Three big, illegal hits on Sunday forced the hand of the NFL to implement an irrational rule, effective immediately. Any head-to-head collisions or hits deemed "devastating" will bring both a fine and possibly a suspension.
Normally, these things must be dealt with during the offseason, with the league's rules committee sounding off. That, however, was not the case.
The rule has caused quite a stir, especially with players, this week. Channing Crowder of the Dolphins, Ray Lewis of the Ravens and James Harrison of the Steelers - who delivered one of those vicious blows - are just a few of the plethora of players to voice their opinions. Harrison went so far to say he's contemplating retirement.
The common theme among those opinions is that defensive players will have to change teh way they were taught to tackle. Since when are players taught to lead with their heads? Now I don't sit in on NFL meetings, nor am I out there coaching the players, but helmet hits have been illegal for as long as I can remember, dating back to the playing days of Cardinals safety Chuck Cecil.
I understand that football is a violent sport, called a "gladiator sport" by most players. And nobody is forcing anyone to put on a uniform. But there is a right way to do things and a wrong way, and the NFL made the right decision to keep all of its employees safe.
Fans generally are attracted to the game because of the big hits, and I'm no different. But will enough be enough? There have been players paralyzed on the field, and I'm under the belief that, with players stronger and faster than they've ever been, something worse could be on the horizon.
The definition of a "devastating hit" brings a certain degree of uncertainty, but helmet to helmet is pretty self explanitory. When Brandon Meriweather drove his head into the helmet of Todd Heap, that was such a blatant disregard for the rules and hits like that should come with a suspension.
While I'm behind the NFL in principle, I just hope it uses great discretion moving forward as far as administering suspensions.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
R.I. high school football media poll Week 6
Six of the top 20 teams lost league games last week, and two lost non-league games. Perhaps the biggest of those was Barrington, which fell 17-7 to Portsmouth. The victory allowed the Patriots to move into the No. 2 spot in the state behind Bishop Hendricken (by the way, Portsmouth visits the Warwick school on Oct. 29).
Rogers, meanwhile, moved ahead four spots to No. 9 on the strength of its 7-0 triumph over previously unbeaten Middletown. The Islanders fell and fell hard, moving down to No. 13 after reaching No. 8.
Team Points Last week
1. Hendricken (11) 220 1
2. Portsmouth 209 3
3. Barrington 193 2
4. East Providence 192 4
5. La Salle 169 6
6. Cranston West 154 9
7. Tolman 135 7
8. Woonsocket 132 12
9. Rogers 126 13
10. Mount Hope 117 10
11. Johnston 111 5
12. Central 88 14
13. Middletown 78 8
14. Cranston East 76 17
15. Chariho 74 t-20
16. Ex.-West Greenwich 65 16
17. Moses Brown 54 11
18. Shea 24 19
19. Burrillville 21 18
20. Lincoln 18 12 t-20
Dropped from poll: Toll Gate 15, Cumberland t-20.
Also receiving votes: Cumberland 16, Toll Gate 16, Mount Pleasant 10, Coventry 4.
Rogers, meanwhile, moved ahead four spots to No. 9 on the strength of its 7-0 triumph over previously unbeaten Middletown. The Islanders fell and fell hard, moving down to No. 13 after reaching No. 8.
Team Points Last week
1. Hendricken (11) 220 1
2. Portsmouth 209 3
3. Barrington 193 2
4. East Providence 192 4
5. La Salle 169 6
6. Cranston West 154 9
7. Tolman 135 7
8. Woonsocket 132 12
9. Rogers 126 13
10. Mount Hope 117 10
11. Johnston 111 5
12. Central 88 14
13. Middletown 78 8
14. Cranston East 76 17
15. Chariho 74 t-20
16. Ex.-West Greenwich 65 16
17. Moses Brown 54 11
18. Shea 24 19
19. Burrillville 21 18
20. Lincoln 18 12 t-20
Dropped from poll: Toll Gate 15, Cumberland t-20.
Also receiving votes: Cumberland 16, Toll Gate 16, Mount Pleasant 10, Coventry 4.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Patriiots win 23-20 in overtime
Pats win on Gostkowski's 35-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in overtime for a 23-20 win.
Big play in the series is Branch's 10-yard catch on third and two to the 21, setting up the winning field goal soon after.
Branch finishes with nine catches or 98 yards and a touchdown. Who says you can't go home again?
Final score 23-20, just like I predicted in Friday's paper. Except I had the wrong team.
Story of my 2010 picks thus far.
Big play in the series is Branch's 10-yard catch on third and two to the 21, setting up the winning field goal soon after.
Branch finishes with nine catches or 98 yards and a touchdown. Who says you can't go home again?
Final score 23-20, just like I predicted in Friday's paper. Except I had the wrong team.
Story of my 2010 picks thus far.
New England and Baltimore head into overtime at 20-20
Well, with no Randy Moss around for Brady to try and hit down a sideline on a fly pattern, he goes Hail Mary down the middle from the Ravens' 44-yard line. The prayer falls into heavy traffic and is picked off to bring up overtime.
Baltimore wins the coin toss and elects to receive, of course, in the NFL's flawed OT procedure.
Baltimore wins the coin toss and elects to receive, of course, in the NFL's flawed OT procedure.
Pats pull even with Ravens at 20-20
Seems like old times between Brady and Branch. They hook up four times as New England marches from its 14 to the Baltimore 6 before a final Brady, Branch try to connect goes incomplete in the right corner of the end zone.
But Gostkowski kicks a 24-yarder to make it 20-20 inside the 2-minute warning.
But Gostkowski kicks a 24-yarder to make it 20-20 inside the 2-minute warning.
Branch makes a productive return to New England
Take a bow, New England's own Neon Deion.
And he does. After catching a pass from Brady in the deep right side of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown to get the Pats within 20-17 with more than 11 minutes remaining.
And he does. After catching a pass from Brady in the deep right side of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown to get the Pats within 20-17 with more than 11 minutes remaining.
Ravens go up 20-10
New England's in serious trouble. Baltimore just drove 84 yards on 13 plays and kicked a 35-yard field goal to double up the Pats on the scoreboard. The drive consumed 6:47.
Now the Pats have to score at least twice in the final 14:53. At least they get the ball on their 40 to start a very important series.
Now the Pats have to score at least twice in the final 14:53. At least they get the ball on their 40 to start a very important series.
Questionable calls by Pats
Patriots get a field goal to close within 17-10, but the way they did it didn't win many fans at Gillette.
New England drove from its 20 to the Baltimore 17. Then after Brady was sacked for a loss of eight yards came consecutive plays that raised eyebrows throughout the region.
On second and 18, Brady threw incomplete to the 5-foot-9 Woodhead - actually a self-described 5-7 - and on third and 18 ran Woodhead up the middle for a short gain.
After a stunned silence, some boos, and after the field goal, tepid applause.
New England drove from its 20 to the Baltimore 17. Then after Brady was sacked for a loss of eight yards came consecutive plays that raised eyebrows throughout the region.
On second and 18, Brady threw incomplete to the 5-foot-9 Woodhead - actually a self-described 5-7 - and on third and 18 ran Woodhead up the middle for a short gain.
After a stunned silence, some boos, and after the field goal, tepid applause.
New England falls farther behind at 17-7
Baltimore safety Dawan Landry zeroes in on Brady, who unloads high over the middle just before getting flattened. The ball intended for Welker lands in cornerback Chris Carr's hands for an interception in New England territory.
Flacco soon connects with wide receiver Anquan Boldin in the left corner of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown that puts the Pats two possessions down at 17-7.
This is a situation New England really wanted to avoid against this defense.
Flacco soon connects with wide receiver Anquan Boldin in the left corner of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown that puts the Pats two possessions down at 17-7.
This is a situation New England really wanted to avoid against this defense.
Woodhead catches a pass for 14 yards, then runs for a yard, and now Pats go into their two-minute drill as it's the two-minute warning - warning for what? The coaches don't know how much time remains?
Of course it's become a warning that there's another commercial.
Too bad the commercial couldn't have been extended. Tate drops a catchable ball on the right side and Brady gets sacked on third down by Ravens tackle Haloti Ngata.
Ah, another commercial. Wait a minute. No break.
Ravens go to work after Pats punt from their 46. On third down, Ravens get little and the Pats get the ball back on their 12 with 29 seconds remaining in the half ... and take a knee.
To more than a few boos.
10-7 Baltimore at the big break.
Of course it's become a warning that there's another commercial.
Too bad the commercial couldn't have been extended. Tate drops a catchable ball on the right side and Brady gets sacked on third down by Ravens tackle Haloti Ngata.
Ah, another commercial. Wait a minute. No break.
Ravens go to work after Pats punt from their 46. On third down, Ravens get little and the Pats get the ball back on their 12 with 29 seconds remaining in the half ... and take a knee.
To more than a few boos.
10-7 Baltimore at the big break.
What's good for the goose ...
What's good for the goose ... and I'm not talking about Tony Siragusa.
Hernandez makes a 7-yard catch that is ruled a fumble turnover. On further review, his knee was ruled down.
Brady stays hot, hitting Danny Woodhead, Branch and Welker for big gains to the Baltimore 47. But on third and five with the Ravens having eight on the line of scrimmage, Brady's pass to tight end Alge Crumpler over the middle goes incomplete.
Pats have to connect on these with Baltimore undermanned back there.
Hernandez makes a 7-yard catch that is ruled a fumble turnover. On further review, his knee was ruled down.
Brady stays hot, hitting Danny Woodhead, Branch and Welker for big gains to the Baltimore 47. But on third and five with the Ravens having eight on the line of scrimmage, Brady's pass to tight end Alge Crumpler over the middle goes incomplete.
Pats have to connect on these with Baltimore undermanned back there.
Heap hlelps Ravens leap ahead 10-7
Good overturn of the 13-yard pass from Flacco to Derrick Mason to the New England 15 that was initially ruled an incomplete because of a juggle.
After a loss of a yard on a run, Flacco connects with Heap on a slant from right to left for a 16-yard touchdown.
Heap's been a heap of trouble thus far for New England.
After a loss of a yard on a run, Flacco connects with Heap on a slant from right to left for a 16-yard touchdown.
Heap's been a heap of trouble thus far for New England.
Wright stuff and great end around help Pats to 7-3 lead
Nice three-and-out D for New England, with right end Mike Wright getting a Flacco sack as pocket collapses.
New England gets going on offense. Tight end Aaron Hernandez makes an all-alone catch for a big gainer, wide receiver Deion Branch hauls in his first ball on his return to the Pats and gets a huge roar of approval, and wide receiver Brandon Tate keeps the crowd on its feet with a 22-yard end around to the Ravens 2.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis bounces in from there as Pats take a 7-3.
New England gets going on offense. Tight end Aaron Hernandez makes an all-alone catch for a big gainer, wide receiver Deion Branch hauls in his first ball on his return to the Pats and gets a huge roar of approval, and wide receiver Brandon Tate keeps the crowd on its feet with a 22-yard end around to the Ravens 2.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis bounces in from there as Pats take a 7-3.
New England goes nowhere
Not good for New England's first series, a quick three and out featuring a tipped pass and one nowhere near a completion.
Ravens are right up on the receivers.
Sure, its's early, but Patriots need a stop this series.
Ravens are right up on the receivers.
Sure, its's early, but Patriots need a stop this series.
Baltimore strikes first against New England, lead 3-0.
Good start for Patriots on kickoff, as Steve Gostkowski boots it into end zone and Ravens only run it out to the 11.
But Ravens run off 15 plays and more than half the first quarter before settling for a 26-yard field goal by Billy Cundiff.
What's disturbing is Joe Flacco was five-for-five passing to a slew of receivers all running different routes to all sides and in between.
Now Tom Brady has to match that against what could be the NFL's best defense.
But Ravens run off 15 plays and more than half the first quarter before settling for a 26-yard field goal by Billy Cundiff.
What's disturbing is Joe Flacco was five-for-five passing to a slew of receivers all running different routes to all sides and in between.
Now Tom Brady has to match that against what could be the NFL's best defense.
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