To say that this weekend was a brutal weekend, that would be putting it lightly.
We saw some of the hardest hits this weekend, and more concussions were handed out than fines. Some immediate reactions from the league, ironically prompted by one of the hardest hitters in the game.
Also, a QB controversy that some coaches would love to have, but could have some adverse effects too.
We got a lot to get to, so let’s dive right into this week’s Scout’s Take.
**This was a rough weekend for pass catching players. In case you were away from your TV, you would have missed a few players getting sent to sleep by defenders that did their best impression of a SCUD missile.
In Philly, Desean Jackson was flat out hammered by oncoming Atlanta DB Dunta Robinson while trying to catch a pass across the middle. While this was one of the more unfortunate collisions that I don’t believe was avoidable, it left both players with severe concussions to the point that Jackson and Robinson needed to be helped off the field.
Jackson is now out for the following week’s matchup against Tennessee, a matchup that they will need to have everyone on their toes for. Dunta Robinson is questionable to play this week against Cincinnati, but he’s in a bit better shape than Jackson is.
Dunta was fined $50,000 immediately by the league for the hit, which seems a bit steep for a collision I truly don’t think he could have avoided. The way both players were moving, the speeds they were moving at, and the way they were both positioned, no human could react that quickly. It’s tough to think that the league would be more understanding towards this hit, but the fact that it came in the same week as a couple other brutal hits makes him guilty by association.
On a less “questionable” side, Steelers LB James Harrison was fined $75,000 for two brutal hits that left both WR/KR Josh Cribbs and Mohammad Massaquoi slumped in their pads with concussions, ultimately leaving them both in questionable condition for this coming week. When asked about the hits prior to the fine being issued, Harrison said he wasn’t sorry for it and was looking to “hurt people on each hit”. His clarification meant he wasn’t trying to injure someone and potentially leave them with lingering damage, but he tries to make each hit
count and make it hurt for a moment before they pick themselves back up to goto the huddle.
Once the fine was issued, Harrison seemed to have a change of tune and almost tried to play the “victim” role for a minute. Hearing that he was fined what the equivalent cost of 2 game checks would be, he states he’s contemplating retirement seriously because he’s not sure if he can play football the way he knows how to play.
Now, for me personally, I almost laughed when I heard this. It sounds like a scorned child being caught doing something bad and then upset that they got in trouble. You question retiring because you can’t make a hit that was deemed illegal before this issue really started to become a mainstream issue? I’m not sure if he just ignored the whole start to the season, or maybe missed one of the many memos that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out talking about concussions and how serious they are.
He wasn’t able to hit people like this prior. They were fining you last year, and they’re cracking down even worse this year and they have a good reason to be. When you have former players with full blown Alzheimers at 55, there’s a problem. Not to mention, players aren’t the same breed of players as they were in the 70’s and 80’s. These players are bigger, stronger, and faster. The damage they leave when each hit occurs is much more than it used to be.
I wanted to make sure this was mentioned as well, as I think this was the true cheap shot of the week. The award goes to Brandon Meriweather, DB for the Patriots. On a ball that was definitely overthrown to Ravens TE Todd Heap, Meriweather takes it upon himself to make sure that Heap won’t be catching anything today and catches Heap under the chin with a leaping shot with his helmet. He hit Heap hard enough that he knocked his mouthpiece clean out of his mouth a couple feet away from where he landed.
Meriweather, like the prior two defenders mentioned, was fined $50,000 as well. This one I feel should have prompted more. He should have been fined $100,000 and suspended a game. The difference between Harrison and him, was Heap didn’t even have a chance at the ball. Harrison at least hit players who were making plays for the ball. Dunta hit a ball-carrier who was crossing the center of the field. Meriweather caught a defenseless receiver with no play at all on the ball and caught him in an exposed spot underneath his helmet. The other two shots looked like hard hits while Meriweather’s looked like a blatant cheap shot.
An interesting twist came about this story when former Patriots Safety, Rodney Harrison chimed in on national TV about his feelings on the matter. He was known for being one of the hardest hitting DBs in the game and went on to say that fines never affected him. He would allocate $50,000 a season just for fines to
make sure he let players around the league know that if you crossed the center against him, you would pay for it. He said that the only way that the defenders would really get the message would be for them to start suspending players. Harrison’s message came with a big following, as the next day, the NFL announced that starting immediately, it would suspend players that were called for illegal hits.
A lot of backlash from players and coaches has come from this. Many feel that this will soften the game. Chris Carter, Hall of Fame WR for the Vikings said “No one is forcing these players to get on the field. Every player that steps out there understands the risks. If you are concerned about the injury risks before stepping on the field, then choose a different career.” He’s right. Every player growing up in this game understands the injury risks associated with it. This is a man’s game. It’s a game of gladiator-like results.
Every year, injuries end many people’s seasons. Sometimes, it ends their careers. It’s a part of the game that I believe everyone understands. While I can see how people would feel its softening the game, there were some of the hardest hitters in history that never led with their helmets.
Take Ronnie Lott for instance. Lott was known was one of the scariest DB’s to play the game. This is the same guy who had a broken finger amputated during a game to get back on the field because it was causing problems with him trying to catch a ball. Lott never led with his helmet. He hit hard with his chest. He would hit players’ chest on and send them clean in to the dirt. No foul play, no dirty hits, just pure power and sure tackling techniques.
Maybe the league should ask some of the greats how they did it. While the players have changed physically, the technique on how to take a man down hasn’t evolved much. Strong arms, good hands, and putting yourself in the right position to stop the play still is the foundation of it and will remain until someone comes and evolves the next step. I know they say players are stronger and faster, but that’s on both sides of the ball.
**One of the lesser talked about topics in Philly behind the condition of Desean Jackson is the ongoing QB controversy in Philly. With Vick out with a rib cartilage injury, starter-turned backup QB Kevin Kolb has stepped in, and has taken full advantage of his time under center.
Kolb has looked like he’s evolved from the scared novice QB to actually having some poise in the pocket. His eyes have started to stay downfield instead of looking for the checkdown route after 2 seconds. He looks like the QB that Andy Reid would hope he’d develop into.
So now the question is, with Vick’s health returning, who do you start? On one side, you have a pocket passer QB who has been in the wings waiting for his
opportunity for the past 3 years and was supposed to be the future of the Eagles franchise. On the other side, you have the mobile, improved, and experienced QB in Michael Vick. Mike took over when Kolb went down halfway through week 1 and had been playing at a high level until his injury.
Reid has already stated that when Vick is healthy, Vick will start. Now he also said that Kolb was his starter, no questions before so you can only take Reid’s word so far as his actions.
With the lingering issues on Philly’s offensive line, plus you’ve already played the dancing game with your QBs and who’s starting, its time you hold to your word and leave Vick in. You have a very admirable situation in Kolb and Vick. They always say go with the hot hand, which right now is Kolb. However if you plan on competing this season, you need continuity. This can develop into a real problem if you constantly are flipping back and forth between these guys. On top of that, the QBs along with the rest of the team can start to lose confidence in your decision making regarding personnel. If you can do it with the most important position on the team, how expendable is every other player?
The Eagles have been able to turn what looked like a rebuilding year into another year of competing for a division title. Stay the course, make your decision and stick to your guns. The Philly fan-base was not expecting a miracle this season, so to turn something out of nothing is always a good situation to be in. Just don’t screw it up Andy, you know you’re in a tough media market…
**After the way this season’s been going with so many wild upsets week in and week out, you could roll the dice and have as good of a shot at predicting how these games will unfold. But since I’m a trooper, I’ll try to give you my best idea on how they “should” turn out. Every team has glaring flaws and each week, we seem to learn more and more about them. So here are this week’s Screamers and Sleepers!
SCREAMERS!!!!!
Tennessee Titans at Philadelphia Eagles
Kolb is hot, King Dunlap actually is playing respectable at LT, and this defense thrives off takeaways. However, there’s one small problem. The Titans have Chris Johnson. The Eagles are kinda soft in the center of this defensive line, which can spell trouble for Philly. Kolb will play well to try and convince the fans that he should be starting over Vick, but CJ reminds them as to why he should be the best RB in the league, and not Adrian Peterson.
Johnson carries them to a win 27-24
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Can a team be more desperate than the Cowboys? You have a top 5 ranked offense and a top 5 ranked defense, and yet you’re 1-4…Meanwhile, the Giants are on a roll with their defense just beating teams up and Eli is quietly having a great season. Seems like it would be too easy to call this game, but the spreads are saying something…I’m going against my better judgement and saying that Dallas’s desperation pays off in primetime. If the Cowboys play the way they know how, they can compete with anyone in the league. On Monday night, they finally show a glimpse of it.
Dallas wins in a tight, hard fought game 17-14.
Sleepers…
San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers
San Fran finally got off the schneid and got into the win column for the first time in 2010. Carolina still sits in the “0 for” category and going back to their original starting QB, Matt Moore. San Fran should be hungry for this, and Carolina looks desperate and sloppy. Although they are getting Steve Smith back this week, I don’t think they’ll find him much with Patrick Willis breathing down Moore’s neck. This will be an ugly game, with a lot of turnovers and sloppy play.
San Fran wins in another ugly one 19-12.
Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore just lost in a heartbreaker at New England and returns home to a Buffalo team that thinks they are the laughing stock of the NFL. Well Buffalo, you’re right. Is it too early to pencil you in as the #1 overall pick in the 2011 Draft? Baltimore will make you think so. I don’t even think this will be close.
Baltimore by a landslide 28-7.
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