Brandon Spikes Hits to the Head on Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick

[Danger Zone]

Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson in Head With Forearm, Forces Fumble, Flexes (Animation) | NESN.com

and

http://nesn.com/2012/11/ryan-fitzpatrick-calls-brandon-spikes-a-punk-took-a-cheap-shot-in-earlier-game/

I understand WHY the helmet to helmet was called on Fitzpatrick, but disagree with it being a dirty or "punkish" hit. It simply looks like a full on tackle to me.

And the above animation of the forearm hit on Spikes... I just dont see that one at all. In fact, it simply looks like Spikes met him with his shoulder, plain and simple.

If Jackson had lowered his helmet any more before the contact it would have been driving into Spikes knee. I'm sorry, but when the RB intentionally lowers their helmet that far for the spear on the tackler, its not the defenders fault when that helmet hits something hard... like Spikes.

Am I being a homer here? Both of these hits look clean to me. All I am seeing is some clean, hard hits. I'm not seeing the punk (intent to injure).

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick in the Head

Like the call or not,Spikes will be lighter in the pocket later this week

Personally I didn't see a dirty hit,but Goodell probably will

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick in the Head

Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson in Head With Forearm, Forces Fumble, Flexes (Animation) | NESN.com

I understand WHY the helmet to helmet was called on Fitzpatrick, but disagree with it being a dirty or "punkish" hit. It simply looks like a full on tackle to me.

You understand WHY it was called? Please do explain because Spikes' didn't lead with his helmet, which is the requirement for helmet to helmet hits.

 

[Big-T]

Re: Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick in the Head

You understand WHY it was called? Please do explain because Spikes' didn't lead with his helmet, which is the requirement for helmet to helmet hits.

Probably because of Fitzpatricks reaction and his helmet falling off when he hit the ground. It looked dramatic so the zebra panicked.

 

[blackglass3]

Re: Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick in the Head

The hit on Fitz will get called every time. I see how come they called it, at full speed it looked like a direct headshot.

The hit on Fred Jackson was clean, and a big reason of why I love Spikes. RB's lower their heads all the time trying to get an extra yard or two and Spikes is making them pay for that. If Fred Jackson doesn't want to get knocked into last week again, maybe he should think twice about bringing his head closer to the defenders. And the same goes for every other RB coming up.

 

[juny]

Re: Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick in the Head

nothing wrong with the hit on jackson, once the player becomes a ball carrier, it's all fair game. only QBs and defenseless receivers is when helmet to helmet flags are thrown.

 

[sly24]

Re: Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick in the Head

The hit on Jackson was ok. The hit on Fitz was clearly roughing the passer and I agree with the call. It looked over dramatic because he lost his helmet but still it was roughing the passer.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Re: Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick in the Head

Like the call or not,Spikes will be lighter in the pocket later this week

Personally I didn't see a dirty hit,but Goodell probably will

I disagree. The NFL may be quick to fine hits, however, I haven't seen a lot of phantom hits that resulted in fines. I guess we shall see come Tuesday/Wednesday.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson in Head With Forearm, Forces Fumble, Flexes (Animation) | NESN.com

I understand WHY the helmet to helmet was called on Fitzpatrick, but disagree with it being a dirty or "punkish" hit. It simply looks like a full on tackle to me.

And the above animation of the forearm hit on Spikes... I just dont see that one at all. In fact, it simply looks like Spikes met him with his shoulder, plain and simple.

If Jackson had lowered his helmet any more before the contact it would have been driving into Spikes knee. I'm sorry, but when the RB intentionally lowers their helmet that far for the spear on the tackler, its not the defenders fault when that helmet hits something hard... like Spikes.

Am I being a homer here? Both of these hits look clean to me. All I am seeing is some clean, hard hits. I'm not seeing the punk (intent to injure).

The hit on Jackson wasn't just legal it was a good hit. It was the kind of tackle/hit that LB's should deliver to head first RB's. Rue the day in the NFL if that ever becomes an illegal hit. Most offensive records will quickly fall if that day comes.....

 

[reflexblue]

Re: Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick in the Head

Like the call or not,Spikes will be lighter in the pocket later this week

Personally I didn't see a dirty hit,but Goodell probably will

I thought spikes just ran fitz over, he hit him so hard his helmet came off.

 

[Haley]

There were a lot of odd calls in this game. I think these refs were a little wet behind the ears. Some went against us, some went against the Bills.

The Jackson hit shouldn't have drawn any criticism. The hit on Fitz didn't look that bad but I can see why they flagged it. If that had been Brady I'd have expected a flag. There was some holding during one of their TD plays I'd have liked to have seen called. One of the PI calls against them should have been illegal contact. I felt it mostly balanced out despite a few odd calls.

But look on the bright side, at least our game didn't have over a minute ticked off the clock during a ball measurement like in the 49ers game. I bet Harbaugh blew a gasket!

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick in the Head

The hit on Jackson was ok. The hit on Fitz was clearly roughing the passer and I agree with the call. It looked over dramatic because he lost his helmet but still it was roughing the passer.

Umm.. The CALL was Roughing the passer because of a HELMET to HELMET hit. For it to be a Helmet to Helmet hit, Spikes would have had to have LED with his helmet. That is something he DIDN'T do. Spikes JUMPED UP to keep Fitzpatrick from throwing the ball and his momentum carried him into Fitzpatrick, knocking Fitzpatrick backwards. It was the momentum of Spikes entire body that ripped the helmet off.

 

[Richard Camembert]

Like most people, I felt that the Fitz hit was late. They're gonna call that every time. The Jackson one looked okay to me.

 

[DaBruinz]

Like most people, I felt that the Fitz hit was late. They're gonna call that every time. The Jackson one looked okay to me.

Well, that's not the reason that Spikes was flagged. He was flagged for a helmet to helmet hit on a QB..

 

[PATSNUTme]

OK, the hit on Fitzpatrick will be called in today's NFL. It's just the way it is now, agree or disagree but it will be called.

There was nothing wrong the hit on Jackson. He did not throw his forearm or elbow.

On CSNE Postgame Show, they were saying that Spikes flexed while Jackson was in the ground. I don't see that at all. He was just checking out his arm to see if there was anything wrong. It must have been hurting him.

If that was a "flex" it was the lamest flex I've ever seen.

Another example of of the media trying to get something stirred when there is really nothing.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

OK, the hit on Fitzpatrick will be called in today's NFL. It's just the way it is now, agree or disagree but it will be called.

There was nothing wrong the hit on Jackson. He did not throw his forearm or elbow.

On CSNE Postgame Show, they were saying that Spikes flexed while Jackson was in the ground. I don't see that at all. He was just checking out his arm to see if there was anything wrong. It must have been hurting him.

If that was a "flex" it was the lamest flex I've ever seen.

Another example of of the media trying to get something stirred when there is really nothing.

Ah, Spikes was staring right at the Buffalo bench when he flexed. and the look on his face certainly appeared to be sending a message, not checking out his arm.

The hit on Fitzpatrick called because Spikes rode the QB to the ground and finished with his helmet on Fitzpatrick's as he hit the ground. Spikes could have easily avoided the penalty by sliding his head to one side or the other. Since he didn't, it seems pretty obvious Spikes intended the helmet to helmet impact and can hardly complain about the resulting flag.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Ah, Spikes was staring right at the Buffalo bench when he flexed. and the look on his face certainly looked like was sending a message, not checking out his arm.

The hit on Fitzpatrick called because Spikes rode the QB to the ground and finished with his helmet on Fitzpatrick's as he hit the ground. Spikes could have easily avoided the penalty by sliding his head to one side or the other. Since he didn't, it seems pretty obvious Spikes intended the helmet to helmet impact and can hardly complain about the resulting flag.

You call that a "flex".

 

[dizi24]

Re: Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick in the Head

Umm.. The CALL was Roughing the passer because of a HELMET to HELMET hit. For it to be a Helmet to Helmet hit, Spikes would have had to have LED with his helmet. That is something he DIDN'T do. Spikes JUMPED UP to keep Fitzpatrick from throwing the ball and his momentum carried him into Fitzpatrick, knocking Fitzpatrick backwards. It was the momentum of Spikes entire body that ripped the helmet off.

The NFL rulebook makes no distinction about "helmet to helmet" hits. Although it's an often repeated phrase, the hitting of defenseless receivers and QBs has nothing to do with how you hit him, but where you hit him. And the rulebook is clear you can't hit a QB in the head.

The call has been made many times even where a QB just gets hit in the head with a hand, a shoulder, whatever. Same with receivers. The call was a blow to the head of a QB, which by the way the rule has been called over the last few years, was a correct call.

That said, it wasn't dirty at all. Spikes just ran into Fitzpatrick, and the helmets lined up. Fitzpatrick's helmet fell off from hitting the ground, not Spikes hit (at least from the few replays I saw).

 

[Pujo]

Re: Brandon Spikes Hits Fred Jackson and Fitzpatrick in the Head

Umm.. The CALL was Roughing the passer because of a HELMET to HELMET hit. For it to be a Helmet to Helmet hit, Spikes would have had to have LED with his helmet. That is something he DIDN'T do. Spikes JUMPED UP to keep Fitzpatrick from throwing the ball and his momentum carried him into Fitzpatrick, knocking Fitzpatrick backwards. It was the momentum of Spikes entire body that ripped the helmet off.

I think they've been using a very loose definition of lead with the helmet for a while now. In the last couple of years I don't think I remember a single time that the defender's helmet collided with the QB's and it didn't draw a penalty.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Ah, Spikes was staring right at the Buffalo bench when he flexed. and the look on his face certainly appeared to be sending a message, not checking out his arm.

The hit on Fitzpatrick called because Spikes rode the QB to the ground and finished with his helmet on Fitzpatrick's as he hit the ground. Spikes could have easily avoided the penalty by sliding his head to one side or the other. Since he didn't, it seems pretty obvious Spikes intended the helmet to helmet impact and can hardly complain about the resulting flag.

Watch the replay again, Spikes helmet did not hit Fitzs', his body slid up into Fitzs helmet and since he doesnt snap it, it came off. It looked worse than it was and why it probably got called. Zo and Fauria said it was a bad call on 5th qtr.