I disagree with that completely. Watch the the live-action segment, he brings his arms back and extends his upper torso to direct his head straight out. When I played football, that's what you did to put someone's lights out. I'm not sure how I feel about all of these rules, but they are rules and need to be enforced across the board. Willis extended and led with the crown of the helmet, and put Smith's lights out. I think there should be a fine.
yeah there should be a fine because it was helmet to helmet. all im saying is that if you put someone who doesn't have any bias towards any of the players or teams in a room with both hits playing side by side they would most likely think the hit on boldin was more dangerous. i dont think that either hit was made with the intent to injure the other player. i believe that smith was suspended in part because of the severity of the injury that boldin suffered. brad smith looks like he made out with only a concussion so this hit won't draw as much attention, and there probably wont be a suspension. as you said a fine is in order simply because helmet to helmet is illegal no matter the circumstance of the hit.
WOW! Nice hit! As far as suspension goes, who cares? The 49ers suck, and are'nt going anywhere anyway. If the Jets don't beat Buffalo this Sunday, the same could be said about them.
I made it known that I thought the hit Eric Smith laid on Boldin required a fine. I thought a suspension was a bit hefty for a first-time offender, but if that's the route Goodell wants to take with these hits, I'd just like to see it enforced across the board. BTW, I'd take a fractured sinus over a concussion any day of the week.
I care. I actually hope not suspended, because i want Willis playing against the fish this weekend. He is their best defensive player.
i agree with you. like i said i think the fact that boldins injuries were more serious causing him to miss games influenced the decision for a suspension. i think eric smith should have only been fined, and i think the same with willis. neither guy is known as a dirty player to my knowledge so for a first time offender a fine is appropriate, as you said.
In my opinion, there is one major reason that Willis' hit won't result in penalty, fine or suspension unlike Clark's or Smith's hit. Anquan Boldin was a receiver trying to make a catch. Wes Welker was a receiver trying to make a catch. Brad Smith was a ball carrier trying to advance the ball. He secures the catch, takes multiple steps and turns upfield. He cannot be labeled a receiver, let alone a "defenseless receiver." The reason he seems so blind and defenseless to Willis isn't because he's occupied securing a catch, it's because Michael Lewis has him somewhat hogtied a split second before impact. Correct me if I'm wrong, but standard ball carriers aren't protected by the same helmet-to-helmet rules that quarterbacks and receivers are. A running back or a wide receiver post-catch or a non-sliding quarterback are all fair game. (Derrick Brook's career-ending helmet-to-helmet hit on Rich Gannon comes to mind). For the record, I think Willis made a clean hit and led with the shoulder pad. But I think that point is moot. Smith was not a receiver at the time of the hit and therefore any disciplinary action regarding helmet-to-helmet contact is not warranted.
I got news for you the NFL will be fining Willis for that hit. Leading with his helmet and hitting the oponent's head = $7500-10K fine.
