Protecting the Game

Posted Sat, 10/10/2009 - 08:24 by Michael J Smith

I’m always puzzled when an NFL team or player is described as soft. I suppose there’s a sliding scale, even in professional football. Apparently, Tom Brady is a little too in touch with his feminine side.

 

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised by how many of my fellow citizens in Pigskin Nation are pro-concussion.

Clearly the Patriots, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are still lightning rods for Pigskin Haters. Okay, I knew that going in to the 2009 season, but still, the spittle-flecked hysteria surrounding the roughing the penalty calls in the Ravens-Patriots game eclipsed even my low expectations of public discourse in the 21st century. You would’ve thought that Ron Winter’s crew had flagged Ravens’ defenders for roughing the passer any time they got within five yards of Brady.

I’m even more surprised by the shameful display of poor sportsmanship exhibited by Ray Lewis and HC John Harbaugh. I guess toughness on the field doesn’t always equate to toughness off the field. You played a tough game. You lost. Man up.

Okay, so let’s break this down…

The Ravens were flagged twice for roughing the passer. Once when Brady was hit in the face by Haloti Ngata, a blow that knocked his helmet loose, and a second time when Terrell Suggs lunged at Brady’s knees. The latter infraction was particularly controversial because (a) Brady moved to avoid the hit and (b) he pointed out the infraction to Ron Winter who "cooperated" by throwing the flag. Oh, and (c) because Brady pumped his fist and smiled diabolically as his underhanded plan to destroy the game of football was one step closer to fruition.

I guess Brady should’ve left his cleats planted in the field turf and let Terrell Suggs blow out the ACL and MCL in his left knee instead of being such a sissy.

Quick Aside: Getting a little less play in the Pigskin Blogosphere this week were comments by Jonathan Vilma after the Saints knocked the Jets from the ranks of the unbeaten last Sunday. Vilma took issue with a chop block delivered by Rico Suave during Darren Sharper’s 99-yard Pick-6. Unlike Tom Brady, Vilma was unable to avoid the shot that Rico took at his knees. Not complete satisfied by the flag thrown on the play, Vilma would like the NFL to tap Rico’s bank account, even though he wasn’t hurt on the play, won’t need surgery, and won’t miss any time. In game action, Brady called for a flag knowing that it would result in a gain of 15 yards and help his team win, and he’s a punk? The so-called Brady Rule is really just a variation on the chop block rule. Both rules penalize players for taking a shot at an opponent’s knees. Suggs’ intentions were clear, even if he failed to make contact.

The Patriots were also flagged for roughing the passer when Mike Wright got a little handsy with Joe Flacco’s face.

I don’t recall Ray Lewis or John Harbaugh mentioning that. I don’t remember Joe Flacco turning to the official and saying, "Gentle sir, please retrieve your saffron kerchief. This is football and I have no need of special favors simply because I am a quarterback."

They took the 15, didn’t they?

But back to Brady’s Skirt.

One of the more interesting post-game comments came from Brady’s Skirt (a sensible a-line). On one of the local radio stations, Brady’s Skirt noted that before the game, Coach Belichick reminded his players that they would need to play especially clean against the Ravens because Ron Winter’s crew led the NFL in penalties called in 2007 and threw the second most hankies in 2008.

Huh.

So, perhaps this wasn’t some Machiavellian plot to destroy the game of football, after all. Perhaps this was simply Ron Winter and his Crew being as crazy as they want to be, as crazy as they have been for the past two seasons. Perhaps if John Harbaugh had been aware of Ron Winter’s fondness for the color yellow, he would’ve thought twice before throwing his headset onto the field like a two-year old.

Perhaps.

One of Ray Lewis’ complaints after the game was that you can’t have one set of rules for one guy and another set of rules for everyone else. In fact, there are many different rules for different positions in football. Perhaps Ray would like to dispense with those, as well. Offensive linemen are not eligible receivers; it would be a whole lot more fun if they were, don’t you think? You can’t run into the kicker or it’s a five-yard penalty; if he writhes on the ground, it’s a 15-yard penalty. I say you should be able to nut-punch those ballerinas! And it should be cool to hit a defenseless wide receiver just like receivers can throw a crackback block and break a guy’s jaw. (Oops! Not any more! Pussies!). Hands to the Face? Talk to the hand! I say we take off the helmets and run the line of scrimmage under MMA rules! Let’s give the running backs motorcycles!

The fact is that all sports – all of life, really – has rules (even MMA). Roughing the Passer is called any time a defender takes a shot at a quarterback’s head. That’s a rule, and in my opinion, a pretty good one. Let quarterbacks take the same punishment dished out to offensive linemen and pretty soon the best starting quarterback in the NFL will be Tavaris Jackson. Not even Brad Childress was comfortable with that outcome. Personally, I think any blow to the head or any blow delivered with the head, regardless of the position of the players involved, should be illegal. Even if that were true, football would still be a physical, violent game. Injuries will still happen. The players are too big and strong and the game is simply too fast to avoid them.

Injuries like the one suffered by Ravens offensive tackle Jared Gaither in that same game. Thankfully, Gaither appears to be fine.

Was it cool watching him carried off the field on a stretcher, wearing a neck brace?

~ October 9, 2009

themike@wavingalien.com