodell's new approach is affecting the game.
