Look at the picture that has been posted a few times in this thread, Brackett's arms are at his side and he has no intention of using them, his intent was to use the helmet. When you watch the video he folds his arms across his chest and leads with his helmet.
He certainly didn't lead with his arms since they were by his side and then folded over his chest. If you read the rule and then watch the play you see the penalty, just because Amato sees it at the last moment and ducks his head does not mean it is not a penalty.
Go to the OP and watch the clip, even without getting blocked his chances of making that tackle are slim and none, IMO.
In my opinion he should be fined and suspended as a serial offender. If the NFL want to clean up the game this is exactly the type of offence and serial offender that they should make an example of. I fail to see how anyone can say that this was not a premeditated act and as such the example should be made of the offending player.
Jeff Fisher on Gary Brackett Hit: '100 Percent Unnecessary' http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/05/jeff-fisher-on-gary-brackett-hit-100-percent-unnecessary/
While I wouldn't take Jeff Fisher as the defining word on this, the cracked helmet is telling. Takes a lot to crack a football helmet.
clean hit on a defender who was neither defenseless or out of the play. only reason it was H2H was because BOTH players lowered their heads. you cannot always simply fault one player for a H2H hit.
Looking at the hit, it is a penalty. And it was flagged. If the return man would have scored a TD and it was taken off, that would be okay and people probably wouldn't make such a big deal about it. Now looking at the new NFL rules, yes it should be a fine, as similar hits were fined, but if it is a suspension, it should not be next week against us. It should be week 1 next season. You shouldn't take a good player out of a playoff game for something that isn't 100% intentional and borderline disgusting.
There's a difference between making a block and trying to make an ESPN highlight. It may be clean/legal if you want to go into the details but there is no doubt in my mind that Brackett led into that hit hoping to knock him the fug out. Should he be suspended? No, I don't think so. I just think it was a cheap shot.
I do believe repeat offenders should be suspended but it has to be in writing beforehand. Can't just decide right now that being called out three times in one season is enough to miss a playoff game. If Colts knew Brackett was one illegal hit away from suspension it would give them chance to pull Brackett off their special teams or ride the risk & deal with the consequences.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nYaslFUdtg[/YOUTUBE] now apparently Brackett wasn't flagged for the helmet to helmet part, but rather because it was a blindside hit. Was Warner not blindsided?
