2
Nov
2011
Ndamukong Suh speaks with Roger Goodell to clarify rules against his awesomeness
Suh was fined $20k for this hit on Andy Dalton during the preseason (Photo: BleacherReport.com)
Detroit Lions’ DT Ndamukong Suh sat down with commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday in New York, to help gain a better understanding of the NFL’s rules as it relates to Suh’s particularly physical style of play. Suh initiated the meeting himself, having been flagged for three personal fouls already this season, and fined three times (for a total of $42,000) for over-zealous hits since entering the league in 2009. As a result, Suh has started to gain a reputation as a dirty player, and was looking for some clarity during Detroit’s bye week as to exactly what he’s doing wrong.
This preseason, Suh hypothesized that he “put refs in a tough situation because of his strength” … in other words, he’s just too much of a beast for the pro game, and referees have no choice but to throw a flag when faced with his awesomeness. And there’s probably a bit of truth to that statement, since it often seems as though Suh simply overpowers opposing lineman on his way into the backfield and destroys anything that gets in his path. So, Suh understandably wanted to know if the issue can really be fixed by adjusting his technique, or if it’s an unavoidable result of the way he plays the game.
8
Oct
2011
Chris Kluwe Mocking Commissioner Goodell via Dry Erase Board Again (PIC)
Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has made himself semi-famous in the past year by posting various diagrams and notes mocking commissioner Roger Goodell to his Twitter account, all written on dry erase boards. Some of his best work has come in the form of fake memos from “Rog” on last year’s crackdown on illegal hits and this year’s attempt to curb flopping in the game.
Today, at least according Kluwe’s latest whiteboard bomb, the league issued a memo to players banning the use of iPads 90 minutes prior to gametime, for any reason. As you may have heard, a lot of teams are using iPads as playbooks and game film tools in today’s Jobs-ian society (RIP Steve), and the tablets have become ubiquitous in NFL locker rooms.
So, with his Vikings at 0-4 and nothing better to do, Kluwe decided to have a little fun with Goodell again, posting this new fake memo to Twitter, ostensibly from his iPad:
“The front office was kind enough to send us another memo! Whiteboard time!”
(Image via Lockerz.com)
If Kluwe is to believed (we haven’t seen any other news of this memo elsewhere), apparently Goodell is getting twitchy about these iPads being hacked into in order to access an opponent’s gameplan prior to kickoff … or something like that. And whether or not you believe that’s a realistic concern, this is the latest instance of der commissioner trying to control his players’ every move. Kluwe also made a follow-up post, wondering how the league would enforce the new rule, and if they’d install a “mandatory Net Nanny for all NFL employees’ electronic devices”.
This probably isn’t Kluwe’s best stuff (although the Depends crack made us chuckle), but you certainly have to question the timing of the memo from Goodell, especially given this week’s passing of Jobs, and the ensuing cultural firestorm it has created. Unless this is all just a timely satirical social commentary by Kluwe, and there was no real memo to begin with. In which case, Chris is way more clever than we gave him credit for, and we tip our hat to him.
27
Sep
2011
Pretty Much Everyone Thinks Michael Vick is a Whiner (PIC)
(Image: NY Post via SportressofBlogitude)
Following Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants – which he left early with an injured right hand - Eagles QB Michael Vick took some time to complain about the officiating in the game, wondering why the hits he takes don’t draw the 15-yard penalty flags that most quarterbacks in the league get. Since that time, pretty much everyone in the world – including most current and former NFL QBs – have been rolling their eyes at Vick, and suggesting that he keep his mouth shut. The banner pic above was the back cover of today’s NY Post, in which the Giants players show no sympathy for Vick, and expresses what a lot of us have been thinking for the past two days.
Leading the charge is former super-bowl winning QB and ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer, who seems to be making it his personal crusade to make sure that everyone knows how out of line Vick was with his comments. Yesterday, Dilfer went on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio to call Vick out, saying that a simple look at the numbers would prove that Vick draws as many penalites, if not moreso than the rest of the QBs in the league. He also suggested that Vick broke every QB man code in the book by complaining about hits, especially in a league that goes out of its way to protect quarterbacks.
And on last night’s Monday Night Countdown, when Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson started to defend Vick’s statement, Dilfer launched into another tirade, pointing out video of a helmet-to-helmet hit on Falcons QB Matt Ryan from last week that didn’t draw a flag, and essentially calling Vick a big pussy:
“Michael Vick does not have a case here. It’s perception vs reality. He’s not taking any more hits than anybody else is taking from the pocket. It happens all the time, it’s a subjective call, and it’s not happening more to Michael Vick than anybody else. Frankly, I’m a little disgusted that a quarterback’s going to get up there and complain about that after the game when the Eagles have other issues.
21
Sep
2011
NFL Threatens Fines, Suspensions & More for Fake Injuries
(Photo: NYDailyNews.com)
Two days after Giants S Deon Grant was caught diving to the turf in an effort to stop the clock and slow the Rams no-huddle offense, the NFL issued a warning that players, coaches & teams caught faking injuries to disrupt the flow of the game could be punished with fines, suspensions and/or loss of draft picks. Although referees are powerless to penalize players suspected of feigning injury during the game itself, the league sent a memo to all 32 teams saying they would be reviewing questionable plays and handing out disciplinary action where appropriate for “conduct detrimental to the game”.
But several players have indicated that feigning injuries has long been a strategic part of the game, and is something that is even coached in certain circles:
“I’ve been places where it has been (taught),” said Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, a member of the players’ union executive committee. “They have a name for it and I’ve been places where it’s been pre-called. I’ve been places where it’s one player who has been designated. Maybe I’m getting everyone in trouble, but I’m just being honest.”
“It’s always been in the game,” Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed said. “It’s all tactical stuff you need to use. Whatever it takes. … If you’re tired, you’re tired. You get a break however you can.”
Added 49ers running back Frank Gore: “Hey, I feel if it helps, do it. I’m bound to do it. Whatever it takes to win …”
8
Jan
2011
Reminder: New Playoff Overtime Rules start this weekend
Under the new rules, will less games come down to the foot of a kicker? (Photo: NYDailyNews)
If one of this weekend’s Wild Card games happens to be tied at the end of regulation, the NFL will unveil their brand new rules for how overtime will be handled during the playoffs. In case you’ve forgotten about it from when the change was made back in March, here’s a quick explanation from the New York Times:
Under the new rule … the team that receives the first overtime kickoff would win the game on that possession only via a touchdown. A field goal then would not end the game in sudden death but would give the opponent’s offense a chance to score. If the score is still tied, either team could then win with a score of any kind.
The rule change was made in response to the general impression that the team that won the coin toss was too often winning the game without the opposition even getting a chance to touch the ball. And while statistics might not necessarily support that claim – since 1994, the team that won the overtime coin toss won the game only 34 percent of the time on the first possession - I think all fans can agree that it’s no fun to watch a team return a kickoff to midfield, make a 15 yard pass and kick a FG to win the game.
So this way, each team will at least have an opportunity to score, and these new rules will definitely have an effect on how coaches approach the extra period. Could we see some teams defer should they win the OT coin toss? Ravens coach John Harbaugh thinks so:
“There is more value in the second possession than there has been in the past,” Harbaugh said Wednesday. “On the second drive, they basically have four downs to move the ball down the field. That second drive has a real good chance to move down the field percentagewise more than it normally would. So you have to keep that in mind. You might see some teams defer.”
And while change of any kind is generally met with resistance, it seems that most people are on board with these new overtime rules. The only strange thing is that the league decided not to apply these new rules to the regular season. That would have given teams a chance to get used to the new system, and we can only hope the rule will be extended to cover all games next year.
20
Dec
2010
VIDEO: Tripgate ain’t got nothing on these guys!
Look for the hoody in the top-left corner (Image via HappyHourPolitics.com)
In the wake of the recent “Tripgate” scandal involving the New York Jets, the league is obviously taking a close look at the behavior of teams on the sideline during punts. And as it turns out, perhaps the Jets weren’t alone – or even particularly novel – in their approach to impeding the progress of gunners who drift too far into their sideline.
In fact, last week after the incident with NY strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi, former Bills pro-bowl gunner Steve Tasker actually stood up in defense of Alosi and the Jets:
“You think this is the first time [a trip] ever happened? Come on,” Tasker said. “Guys were always giving me extra shoves. You don’t want to see someone get hurt, but it’s not a big deal. Why wouldn’t you give a guy a forearm shiver? Everyone on the sideline is part of a team and they all want to win. Shoot, even the doctors are competitive.
“If [the Jets] are coached to do that, so what? Call a penalty on them. If a gunner is going to use the sideline as a weapon, like I did, why wouldn’t you want to form a road block? There’s nothing wrong with that as long as it’s within the rules.”
FOX Sport’s Jay Glazer also reported that in speaking with teams and special teams coaches around the league, he found that it’s actually a fairly widespread technique that quite a few teams do, in fact, coach. He even said one team has a fairly clever codename for it: “Pink Floyd”. And although some folks might consider this cheating, the fact is that if they’re operating within the rules of the game, and if the gunners drift too far into enemy territory, they can rightly be considered fair game.
But watch this incident from week 14 (the same week Tripgate occurred), where DE Tyler Brayton of the Carolina Panthers gets up off the bench to drop Falcons’ gunner Chris Owen with an elbow to the head:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
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:
26
Oct
2010
Hit Of The Week: Brandon Meriweather and Todd Heap, Revisited (VIDEO)
(Photo via Boston.com)
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.
Since the NFL is so intent on removing violent collisions from the game these days, we’re going to play along and not include any hits as part of this feature that could be considered illegal (well, at least for one week). In fact, in an effort to keep this issue top of mind for everyone, today we’ve decided to revisit the two participants in last week’s “hit heard ’round the world” – Brandon Meriweather and Todd Heap – to see how they fared this time around.
Meriweather has been the primary focus of the league’s crackdown on illegal shots to the head, and was under the microscope every time he made a tackle during the Patriots 23-20 win over the Chargers. Here, Meriweather showed that he’s capable of delivering a clean hit (and perhaps even that he was heeding the league’s warnings) as he delivers a huge – but legal – shot on WR Patrick Crayton:
And the NFL should really like this next one, since it doesn’t feature any contact whatsoever! On the other hand, it raises a completely new player-safety issue that the league is going to have to deal with. Perhaps still feeling the effects from Meriweather’s shot to the head from last week, Todd Heap collapsed untouched on the field during the Ravens 23-20 OT win over the Bills :
WATCH TODD HEAP’S SCARY MOMENT AFTER THE JUMP
