Denver's TJ Ward a man of his word, goes low on 87 again

Deus Irae · Nov 3, 2014

Halifax_Pats_Fan said:
...They got to get this stuff fixed man and it can't be led by the players....

The NFL has decided that, given the two evils, it would rather careers ended via the blown out knee than via the concussion. This actually makes sense, given the long term repercussions of the injuries, but it doesn't make for happy players or fans.

Deus Irae · Nov 3, 2014

Onedaful said:
Completely agree with you, but do you think he specifically dove helmet first at Gronk's right knee?

I don't know. I know he deliberately targeted low.

BradyManny · Nov 3, 2014

If the league's priority was seriously keeping players safe, they would make going low with the helmet on any player a penalty. That hit is a torn ACL waiting to happen. Would it make it more difficult for the defense to penalize that? Sure. But then they could do away with all the ridiculous DPI & defensive holding calls that have nothing to do with player safety but are just intended to pump up the score. They'd balance each other out, players would be safer, points would be scored.

BradyManny · Nov 3, 2014

Deus Irae said:
The NFL has decided that, given the two evils, it would rather careers ended via the blown out knee than via the concussion. This actually makes sense, given the long term repercussions of the injuries, but it doesn't make for happy players or fans.

Makes some sense, but blowing out knees isn't great for long-term health either. They should be protecting ACLs as well as heads.

Kdo5 · Nov 3, 2014

I understand the difficulty of tackling a guy like Gronk and why they go low. I've seen Pats players guilty of it like everyone else. I didn't even blame Ward that much last year but I hated what he did yesterday. Literally the same exact play going helmet first. The part that really got to me was his clapping and celebrating after delivering that hit. Like there was something to be proud of after giving up a 15 yard play.

Ivan · Nov 3, 2014

DaBruinz said:
As usual, Deus making excuses for opposing team's dirty play.

As others have said, there is a huge difference between wrapping up a player's legs and trying to spear their knees. Which is exactly what Ward tried to do to Gronkowski. Ward tried to intentionally take Gronk out again.

Also, please stop with the BS that they can't go HIGH. You can tackle a player anywhere from the shoulders to the thighs. You don't have to target their knees.

The Ayers sack of Manning was a perfect example, he could have driven his helmet into his knee but wrapped him up instead, and that's why it wasn't called. Ward clearly wants to injure Gronkowski, that's not even a question at this point.

Ivan · Nov 3, 2014

Halifax_Pats_Fan said:
Matt Cooke is another, absolutely agree. Repeat offenders hiding behind common acceptable beliefs, that the players wont themselves change because it is a code they do not want to break. This is just like concussions...they wont fix it cause the code is to get back out there and play. Some one or group managed to get through and talked some sense to the League and made them change that mindset. The same has to apply here...enough of this knee ****. I look at Bobby Orr, the best in my opinion to EVER have played the game and his knees were shot. So much potential ...gone. They got to get this stuff fixed man and it can't be led by the players....

I have always favored an approach where if a player injures another player (in any sport) with a deliberately dirty hit then that player should at a minimum be suspended for as long as the injured player is out, in Matt Cooke's case he should be out of the league, period, he is a complete scumbag. If the injured player comes back too soon then the basic suspension should be enforced. I have no problem with a guy like Cooke being out of hockey forever for his hit on Savard.

Ivan · Nov 3, 2014

DaBruinz said:
Just think. People on this board were complaining about the Pats not signing Ward in the offseason. ME? I'm glad the POG isn't here.

What's a POG?

Deus Irae · Nov 3, 2014

BradyManny said:
Makes some sense, but blowing out knees isn't great for long-term health either. They should be protecting ACLs as well as heads.

It's football. It's oversized, maxed out bodies hitting other oversized, maxed out bodies. Something's got to give. The alternative is flag football, or no football.

varjao · Nov 3, 2014

The league should do something about that, it's a recipe for a disaster, we are talking here about someone not only retiring from football but limping the rest of his life. A strong safety going full power against someone else's knee depending on the angle and how vicious is the hit can do such a damage, look at Dustin Keller, a talented player who will never play again as it seems.

I believe someone said something for him in the field because he iced up after that, maybe Gronk said something, maybe someone from the Broncos. This a game, not a war.

By the way, use proper technique and you tackle anyone

primetime · Nov 3, 2014

DaBruinz said:
Also, please stop with the BS that they can't go HIGH. You can tackle a player anywhere from the shoulders to the thighs. You don't have to target their knees.

You certainly can't tackle Gronk high. He'll drag four or five defenders into the end zone if they go high. Until the NFL gets rid of hard helmets, it's hard to say there was anything wrong with what Ward did there.

bogengames · Nov 3, 2014

Gronk was close to the sideline . Ward could have easily knocked him out of bounds. In lieu of their history it amazed me that the announcers (Simms) said nothing.

deters · Nov 3, 2014

Hope someone ends his career and ends up in a wheelchair. F him.

Say what you want about my comment, idc. POS like him get no sympathy from me.

RIpats88 · Nov 3, 2014

I understand that you have to go low now, but if you tackle gronks legs he will go down as well.

you dont have to launch yourself helmet first aimed at his knees. There is a difference between the two. and I dont see how people can defend wards hit or even say "that is how you are supposed to tackle these days!" no, its not..

Triumph · Nov 3, 2014

Deus Irae said:
These guys aren't allowed to tackle high, and you can't bring Gronk down by tackling him in the middle. That leaves only one way to go. The rules pretty much dictate that you go low, and that means these larger TEs will all be looking for ways to protect their knees.

edit: And there goes DaBruinz, disagreeing with a post that echoes exactly what the NFL players themselves have said. Even while on ignore, DaBruinz offers comedy with his ridiculous opinions.

Ward went knee to helmet again. Fortunately Gronks foot wasn't planted.

The hit looked cheap and I didn't like Ayers hit on Manning either.

BB said that he teaches his players to tackle between the shoulders and waist.

Rob0729 · Nov 3, 2014

varjao said:
The league should do something about that, it's a recipe for a disaster, we are talking here about someone not only retiring from football but limping the rest of his life. A strong safety going full power against someone else's knee depending on the angle and how vicious is the hit can do such a damage, look at Dustin Keller, a talented player who will never play again as it seems.

I believe someone said something for him in the field because he iced up after that, maybe Gronk said something, maybe someone from the Broncos. This a game, not a war.

By the way, use proper technique and you tackle anyone

While we are getting karate lessons, any chance you can post the proper way to do the Crane Technique?

The Crane Technique, no can defense.

Gronkowski123 · Nov 3, 2014

dirty piece of ****.

deters · Nov 3, 2014

Triumph said:
Ward went knee to helmet again. Fortunately Gronks foot wasn't planted.

The hit looked cheap and I didn't like Ayers hit on Manning either.

BB said that he teaches his players to tackle between the shoulders and waist.

Ayers hit was perfect. He first made contact with Peytons mid thigh.

runandgun · Nov 3, 2014

Triumph said:
Ward went knee to helmet again. Fortunately Gronks foot wasn't planted.

The hit looked cheap and I didn't like Ayers hit on Manning either.

BB said that he teaches his players to tackle between the shoulders and waist.

I agree, I didn't like the Ward hit on Gronk either, but Gronk is a freak. Last week I saw a safety try to tackle Gronk high and Gronk wiped him off like a bug on the windshield and the safety was laughed at everytime they played the replay. I'm very subjective and non bias on my Broncos, I don't think it was an attempt to injure. Ward is horrible in coverage, but a good hitter. He knows he has no shot going hight on Gronk.

PatriotReign · Nov 3, 2014

What a POS! I actually hate him more than Pollard at this point.

Denver's TJ Ward a man of his word, goes low on 87 again

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