12
Oct
2011
Hit Of The Week: Cameraman gets leveled on sideline of Vikings-Cardinals game (VIDEO)
See that blur on the right? Ouch. (Image via Sportsgrid.com)
With our regular feature, Hit Of The Week, ReadAndReact will find the most brutal tackle, block or run from each weekend of NFL games, and present it for your viewing pleasure.
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We’re back with our HOTW, and this week’s victim wasn’t even suited up on Sunday.
Watch as Vikings WR Devin Aromashudo absolutely destroys an unsuspecting cameraman on the sideline during Sunday’s Vikings-Cardinals contest:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
19
Sep
2011
Dunta Robinson just doesn’t get the whole illegal helmet-to-helmet thing (VIDEO)
Leading with the helmet is Robinson's forte (Photo: Getty Images via WashingtonPost.com)
UPDATE: Robinson has been fined $40,000 by the NFL for this hit.
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Last season, Falcons CB Dunta Robinson made headlines with his brutal helmet-to-helmet collision with Eagles WR DeSean Jackson, becoming the poster child for the NFL’s crackdown on violent tackling. And despite being fined for that play and the league issuing a new manifesto on discipline and illegal hits, apparently, Robinson still doesn’t understand, because he went and did it again during last night’s Eagles-Falcons game, this time to WR Jeremy Maclin.
Regardless of his intent, Robinson clearly led with the crown of his helmet, and the league will certainly be reviewing the play to see if any fines and/or suspensions are warranted, especially considering that he’s a repeat offender. The hit also drew the ire of the Eagles players:
“He’s two for two now,” Maclin said. “Fortunately, it wasn’t as bad as Jack’s was last year. I guess we’ll see what Roger Goodell has in store for him.”
Jackson didn’t think too much of Robinson’s hit on Maclin.
“I guess that’s what type of player he is,” Jackson said. “He tries to go for the kill shot and things like that. He got a flag for it, so just glad Jeremy is OK.”
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
13
Sep
2011
Hit Of The Week: Hines Ward gets blasted by Jarret Johnson (VIDEO)
That's Ward in the center, with his feet in the air (Image via CBS Sports)
With our weekly feature, Hit Of The Week, ReadAndReact will find the most brutal tackle, block or run from each weekend of NFL games, and present it for your viewing pleasure.
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We’re back with our inauguaral HOTW selection for the 2011 NFL season!
This one comes courtesy of Ravens LB Jarret Johnson, who took the opportunity on Sunday to destroy Steelers WR Hines Ward as he came across the middle at the line of scrimmage, potentially looking to receive a shovel pass of some sort. But Johnson sniffed out the play and sent Ward into next week, forcing Ben Roethlisberger to improvise and throw an INT to Ed Reed, thus continuing the Steelers craptacular opening day display:
(apologies for the less-than-stellar video quality, but this is the best we could find for now … we’ll update if better video surfaces)
UPDATE: Here’s another version of the video, with multiple rewinds of the hit, if you’re into that sort of thing.
On Monday, Johnson said he was just reacting to the play, and didn’t have time to premeditate the hit:
“When I hit him, I didn’t expect him to do a freakin’ flip,” said Johnson. “I was just kind of reacting to the play. You don’t even remember a lot of stuff, and I just remember recognizing the play and kind of sitting back. I don’t remember if I took one step or if I ran or what.”
16
May
2011
What the world needs now is highlights, NFL highlights (VIDEO)
During this especially painful off-season, this video serves as a public service announcement, to remind us all why we love the NFL in the first place. In it, you’ll get a healthy dose of all the things we’re patiently awaiting the return of: bone-crushing hits (including quite a few that the league would frown upon), unbelievable skill, and maximum effort on the playing field.
Watch and enjoy these highlights from the 2009-2010 NFL seasons:
10
Jan
2011
Hit Of The Week: Ed Reed levels Dexter McCluster, receives game ball (VIDEO)
(Photo: Baltimore Sun)
Ravens S Ed Reed has long been one of the game’s most ferocious hitters, and most respected defensive players. But on Sunday, as Baltimore traveled to Kansas City for their Wild Card playoff match-up, Reed found himself with a heavy heart, and he wasn’t quite sure how he was going to handle it. You see, Reed’s brother Brian disappeared on Friday and is presumed dead from drowning after jumping into the Mississippi River while being chased by police in Louisiana.
After much introspection, Reed decided that his brother would have wanted him to play, and with his family’s support, took the field against the Chiefs with Brian’s spirit in mind. And during the second quarter, Reed took his emotions out on Chiefs RB Dexter McCluster, who was hung out to dry by Matt Cassell on this swing pass:
The hit came at a fairly critical point (on 3rd and 8 with KC moving the ball), and afterward, head coach John Harbaugh credited the play as the turning point in the game. In recognition of his effort, the Ravens also honored Reed with the game ball in the locker room, which made for an emotional scene post-game:
“This ball is for your family, in memory of your brother,” Derrick Mason said, as he passed the ball to Ed Reed, who choked up as he accepted it on behalf of his family and brother.
“My family will really appreciate this,” Reed said. “So would my brother. My brother would want us to beat Pittsburgh.”
Afterward, Reed said that he took comfort in the game and being around his teammates. He also said that his family helped him keep focused on the job at hand.
Sadly, the search for Reed’s brother was called off this morning.
WATCH VIDEO OF THE RAVENS LOCKER-ROOM CEREMONY AFTER THE JUMP
5
Dec
2010
VIDEO: Brett Favre knocked out of game by Bills
Will this be the hit that ends Favre's streak? (AP Photo via ABCNews.com)
UPDATE: Favre has been diagnosed with a sprained shoulder, but X-rays were negative, and HC Leslie Frasier said that Favre will still be the Vikings starter next week …”if he’s healthy”. It will probably be a while before they determine his official status, but by now I guess we know they’ll prop Favre up out there like Weekend at Bernie’s to keep the streak intact. So I guess we went and got all excited for nothing.
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After starting his 297th consecutive NFL game, Vikings QB Brett Favre was knocked out less than 3 minutes into today’s contest against the Bills, and is not expected to return. Favre suffered a shoulder injury early in the first quarter after getting drilled by LB Arthur Moats. The play was a designed rollout on 3rd & 5, intended to get Favre out of the pocket. But when the ol’ gunslinger pulled up to try and extend the play, Moats came in at full speed to deliver a brutal blindside hit. It was a clean, textbook hit by Moats that sent the ball floating into the awaiting arms of CB Drayton Florence for the interception.
And after looking at the way Favre crumples to the turf, it’s hard to imagine the 41-year-old grandpa will be able to keep his consecutive start streak intact next week:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
9
Nov
2010
Hit Of The Week: Troy Polamalu flattened by Domata Peko (VIDEO)
Domata Peko celebrates his block on Troy Polamalu (Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)
We’ve started a new tradition here at ReadAndReact by bringing you the Hit of the Week! We’ll find the most brutal tackle (or block) from each weekend of NFL games, and present it for your viewing pleasure.
You may have noticed (but probably didn’t) that we took a week off from presenting the HOTW … that’s because we were simply terrified that the league was going to fine & suspend us for promoting violent hits in the game. But we’re obviously pretty low on Goodell’s priority list these days, so we’re back, and this week we’re focusing on the offensive side of the ball.
The Bengals have been employing 320-lb DT Domata Peko as a fullback in their goal line package, and last night he showed the world why. Watch as Peko takes Steelers S Troy Polamalu head-on in the 4th quarter, leading the way into the end zone for Cedric Benson. The result is a cataclysmic explosion of hair that ends with Polamalu flat on his back. It’s quite spectacular:
9
Nov
2010
NFL doesn’t fine Coleman for Collie hit; continue to make up rules as they go along
(AP Photo via NYTimes.com)
In a shocking move, the NFL has elected not to fine Eagles S Kurt Coleman for this hit that knocked Colts WR Austin Collie out of the game on Sunday.
The decision is surprising mainly because it is the correct one. And in their zealous quest to eliminate helmet-to-helmet hits from the game, the league has seemingly preferred blind justice over common sense when levying punishment (see the ludicrous fine given to Myron Pryor for the completely legal hit that injured Brett Favre). So it appeared that Coleman was a prime candidate for an example-making suspension to really drive their message home.
But today, the league issued a statement explaining they would not discipline Coleman at all:
“Because the helmet-to-helmet contact was a result of Collie being driven toward Coleman by Mikell’s legal hit, there will be no fine for this action”
So it seems that Goodell and his cohorts really are just making this all up as they go along. Just when you thought they were going to fine and suspend anyone who dared make contact with the head or neck area of an opponent, they go and do something completely out of character and make a decision that reeks of logic and a greater understanding of the nature of the game … well, at least at the beginning.
7
Nov
2010
VIDEO: Austin Collie gets knocked out by helmet-to-helmet hit
(Photo: Matt Detrich / The Star)
Another scary moment today in Philadelphia, when Colts WR Austin Collie was knocked unconscious by S Kurt Coleman during the 2nd quarter of the Eagles 26-24 win. After the play, Collie lay motionless on the turf for several minutes before being immobilized and carted off the field. According to initial reports, Collie suffered a concussion, but after the game he was “alert, sitting up and has movement’’.
Once again, it was a bang-bang play, and Collie looked to be making a move with the ball before he was hit by both Coleman and S Quintin Mikell. Mikell was flagged for hitting a defenseless receiver, but on the replays you can see that he delivers a shoulder-to-shoulder hit as Coleman comes in from the other direction. As the target moves, Colman’s helmet strikes Collie’s cleanly, and you can see that Collie is out before he hits the ground:
The play will undoubtedly be scrutinized by the NFL, and is sure to re-ignite the discussion about violent hits in the game. But from where we sit, it looks like a clean play by the Colts defenders, with a very unfortunate result.
Whether you agree with it or not, this is the “new NFL”, and this is exactly the type of helmet-to-helmet collision the league is trying to remove from the game. So regardless of his intention on the play, Coleman can expect a call from Mr. Goodell with at least a fine – if not a suspension – as punishment. And you can almost certainly expect Goodell to make an example of Coleman here … especially since he’s not a big-name player for the league.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKGET5-mUNo
31
Oct
2010
Brett Favre starts but doesn’t finish vs Patriots (VIDEO)
Brett Favre closes his eyes and hopes that this is all a bad dream (Image via SB Nation)
The big story heading into this weekend was whether or not Brett Favre would keep his continuous games streak alive. Well as we figured, Favre started, but didn’t finish today’s game, as both he and the Vikings fell to the Patriots, 28-18.
Favre was injured in the 4th quarter after Patriots DT Myron Pryor’s helmet got underneath the 41-year-old QB’s facemask, lacerating his chin. Favre had to be helped off the field, and ended up getting carted to the locker room looking like he had just been run over by a truck. He received eight stitches, and Brad Childress described him as “a little woozy” afterward. It was one those dreaded blows to the head the league loves so much, but Pryor’s facemask was in Favre’s chest, and it looked to be a clean hit just after the ball was released.
Watch for yourselves:
