Except that it doesn’t. Read more
Keep guessing. Please. This is pretty amusing. Read more
The box score shows that flag was for roughing the passer: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201411160car.htm Read more
The premise of the rule being that hitting quarterbacks in the pocket in the head is prohibited. Read more
Because of all those hits to the head that are followed by passes. Totally reasonable interpretation. Read more
The one he didn’t get to throw because he got hit in the head. Unlike all those other quarterbacks who can throw a PASS after something like that. Read more
You’re conflating the rule that defines a player in a defenseless posture with the specific rule to protect QBs from getting hit in the head. The latter—Rule 12.2.9, which I cite above—applies to “[a]ny physical acts against a player who is in a passing posture (i.e. before, during, or after a pass).” I’ll stick to… Read more
So it’s an illegal hit that didn’t deserve to be flagged. Got it. Read more
And Matt Ryan completed passes to 10 different receivers and threw for 335 yards and three TDs that day. Probably why I focused on how Ryan and the Falcons’ offense are having an excellent season. Read more
Because I was evaluating the play of their quarterback and their offense, which both have a chance to be historically good. Apples, meet oranges. Read more
Didn’t say they weren’t good, just that Ryan’s MVP cred and the historic pace of their offense still has some big challenges ahead. They still have to play Eagles-Cardinals-Chiefs, after which their schedule gets appreciably easier. I probably could have been more clear about that. Thanks. Read more
I’m cherry-picking, and your only evidence of this is your say-so? I think I finally follow what you’re really saying: The only reason you’re not on board with what Cam said is because you don’t want to be. Read more
It is a new rule that’s also a point of emphasis. Look at the part in red. That wording is new. Again, Suh reached for Brady’s midsection as he lunged; he tried to make a clean tackle, not to take Brady’s legs out, as Campbell did to Cam. But his body crashed into Brady’s lower legs. The wording of the new rule—it’s no… Read more
That play happened last year, before the league specifically made low hits a point of emphasis, with an attempt at a more precise definition of what constitutes a low hit. Which, again, is Cam’s point. Read more
Newton’s style of play has nothing to do with this. You’re ignoring the fact that Newton did get rid of the ball quickly on the play that got him amped up. Human error happens in officiating, yes. But as Bowen’s piece demonstrates, Newton is frequently not getting calls for basic hits in the pocket that other QBs are… Read more
Interesting exact period of time you selected, wonder why? Read more
It doesn’t. But some readers thought I was being selective with the data by citing accepted penalties, as Bowen had done in his piece. Read more
The rules have changed since when Tom Brady started his career. Come to think of it, the hit that got Newton fired up is similar to the one that knocked Brady out for the entire 2008 season. All Newton did was demand that the current rules be enforced for him. Read more
I keep seeing this Ian Rapoport tweet making the rounds: Read more