Goodell Won The War Against The Hawk
December 11th, 2013
Dashon Goldson talked about his new decision-making
Buffalo’s biggest pass play of the day Sunday came courtesy of Roger Goodell and the lawsuit-paranoid NFL.
Joe wanted to vomit. Fans were denied great football. And for what?
EJ Manuel fired a ball over the middle to Stevie Johnson with Dashon Goldson bearing down on him from a deep safety position. But “The Hawk” backed off, hit Johnson at three-quarter speed, and Johnson bounced away from Goldson and Mark Barron and scampered for a 33-yard gain.
Watching from the press box, Joe happened to be dialed into Goldson the entire play, and he was set up to completely blow up Johnson. But that’s not what happened.
Joe felt compelled to ask Goldson after the game if Goodell and NFL rules were his head in those split seconds.
“Yeah, I was telling [Barron], I kind of bounced off that tackle because I kind of hesitated you know, when I saw the ball in the air on what I wanted to do,” Goldson said. “That’s what they want me to do. But you gotta get guys on the ground. Point blank. No excuses.”
Joe feels bad for NFL safeties. With Rob Gronkowski’s recent blown knee, among others’, it’s only a matter of time before the NFL outlaws low hits, too. Just put the flags around the waists and get it over with.
December 11th, 2013 at 10:32 am
I don’t think they will be outlawing low hits on receivers because there is no “long term” damage caused by ACL tears, at least nothing that the NFL will be sued over. Now that may all change the day the NFL is sued by players who can’t walk at 50.
December 11th, 2013 at 10:35 am
Jim….you nailed it.
December 11th, 2013 at 11:11 am
Really sad state of affairs in the NFL. You are right, Joe. To call it player safety is utterly rediculous. Just NFLs way of keeping its gaggle of lawyers out of commission for a while.
December 11th, 2013 at 11:49 am
i once fractured a finger pulling a flag while playing flag football, joe. i’m sure it would only be a matter of time before the flags were deemed to be too dangerous also.
December 11th, 2013 at 11:53 am
There have been a couple plays lately where a receiver was in the act of catching a pass, not ”helpless”, & the throw was accurate, & the hit was in the back/mid-section, where a penalty was called. The zebras are making up fouls nowadays, in effect flagging defensive players for hitting too hard.I have also seen plays where the DB/LB had a good opportunity at a hard blow, but opted to try to slow down & carefully grab, & missed, allowing an offensive player to continue downfield.
December 11th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
ive given up on the game, thers a penalty after every hit , and the refs decide to many games very inconsitant with the calls,seattles d backs seem to get away with grabbing receivers all day and the bucs are calld for every tackle
December 11th, 2013 at 12:16 pm
If they outlaw low hitz. I’ll stop watching NFL. Seriously am I the only guy that think’s these new rules and the inconsistantcy of the Ref’s. Enforcing these rules is maring the NFL season. If your QB get’s hit late….flip a coin. Some QB get driven to the ground….no flag. Yet in another game a flag get’s thrown for pushing a QB late. I would be in favor of an unsportsmanlike penelty for diving or embelishing. Luck and Jimmy Graham are known. “Divers” and have drawn some silly call’s. Or one I really love, when the ref’s get a memo before the Sunday nighter. The memo should state “we blew a lot of defenceless receiver call’s today, make sure you pay extra attention to that. Sure enough every defenceless receiver get’s the benifit of the dought. I’m pretty sure one of the new rules back’s can’t lead with helmet to helmet. Defencive player’s too. This never get’s called. Leveon Bell got destroyed last week at the goalline. With a nasty helmet to helmet hit. Which lead’s to my next point…bias. If Merryweather or Goldson makes that hit on Bell. A flag would have been thrown. Every player should be treated equeal. They still have fines and suspention’s to use. NFL Central, a board of 150 unbias official’s, with 9 being assigned to each game. Watching EVERY play and buzzing down when the want to take a second look. Put it to a vote…and play on. Last thing, the ref’s are so bad, just get rid of this “Must have undisputable evaidence to reverse the call”.
December 11th, 2013 at 12:25 pm
In 50 years NFL will be out of business if it stays on track that it has recently. From a personal standpoint, I no longer want to emotionally commit to be a fan of a sport where rules r enforced in an unfair manner. Not to mention the rules itself are becoming F’n ridiculous.
December 11th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
jim Says:
December 11th, 2013 at 10:32 am
I don’t think they will be outlawing low hits on receivers because there is no “long term” damage caused by ACL tears, at least nothing that the NFL will be sued over. Now that may all change the day the NFL is sued by players who can’t walk at 50.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
There’s tons of former NFL players that can’t walk at 40.
Check out the HBO Documentary detailing the life and daily struggles of former Raiders OC Jim Otto. Earl Campbell is an absolute mess.
December 11th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Team’s running up to the line because they know the receiver only got one foot in. The away team won’t get a replay to look at. Try explaining this to your kid’s. Well son, the ref’s messed up and if the team with the ball hurry’s to the line and snap’s the ball. The rules don’t apply to THAT play. So Dad, you can break rules as long as you don’t get caught. No son, If you break the rules in the NFL. They will see it on tape. Then next week you’ll need to have 5 feet in bound’s to get the call.
December 11th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Can’t they just make better helmets…?
December 11th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
I think all defensive players need to band together and boycott or something. Maybe refuse to report to camps in the off season. I don’t know. But something needs to be done.
These rules are completely ruining the game.
Also, if a WR thinks he cannot get open, all he has to do is lower his hear toward the tacklers head. Even if HE initiates the head to head contact, the tackler will get called and it’s free yards.
Too easy to rig the game because of this rule.
December 11th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
THERE should be a penalty for offensive players who lower their head at that point they are initiating the helmet to helmet contact. dont wanna get hit in head dont lower it…
December 11th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Don’t HIT. TACKLE.
December 11th, 2013 at 4:22 pm
Adam L,
The way most guys learned to play was seperate the man from the ball. You can’t always do that with a form tackle.
December 11th, 2013 at 7:18 pm
How to fix it. Ref watch the replay after every personal foul concerning a hit to helmet.
December 11th, 2013 at 9:17 pm
agreed!
December 12th, 2013 at 2:57 am
Joe feels your pain tj.
December 12th, 2013 at 7:25 am
The real refs are why I didn’t complain about the replacements. In time they would have gotten the hang of it. It’s also high time that ref’s became full time NFL employees.