Ed Reed Suspended for 1 game

SnA ExclusiVe · Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 10591 Location: Spokane, WA

The problem I have is the league suspending Reed in a game where Dennis Pitta was taken out of the game for a concussion by a known head-hunter who, after the play was walking around with all the cameras on him pointing at his helmet knowing he just hit him with it...

The league gave absolutely no punishment to Clark for his hit on Pitta, but suspends Reed for his hit on Sanders, even though Clark is a known head-hunter, is on record saying he doesn't care about fines or suspensions he's going to keep playing the way he does, yet Ed Reed, the guy with a torn shoulder labrum and a neck injury is apparently trying to injure OTHER players.

That's what I have a problem with. However I think the most basic problem in the NFL with these hits are that defenders keep getting bigger and stronger while offensive players keep getting weaker and faster.
_________________

diamondbull424 · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 10017 Location: Baltimore, MD

^^^^ @Flaccomania

Only Sanders wasn't defenseless- per se (he was defenseless within the structure of the rule of making a catch, but not in the fact that he didn't see the hit and wasn't in a position where he could lessen the impact). He had already taken two steps and saw the hit coming... which is why it became helmet to helmet in the first place. Sanders lowers his head at the last second to absorb part of the blow... and Reed while indeed leading with his head (but really what tackle ISN'T led with the helmet, defenders are taught to put their helmet onto the ball and the ball is likely to be BEHIND the offensive players head on most any play) then hits Sanders just lowered helmet.

I won't argue with the penalty as indeed he hit the helmet and that's the rule. But this is one rule that is really getting on my nerves. Are defenders suppose to not tackle a guy until he takes 2 steps and THEN makes a football move? Because what the NFL is asking on that play is the impossible. There is no way Ed Reed can make a sound tackle on that play without drawing helmet to helmet or worse going after Sanders knees. Even if he were lunging shoulder to waist (proper tackling technique) instead of forearm to chest, there is no way he avoids the H2H there.

And again, I bring up the NBA here. You state that the NFL doesn't want to grade out intent, but they surely can grade out impact. There could easily be a: technical H2H penalty vs. a flagrant H2H penalty. A technical could be called in a game then upon further examination it could be amplified to flagrant by the disciplinary committee or the exact opposite, a flagrant called in game and then demoted to a technical. The rule enforcement on each could then be determined. Also the in-game penalty varying. A technical hit could produce a normal 15 yd penalty, but a flagrant hit producing 20 yds (an extra 5 yds difference).

Also in terms of the point about Harrison... how often is he in coverage? If the NFL really is going to proceed without establishing a clear cut system on this, then you'd think they'd at least factor in likelihood of such a hit. Harrison is/was in coverage probably 70% less of the time than Reed. His 3 hits in 3 seasons would then be 5 hits in 3 seasons for Reed.

The main problem here is that there is no proper system. Fine Reed all you want because its against the rules and because the fine system is clearly set in stone. But there is no system clearly installed for fining players based on unsportsmanlike penalties. Make one, even a stupid one, and I won't complain (as much), but until then I find this AND the Harrison suspension to be unfair based on the information provided. It just has a tribal "this is my decision" feel to it as opposed to something that everyone can get behind... and honestly I think this is why Goodell takes such heat. Sure he's disciplining players that break rules, but many times these rules are so jelly that they leave room for arguments. If proper systems were established and the NFL can point to those "systems" doing the punishment and not just some "committee" than it would go over a lot smoother when the hammer is dropped.
_________________

Blind arrogance sows the field of it's own destruction. - Commander Greil, Fire Emblem

Flaccomania · Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 16539 Location: Parkville, MD

dcarey20 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 7180

Appeal by Reed won, will play Sinday, receives 50k fine

diamondbull424 · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 10017 Location: Baltimore, MD

wackywabbit · Joined: 20 Dec 2009 Posts: 3845

DontTazeMeBro · Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 20504 Location: 321

Suck it Goodell!
_________________

BareYourTeeth · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:27 pm Post subject:

diamondbull424 · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 10017 Location: Baltimore, MD

SnA ExclusiVe · Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 10591 Location: Spokane, WA