vontaze burfict suspended 3 games

[Bill Lee]

He had more than enough opportunity to simply keep himself up and away from Brown, but instead delivered a sneaky little shot with his shoulder. Seems it had the desired effect on Brown. Burfict is definitely one of the dirtiest players in the league and a textbook example of a guy playing out of control regularly. No problem with the three games.

That's the crux of it. We ALL see the pass sails over the head of the receiver and if Burfict was a real football player rather than a thug he'd be looking before hitting, especially since he's already been hit with so many fines.

You saw shoulder to shoulder?

The real deal is:

The suspension was imposed by Merton Hanks, NFL vice president of football operations, who ruled that Burfict's action placed his opponent at unnecessary risk of injury and should have been avoided.

Ref: NFL.COM: Vontaze Burfict suspended three games, will appeal - NFL.com

Here's my problem with the defenseless rule in general, and you can see it here (I'm not defending Burfict, I'm talking about the rule). Brown clearly, and either deliberately or reflexively, lowers his head, thus making the contact with the helmet much more difficult for the defender to avoid. Now, I'm not saying Burfict was trying to avoid said contact. I'm simply pointing out an example of the problem I've always had with the rule. If the rule is to stay, there should at least be some degree of the weighting of defender intent v. actions of 'defenseless' receiver involved.

I think the NFL is saying they weighed the intent, and decided that Burfict should have avoided the hit.

Both teams were warned with memos, and Burfict himself has been warned with repeated fines. From what I know, this isn't the case where a bunch of NYJFL officials show up and decide issue a penalty that isn't in the rule books with evidence that is total nonsense. I am pretty confident that the NFL has made it clear to Burfict that he's on notice, something that the NFL never did in Deflategate. Put another way, if it was Edelman or Amendola getting laid out that way there would not be much argument here, IMHO.

 

[supafly]

Brady was "generally" aware (WTF does that even mean?) NOT specifically aware that a ball boy MAY have deflated some game balls even though there has NEVER been ANY evidence to support this accusation and TONNAGE of evidence to the contrary..this Idiotissioner suspends Brady FOUR games, robs a million dollars and takes a 1st and 4th round pick.

Millions see aggravated assaults and widespread cheating during a nationally televised contest and the Idiotissioner comes down hard with 3 games NEXT season to sit out?

I mean it, it's time someone smashes Goodell's face in. Period. Over. Get the fcuk out of this league and out of our lives you fcukin disgraceful goddamned criminal.

I loved the draft selection article on PFT yesterday that tried to remind everyone that there's only 31 picks because "New England forfeited their first round pick." No one "forfeited" anything. We were unjustly punished and Kraft chose not to pursue a pointless (arguably, of course) appeal. Big, big difference right there.

 

[supafly]

One game max and a fine, 3 game suspension is absolute ********. No Fun League.

I'm a bit surprised at the harshness of the penalty, as I predicted one game and a heavy fine, but when all is said and done after the appeal, it may be brought down to 1-2 games anyway.

 

[supafly]

ESPN's Bob Holtzman reports Antonio Brown (concussion) is "not looking good" for the Divisional Round against the Broncos.

I live in the heart of Steeler nation where this is a story around the clock, and this is quite the opposite of what they've been saying for the past couple of days.

All accounts that I've heard suggest that Brown is fine and his status is not in jeopardy whatsoever. I'm expecting the usual B.S. from ESPN.

 

[Deus Irae]

I think the NFL is saying they weighed the intent, and decided that Burfict should have avoided the hit.

There is no intent with regards to the rule so, no, intent was not weighed. In fact, not only does intent not matter, the league told officials to err on the side of making the call. That's why we've had so many instances of non helmet-to-helmet hits being whistled, although the officials seem to have gotten better about the call as time's gone by.

 

[Bill Lee]

There is no intent with regards to the rule

I suppose there is some meaningful distinction between "intent" and a ruling that an action "placed his opponent at unnecessary risk of injury and should have been avoided" but at this time of the morning I don't see it. Maybe you can clarify. Note I'm just quoting what NFL.COM said about the situation. I suppose you can say someone unintentionally put another person at risk in a way that should have been avoided, but I don't see how one avoids an action that is unintentional. Unfortunately I couldn't find more information on the exact ruling on NFL.COM. Perhaps we get to wait till discovery to find out more.

 

[Deus Irae]

I suppose there is some meaningful distinction between "intent" and a ruling that an action "placed his opponent at unnecessary risk of injury and should have been avoided" but at this time of the morning I don't see it. Maybe you can clarify. Note I'm just quoting what NFL.COM said about the situation. I suppose you can say someone unintentionally put another person at risk in a way that should have been avoided, but I don't see how one avoids an action that is unintentional. Unfortunately I couldn't find more information on the exact ruling on NFL.COM. Perhaps we get to wait till discovery to find out more.

You seem to have misunderstood the post of mine that you originally quoted. It's either that or you don't know the rule. There is no intent requirement with regards to a hit to the head of a defenseless receiver penalty.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

The argument that he's a blatant repeat offender for hitting defenseless receivers makes sense and I agree that was a cheap-shot, but in this case (Playoff game, High profile victim, Concussion Class Action Lawsuit damage control) it still feels politically motivated. I'm just sick of the inconsistent nature of the NFL's discipline.

By the way, why is everyone saying this was a helmet to helmet when it clearly wasn't?

 

[Rob0729]

I live in the heart of Steeler nation where this is a story around the clock, and this is quite the opposite of what they've been saying for the past couple of days.

All accounts that I've heard suggest that Brown is fine and his status is not in jeopardy whatsoever. I'm expecting the usual B.S. from ESPN.

He has to pass the concussion protocol. So with an independent neurologist, there is no guarantee he will pass.

 

[Rob0729]

The argument that he's a blatant repeat offender for hitting defenseless receivers makes sense and I agree that was a cheap-shot, but in this case (Playoff game, High profile victim, Concussion Class Action Lawsuit damage control) it still feels politically motivated. I'm just sick of the inconsistent nature of the NFL's discipline.

By the way, why is everyone saying this was a helmet to helmet when it clearly wasn't?

The guy was fined $50k for a cheap shot from a game a week before the game on Saturday. I don't think it was a political move at all. The guy doesn't learn. Two cheap shots in subsequent games with a history of cheap shots.

And no one is saying it is a helmet to helmet. People are saying it was a head shot with a shoulder to the helmet.

 

[supafly]

He has to pass the concussion protocol. So with an independent neurologist, there is no guarantee he will pass.

Understood, obviously, but the ESPN report is 180 degrees opposite of what all of the local reports have been stating.

Be ESPN coming out and saying that "it doesn't look good for Brown's chances this week," they are simply speculating that he won't pass the protocol, which absolutely no reason to do so. All accounts that I've heard is that Brown was not only fine after the game, but that he's been in good spirits since then.

Personally, I don't care one way or the other. I'm not as scared of going to DEN, and could never root for the Steelers under any circumstances. Let the chips fall where they may if we're able to move past Saturday afternoon's game. I think there are positives and negatives to playing either team, although I'd obviously prefer to host the next week's game.

 

[Rob0729]

Understood, obviously, but the ESPN report is 180 degrees opposite of what all of the local reports have been stating.

Be ESPN coming out and saying that "it doesn't look good for Brown's chances this week," they are simply speculating that he won't pass the protocol, which absolutely no reason to do so. All accounts that I've heard is that Brown was not only fine after the game, but that he's been in good spirits since then.

Personally, I don't care one way or the other. I'm not as scared of going to DEN, and could never root for the Steelers under any circumstances. Let the chips fall where they may if we're able to move past Saturday afternoon's game. I think there are positives and negatives to playing either team, although I'd obviously prefer to host the next week's game.

The problem is very few players pass the concussion protocol to play the next game after a concussion since they have put it in the hands of an independent neurologist. The norm now is that a player misses at least one game after a concussion and the rarity is they come back right away.

So ESPN and the local reports could be right. The local reports are talking about his actual physical health and ESPN could be talking about his chances of passing the concussion protocols.

Based on this, I think it is doubtful that Brown plays on Sunday. But I have been wrong before.

We will find out by Wednesday. If he isn't cleared to practice by then, it is highly unlikely he will be cleared to play on Sunday.

 

[supafly]

The problem is very few players pass the concussion protocol to play the next game after a concussion since they have put it in the hands of an independent neurologist. The norm now is that a player misses at least one game after a concussion and the rarity is they come back right away.

So ESPN and the local reports could be right. The local reports are talking about his actual physical health and ESPN could be talking about his chances of passing the concussion protocols.

Based on this, I think it is doubtful that Brown plays on Sunday. But I have been wrong before.

We will find out by Wednesday. If he isn't cleared to practice by then, it is highly unlikely he will be cleared to play on Sunday.

I fully understand what you're saying and I think you make a great point, but I'm not as sure as you about there being "very few players who pass the concussion protocol and play the next week."

I also don't know how much we'll really know by Wednesday, since that seems a bit early to me. I would think that we'll be in the dark possibly until Friday. It's not like Brown is a player who they won't play due to missing a couple of practices.

Either way, the point is that ESPN's report is quite opposite of everything that's been suggested here locally. Only time will tell which report(s) are correct, as you note.

 

[TommyD4207]

Burfict is getting a punishment for a cumulative problems throughout his career. The guy is the dirtiest player in the league and that is saying a lot with Suh in the same league. That said, he will appeal and get it knocked down.

Plus both teams were warned before the game.

Then they should have said that when the suspension was handed down.

Burfict acted like a jackass most of the game. If you want to suspend him a game or two for that, fine. But the suspension is specifically for that shoulder-to-shoulder hit. That's not a fair punishment for that.

 

[Tunescribe]

What the hell kind of a name is "Vontaze" anyway? It requires some kind of imagination (or inebriation) to look at a newborn little baby and declare, "I will name you Vontaze."

I decided to look it up and found this:

What Does The Name Vontaze Mean?

>> Out of 5,647,426 records in the U.S. Social Security Administration public data, the name "Vontaze" was not present. It is possible the name you are searching has less than five occurrences per year. You might want to use a short version of your first name or perhaps your nickname. On the other hand, you simply have a name that no one else in America is using. For 135 years only your parents have thought of using your name. Hoorah! You are a unique individual. <<

Having the last name "Burfict" is bad enough. Add them together, and you get this:

 

[AzorianPats]

Then they should have said that when the suspension was handed down.

Burfict acted like a jackass most of the game. If you want to suspend him a game or two for that, fine. But the suspension is specifically for that shoulder-to-shoulder hit. That's not a fair punishment for that.

Burfect shoulder hit Brown's helmet. How are you arguing against that?

I was expecting 4 games for him honestly. He's a turd that deserves to be out of the league.

Quite frankly the league should be going off on both teams with some heavy fines. That was an embarrassment Saturday night, but we all know the league now has these guys playing twice next year. Its another 2 games they can whore out to the networks...

$$$>>> integrity

 

[supafly]

The problem is very few players pass the concussion protocol to play the next game after a concussion since they have put it in the hands of an independent neurologist. The norm now is that a player misses at least one game after a concussion and the rarity is they come back right away.

So ESPN and the local reports could be right. The local reports are talking about his actual physical health and ESPN could be talking about his chances of passing the concussion protocols.

Based on this, I think it is doubtful that Brown plays on Sunday. But I have been wrong before.

We will find out by Wednesday. If he isn't cleared to practice by then, it is highly unlikely he will be cleared to play on Sunday.

You watch this video from the locker room after the game, and then honestly tell me that you don't think he'll be cleared to play for a game which takes place 8 days later.

You can clearly see why every other media outlet who has interviewed and talked with him believes that he's fine. He has zero signs of any problem, although I'd suspect that they'll wait a couple/few days before clearing him anyway.

 

[Rob0729]

I fully understand what you're saying and I think you make a great point, but I'm not as sure as you about there being "very few players who pass the concussion protocol and play the next week."

I also don't know how much we'll really know by Wednesday, since that seems a bit early to me. I would think that we'll be in the dark possibly until Friday. It's not like Brown is a player who they won't play due to missing a couple of practices.

Either way, the point is that ESPN's report is quite opposite of everything that's been suggested here locally. Only time will tell which report(s) are correct, as you note.

The protocol is that you have to be cleared to practice before you get cleared to play. Historically if you are not cleared to practice by midweek, you will not be cleared to play that weekend.

 

[Rob0729]

Then they should have said that when the suspension was handed down.

Burfict acted like a jackass most of the game. If you want to suspend him a game or two for that, fine. But the suspension is specifically for that shoulder-to-shoulder hit. That's not a fair punishment for that.

Except he was fined $50k just last week for another cheap shot. The guy is out of control and deserved to be smacked down.

And it wasn't a shoulder to shoulder hit no matter how much you say it.

 

[Rob0729]

You watch this video from the locker room after the game, and then honestly tell me that you don't think he'll be cleared to play for a game which takes place 8 days later.

You can clearly see why every other media outlet who has interviewed and talked with him believes that he's fine. He has zero signs of any problem, although I'd suspect that they'll wait a couple/few days before clearing him anyway.

That means nothing. We don't know the protocol. I am sure there are plenty of people who take head shots and seem perfectly and don't pass the protocol.

If he is truly is fine. He will be tested today and pass. If he isn't on the field today, it means he failed the protocol.