My take:
After watching up-close replay with league apologist Blandino on the NFLN, I begrudgingly agree
that the hit was technically a penalty; not helmet-to-helmet, but shoulder-to-facemask.
However, for some to claim that the receiver was defenseless - and therefore should be, like, allowed?!?
to catch the ball is absolutely preposterous. He needed to be de-cleated, but Browner just has to do a
better job of lowering his shoulder until it is below the opponent's neck, and of leading with his arms
in a more obvious wrapping-up motion.
He is six four. Lets say he gets down to waist level of a sub 6' BB smurf type who in turn tries dropping out of the way of the truck coming his way. He will still end up "high." I think the league needs to consider the speed and to some degree intent if the player. An upward launching Merriweather at the Baltimore(? Maybe buffalo, maybe both lol) tight end, flag it. A hit like last week? For all Browner knew and should have assumed, it was caught initially. He lowered his body to a degree after cutting back for the hit, and did a good job getting his head to the side.
My problem with the rule is zero tolerance for the speed if the game and a moving target. He kept his head up and lead with the shoulder (and the receiver tried dropping out of it in the split second realization he was about to get lit up), that in no way shape or form should warrant a flag in the nfl. I don't care what the technicalities of the fantasy football rules are. I don't care if the receiver doesn't get up (clean catch in the first place and you have plenty of time to protect yourself). Everybody is playing for a paycheck in a short-lived career.
The way the league has been trending is an insult to the league's history. I remember the "nfl films" if watch every time I stayed him sick as a kid. The steel curtain? Lol, they'd be flagged every play and half of them kicked off the field.
Yes, player safety is an issue. At the same time, they are not forced to sign the contract. Just as many are not forced to choose to be fisherman, miners, etc. At some point somebody needs to tell players, tough luck. You take a huge physical risk every time you steep on the field. You are not going to have the same physical quality of life as someone who sits in a cubicle for a living. You may suffer multiple concussions, and this will probably impact your life in the future.
That said, the concussion protocol is a good step in the right direction. The hyper-critical flagging of every hit, every hand battle (hands to face, being called very inconsistently. Almost the equivalent of offensive holding, you could call it every play) is an absolute tragedy, impacting games in ridiculous ways.
Oh, you hung your receiver out to dry? Here's a first down and fifteen yards, nice job!
