[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPQas1h8vfg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube] http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/does-the-colts-gary-brackett-deserve-to-be-suspended/ Personally I don't think it's suspension worthy, but it seems there's a possibility?
Fined, yes. But there have been equally as bad helmet-to-helmet hits with no suspensions. I guess you can make the case that this truly WAS unnecessary, but I would be shocked if there's a suspension, especially for a playoff game.
Because we're playing them this Saturday I'm tempted to say YES, but I fuckn' hate the pussy rules the NFL are thinking about enacting.
If anything they would suspend him for week 1 next year, no way they pull him off the field for a playoff game. But I'm not above rooting for it to happen.
In real time (you can check the Other Games Thread) I thought it should have been a suspension without even knowing Brackett's prior record, just because of the malice of the hit itself. Not only did Brackett lead with his helmet right into Amato, but it also was a blindside head shot on a defenseless player. He was lucky Amato wasn't far more seriously injured. Add in the fact that Brackett is a repeat offender and doesn't seem to care if he's fined for attempts to injure - he definitely should be suspended. Compare this to the hit by Eric Smith on Anquan Boldin a couple of years ago. The grotesque head shot on Boldin wasn't intentional - more the combination of Boldin being hit from behind and bending forward as Smith was already committed to the hit. Smith was fined AND suspended. Now, will Brackett be suspended? Given the fact that the Colts are playing a playoff game and a favorite in the NFL offices, probably not, but he should be.
I'm not even sure why it was a penalty (I get the atmosphere in the league right now...so I know why they called it). He blocked a player that was in pursuit of the ball holder. The block was to the front of the player. Yes Brackett lowers his head, but so does the guy that took the hit. It was a bang-bang play and it was a huge hit....but I have a hard time believing he was trying to hurt the guy.
You mean aside from the fact that he launched and speared his helmet into a defenseless players helmet?
The guy was out of the play. The guy was defenseless. He launched. He lead with his helmet. He hit the other guy in the helmet. When you could have been flagged for 3-4 different reasons on one hit, yeah, I would say it calls for a suspension.
I couldn't get over how unfit the CB was that caught the ball to just totally run out of gas at around the 20yd line
The Warren Sapp rule says it's illegal even if you cleanly block him in the chest. This was launching helmet to helmet on top of the sapp rule.
Waitasecnd! Why are discussin' dis legal hit when we shud be askin' why Edwids wasn't suspendid fah da outrageus endzone dance dat he did in da game I didunt watch one snap ahve?
so 3rd fine of the year, and this one was devastating. i doubt they suspend him, but i thought thats what goodell was talking about earlier in the year.
I had a feeling the majority would say yes... If this was a jets player you would only want a fine... That being said, fined not suspension...They haven't suspended anyone yet except for drugs/dog killing/etc
well taking the bias away this is the 3rd time he was fined for shit, and this last one was crazy. i really could care less, but this is the shit goodell said he would suspend for.