It didn't even need to be a dirty play. Brady was sticking his nose in where it didn't belong and all any defender had to do was run straight through him to get at the ball carrier. Add in that he has tormented this team seemingly forever and that every Jet player who's been here more than a season or two should absolutely hate the whiny little bitch, and he should have been counting the little birds flying round his head after a perfectly legal hit.
Parcells would have cut every single player that had a shot to break up that play and failed to act. The whole defense needs a serious kick in the ass.
Typical of the NFL game at this point. They're all collecting checks and it's a different game altogether. It's becoming unwatchable
I'm sure every player in the league was fully aware of the consequences if they blew Brady up. Players are afraid to sack the quarterback too hard, let alone lay the smackdown on him in the open field like that. It pisses me off as a former high school player. We were ALWAYS taught to not only hit the quarterback on an interception or such plays but make it a point to go and find him and put his 'dick in the dirt' as our coaches used to say. Can't say I blame the players a ton. I doubt anyone wanted to wake up Monday morning with a $50,000 fine and a multiple game suspension (resulting in game-checks lost). I think this speaks to the modern day NFL player more than it does the coaching and such. I'm off the Bowles train as much as anyone, but when most NFL teams are out of playoff contention their concern turns to their paycheck and their health more than it does anything else. If they lit him up, every analyst and football talk show host in the world would've been talking about suspending the guy who did it for life. Everyone out there is aware of this. I agree though that it's still frustrating. The more frustrating part about the play isn't that they didn't light him up, it's that they didn't at least shoulder check him to the ground. You don't have to absolutely kill him to send a message.
It was a smart play by the Jets. If we hurt Brady, Garoppolo would come in and lead the Pats to the SB. Now there's still a chance Garoppolo ends up with another team after next season.
As noted above, they didn't even have to blow him up - just run right through him to get to the ballcarrier. What they did was embarrassing, and Bowles' complete indifference to it just reinforces that they care a whole lot less than the fans do.
I appreciate what you are saying, but when the QB is downfield blocking he is subject to getting hit like any other player on the field. If the QB is dumb or brave enough to be downfield blocking, he should know he is taking a risk. It's one thing to protect QB's when they are in the pocket, but if they have balls and/or lack of brains to be leadblocking, they are subject to getting clocked. Not to mention Brady actually was a key part of that play getting a 1st down. This combined with the lovefest for Brady through the media makes me sick. This guy is almost 40 and we are still allowing him to not only kill us, but prance up and down the field as he pleases.
So Pryor comes and knocks him on his ass. Regardless of it being a legal hit or not, if he lights him up, you really think the ref doesn't throw a flag, and the media and league doesn't crucify him? Believe me. I'm all for it. I just think it's in the backs of players mind to not do anything remotely close to that for a fear of a penalty, but more importantly to them, a hefty fine. It's sad, but I think it speaks a lot more to the way the NFL protects its golden boys than it does coaching or giving up. And I've began to despise Bowles. But they played the whole game tough and hard. I don't think that play is an indictment on him or his players giving up.
They played hard, but they simply weren't good enough to win. When plays had to be made, we didn't make them. No mystery here.
Oh I heard his answer on it, and it wasn't any better...when he was asked if he wished they'd gone after Brady he gave it a pass and just said he wishes they'd have made the tackle. http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0595007354760599059-4
The league is in the process of ferment. First, there have been too many Mike Websters, brought about by too many owners who never GAF about the players. Concussion protocols have changed the game, and we're only just now beginning to see where it's going. Second, the message has been made effectively that if the stars are regularly injured, everyone makes less money. As much as I despise the Patriots, and I truly do, there is nothing to be gained by drilling Brady as hard as possible on that play. For the job of the defense is to stop the ball carrier and keep him out of the end zone. And the end of the day, one of the league's blue eyed boys will still be on the field next week. Players make too much money to risk losing it to injury, and they've bought into the idea - except that nobody likes Cam Newton. Damien Woody's comments about how the CBA has restricted practice time and that has crimped the skill level at which the game was formerly played are accurate. And partly because of the decline in play, interest and viewership is down. The size and speed of the players has exceeded the size of the playing field. But to make it larger would take out too many high priced seats. There are probably about a dozen guys on each team who would be actively using steroids if the league hadn't cracked down, and this has made probably about a 10-15% drop off in their play. But they're still on the field. A missed tackle here, a dropped ball there, factor that in across the league every week. Whether that's good or bad is up to the individual observer, but there's no denying it's having an effect. The poor quality and dramatic inconsistency of the officiating has been exposed by television, but also by the relentless 24 hour sports talk guys, who need something to prattle on about. The NFL is the only major league without full time professional officials and it shows. The whole debacle of what constitutes a catch is confusing and downright embarrassing, and Goodell has no idea what to do about any of it. In the end, his refusal to deal with this is no different that F-ing asshole Bud Selig's refusal to deal with steroids. He's just another water carrier for the rich pricks who own the league. So pay attention sports fans, because we're a witness to history, and it's already happening as we speak and watch.
I think making eye contact with Brady outside the pocket is a 5 yard penalty and automatic 1st down. So yeah hitting brady as a lead blocker could be indefinite suspension. Regardless, dude should have been LIT up!!!
Who cares if the ref throws a flag. you don't avoid contact with a blocker like that no matter who he is. Take the 15 yard penalty if there even is one. It's funny you mention Pryor, one of the players that completely quit on that play. His backside pursuit consisted of walking and watching. This team did NOT play the whole game tough and hard they played like they play every week, without really caring if they win or lose, and protecting ole' number 1 first. Watch the defense: never any gang tackling, rushing to the football, taking on blockers so your teammate can make a play, nope. If you are there? make the stop. if not maybe someone else will. The game will end soon and we can hit up the titty bar.
