Who cares? Smith is absolutely the worst starter on D and we're probably better off with Barrett or Elam in his place.
The issue is I watched Keller get blasted with a helmet to helmet last week in San Diego that I heard in the upper deck and there was no fine or suspension. Part of the problem is it doesn't say that you will be suspended a week for doing ___X___ . It's kind of a gray area and the rules seem to be different for every player and every week. I see so many helmet to helmet hits that don't get flags or any punishment to the player. 2 weeks ago I watched JT O Sullivan slide and get a helmet to helmet laid on him by a Seahawk defender and there wasn't even a flag. If there was a rule that says players will be suspended than that's fine but there isn't and a case by case basis is bush league and open to questioning. All that being said I thought it was a dirty hit and assumed he would be fined but I didn't think the hit warranted a suspension. Now Elbert Mack of the Bucs was suspended a game for his flagrant foul on Matt Ryan a few weeks ago. But it was a QB that he hit so the rules are always different for them.
It looked to me like Smith was going for a late dive at Boldin. He was loading up for the hit and attempting to time it so he could try to force the ball out. Rhodes came up from the back and hit Boldin into Smith, which he wasn't expecting. Boldin winds up going helmet to helmet with Smith. This could be me acting as a homer or apologist but I don't see it as being intentionally dirty, just Smith going for a big hit that got jarred up due to Rhodes. The fact that Smith was down for so long tells me that he didn't see the helmet to helmet contact comming either. He was lying down with one arm up and one arm tucked under him, motionless for a few seconds. Whisenhunt even said that it looked like a clean hit and I don't think there was any reason to be diplomatic about this situation. That being said, I agree with the fine and suspension. The NFL said they were going to crackdown on those types of plays and, intentional or not, it was a dumb move. I don't know why Whisenhunt would have called that play so late in a game that was essentially over, but for Smith to try to lay that type of a hit on a player so late in the game when it would not have meant anything outside of personal pride as a defender was just plain stupid. He put himself at risk and risked the health of another human being with that shot. After watching the hit and seeing Boldin lying down with his legs still crossed all I could think about was the Michael Irvin hit in Philly when the trainer asked Irvin to uncross his legs and Irvin responded with, "I already did." I'm glad to see the penalty for a dangerous hit being higher than a Chad Ochocinco TD celebration fine. Still, i'd expect this to be appealed. I'm not sure that Smith stands a chance of winning it but I would be suprised if he didn't try.
Consise good post :up: Goodell is making an example , excuse me? Hasn't he already done this? So far Goodell has done little for the NFL since taking over from Tags. Granted, aggressive helmet to helmet hits have to be cut out, but this rule is at risk from interpretation, which has no place in the NFL. Football is such a great sport because there are so few grey areas, but this is one of them. http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=805153 Anyone still think Smiths fine and ban are fair? Wheres the parity?
If you think thats what it was, then thats your opinion. What cannot be denied is that it was just retarded to keep going for it when the game was so obviously dead. Should the D just have backed off and let them score then?
We put up 56 points, there was no need for him to lead with his head, he was rightfully suspended. If AZ showed a lack of class for trying to make the score respectfull how can you argue that deserves a cheap head shot that could ruin a mans life. There is a difference between letting them score and a cheap head shot.
Same kind of hit Zach Thomas put on Coles a couple of years ago that everyone was screaming about on the board.
First let me say I hate that Boldin got hurt and I wish him a speedy recovery. That being said There is not a player on that field that does not know the risks involved in playing this game at this level. I think that if their is any doubt as to the intent of the player being accused then he should be afforded the benefit of the doubt. Had Smith hit Boldin head to head with no other players involved, fine him and suspend him. But Boldins bodies movement was clearly adjusted by the hit from behind. Which lowred his head to where Smith had intended to hit, his chest area.. I would love to hear Ronnie Lotts opinion on this one. Perhaps we should just have Qb's and wideouts just put on dresses from hear on out. Its football dammit, people are gonna get hit , and people are gonna get knocked out
Should the D just have backed off and let them score? Well, that seemed to be what the defense did the whole second half, no? The hit was dirty, it's not even debatable. Amazing how so many are completely off base on this, cause it's their team. It's a dirty hit, he should have gotten suspended, he did get suspended, case closed. Not even a debate. You don't launch yourself like a missle into the WR, that's not football.
5 pages say it is debatable :wink: Not interested in what happened the rest of the game. There is no homerism involved here , what is apparent though, is that its a split decision, thats not debatable. If it was clear cut and full of intention, fine, screw Smith. The league see it that way, so whats done is done. Whats next, Centers complaining that NTs are bashing them in the head on the snap? lol
It's funny, a couple seasons ago Junior Seau went for Chad's knee in the exact same way that Pollard went for Brady, only in a more obvious way and with a less detrimental effect, and Pats fans laughed it off. That was a season before they took out a quarter of the starting QBs they played last season. You can't even compare it, buddy.
Exactly, Havent seen a snap yet where every linemans head doesn't slam together. Maybe we should stop allowing kick off returners to run so fast so they wont get hit hard either. No more jumping in the air to high because of the way you may land...I mean really where does it end???
I agree. Smith is getting fined because of Boldin's getting hurt, which was not directly related to Smith's apparent intent.
No doubt but the NFL has made a decision to protect QB and recievers. They used to allow DE to punch OT in the head at the snap of the ball and they used to not allow OL to extend their arms. The league is not just protecting the players they are specifically promoting the passing game. You can't protect the passing game if star WR are going to have their brains scambled by head hunting.
