My email to Wilbon

[Watson's IQ]

Pollard didn't take Brady out with a knee to the helmet?? Am I missing something? Take a look at Wilbon's words..what he said..encouraging that a player be injured is HARDLY something responsible for a journalist to do..THAT is all.. It isn't a question of blame, but irrespoinsibility.

No one refutes that. Wilbon's a blowhard, and a jerk. What I question is the tremendous leap in logic between what Wilbon said months ago and what happened on the field on Sunday.

I suppose it comes down to whether you accept the premise that Pollard intentionally injured Brady. I don't. If I was willing to give Wilfork the benefit of the doubt, which I was, then wouldn't I be a hypocrite not to give it to Pollard as well?

 

[DaBruinz]

So how is it a cheap shot when the NFL ruled it a legal hit. You're only making Pats fans sound like bigger whiners than they already are.

BadMoFo -
Just because the NFL "ruled" it a legal hit doesn't mean a damn thing. They are wrong. It was a dirty hit. Pollard purposely lunged at Brady's knee when Brady was already in his throwing motion. Pollard's actions were much more intentional than Wilfork's were last year when Brad Badger blocked him into Losman. And Wilfork was fined for that.

 

[DaBruinz]

Why is everyone e-mailing Wilbon again? This hit was 100% pure accident.

That is total and utter garbage.

 

[Watson's IQ]

BadMoFo -
Just because the NFL "ruled" it a legal hit doesn't mean a damn thing. They are wrong. It was a dirty hit. Pollard purposely lunged at Brady's knee when Brady was already in his throwing motion. Pollard's actions were much more intentional than Wilfork's were last year when Brad Badger blocked him into Losman. And Wilfork was fined for that.

Prove it.

I'm not condoning the double standard, but us just stating matter of factly that it was a dirty hit puts us in the same league as those people we were defending Wilfork against last year. The shoe is on the other foot now, let's show a little more restraint than the Patriots haters did.

 

[DaBruinz]

Because I am someone who doesn't buy into this whiny conspiracy theory crap like many here do. It's football, injuries happen. When Wilfork did the same thing a year ago, we defended him like he was facing the death penalty. But now that it happens to our QB, it has to be a cheap shot.

The difference is that Wilfork was actually blocked into Losman. Pollard was NOT. Pollard had already gone low on Morris. And then he went low on Brady.

Why in the world would the Chiefs, more than likely fighting for the No. 1 overall choice in next year's draft than a playoff spot, want to intentionally injure Tom Brady? Did they feel that if they hurt Tom Brady now, it would make their AFC Championship match-up against us that much closer.

Grow the **** up.

Follow your own advice. Why would they hurt Brady? Because that is what LOSERS do. They take the cheap shots at the good players like that.

 

[Fixit]

Pollard may or may not have meant to injure Brady; barring a confession, we'll never know.

The hit itself was 100% dirty. The NFL saying that it was a legal hit means zip, because we watched Mike Pereira justify horrible call after horrible call on NFL Network last season.

If you dive at a stationary guy's knees, you are an a-hole.

 

[DaBruinz]

Prove it.

I'm not condoning the double standard, but us just stating matter of factly that it was a dirty hit puts us in the same league as those people we were defending Wilfork against last year. The shoe is on the other foot now, let's show a little more restraint than the Patriots haters did.

Prove it? Open your eyes and watch the frigging videos of it. Brady had already planted his throwing foot and his arm was starting to move forward before Pollard lunged at Brady's knee.

If you had actually watched LAST year's play, you'd know that Wilfork was BLOCKED into Losman by Brad Badger. There is a BIG difference there. Pollard wasn't BLOCKED into Brady. Pollard LUNGED. Regardless of his intentions, he hit Brady below the knees. Pollard didn't have to lunge once he saw Brady start to throw the ball, yet he did.

What the league is saying here is that it is OK for a player to LUNGE at a QBs knees, but its not OK for them to hit the QBs knees if they were blocked into them. Its bass akwards.

 

[j00fek]

another what kind of thread is this...................................

 

[Watson's IQ]

Prove it? Open your eyes and watch the frigging videos of it. Brady had already planted his throwing foot and his arm was starting to move forward before Pollard lunged at Brady's knee.

If you had actually watched LAST year's play, you'd know that Wilfork was BLOCKED into Losman by Brad Badger. There is a BIG difference there. Pollard wasn't BLOCKED into Brady. Pollard LUNGED. Regardless of his intentions, he hit Brady below the knees. Pollard didn't have to lunge once he saw Brady start to throw the ball, yet he did.

What the league is saying here is that it is OK for a player to LUNGE at a QBs knees, but its not OK for them to hit the QBs knees if they were blocked into them. Its bass akwards.

I watched both games, and saw both plays many times. My interpretation is different than yours. Unless you're a defensive player in the NFL, you don't really know what goes through these guys' heads at game speed.

The bottom line is this. Wilfork said it was an accident, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Pollard says it was an accident, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt too.

Whether the league fines him or not, who gives a rats ass? Is it a double standard? Sure. But it's not going to bring Tom Brady back, no matter how indignant we get, so what's the point?

 

[BadMoFo]

The difference is that Wilfork was actually blocked into Losman. Pollard was NOT. Pollard had already gone low on Morris. And then he went low on Brady.



Follow your own advice. Why would they hurt Brady? Because that is what LOSERS do. They take the cheap shots at the good players like that.

So is Vince Wilfork a loser because he did it to the Bills?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3POT8n2Qk3g

I think the biggest reason that Wilfork was fined was that not only was it a shot to the knees, but it was a late hit. The hit by Pollard happened just as Brady was releasing the ball.


Honestly, people need to get over it. Move on, the team has.

 

[Watson's IQ]

I think the biggest reason that Wilfork was fined was that not only was it a shot to the knees, but it was a late hit. The hit by Pollard happened just as Brady was releasing the ball.

Good point, thanks for bringing this up. Even those who are saying it was dirty shouldn't be able to refute that Brady still had the ball when Pollard started his move.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

I remember Wilbon's comments quite well. I never got the impression he meant it; his "joking" manner was petty and ignorant, but not spoken as some sort of rally cry. jmo-and I can't stand him btw.

However, while he's certainly not responsible for Pollard's actions, it was a reprehensible thing to say then, and it's no less reprehensible now.

He's the one who threw it out there in the first place so he's fair game in my book. He's an arrogant,pompous,ignorant *, and what he's guilty of is stupidity.

Pats fans whining? He was the one whining when he got so miffed at Brady winning that he stooped to that level to get a point across.

 

[Kontradiction]

BadMoFo -
Just because the NFL "ruled" it a legal hit doesn't mean a damn thing. They are wrong. It was a dirty hit. Pollard purposely lunged at Brady's knee when Brady was already in his throwing motion. Pollard's actions were much more intentional than Wilfork's were last year when Brad Badger blocked him into Losman. And Wilfork was fined for that.

Pollard lunged at Brady's legs because, and let me put this in bold so you understand, Brady still had the ball in his hands. Period. End of story. If Brady didn't have the ball and Pollard still lunged, then it would be a dirty hit. However, Brady still had the ball, the play was still active, and Pollard did what his coaches told him to do: get after Tom Brady at all costs. Not to mention that Pollard had a 200+ running back on top of him and holding him down. He did not come through the line impeded and dive at Brady's knee. I don't know what you people do not get about that. Maybe you all are still in the anger stage of grief but you need to get the hell over it. Brady's hurt, the NFL (and it does mean a damn thing that they ruled it legal) ruled that it wasn't dirty, and the season must go on.

Would you like some cheese with that whine, DaBruinz?

 

[blackglass3]

In October 2007, you stated that you would go after Tom Brady late in order to injure him if you were playing against him.

When you said this, I felt it was totally irresponsible to suggest this as a national sports writer.
Now Brady has been taken out by a cheap shot dive to the knee, just like you suggested.

My question is: Are you happy now?

You must be so proud that someone took your advice to heart.

-----------------------------------------------------
I just sent this on the Washington Post website since Wilbon is one of their writers.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/michael+wilbon/

I'm with you, bro. I sent Mr Wilbon a couple of comments myself.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

The bottom line is this. Wilfork said it was an accident, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Pollard says it was an accident, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt too.

Whether the league fines him or not, who gives a rats ass? Is it a double standard? Sure. But it's not going to bring Tom Brady back, no matter how indignant we get, so what's the point?

My thoughts exactly, with one addtion:

I think the play Pollard made has always been considered a legal play, with one exception: when you are Vince Wilfork. The Wilfork ruling was the wrong call.

Now if anyone takes the stance that Wilfork's was 100% the right call, that it is always up to the defenders, no matter what, to hit above the knees and below the neck, then the Pollard hit was wrong along with many others over the years that were also not punished. But what can be gained by whining? Zip. nada. Time to drop it.

 

[JR4]

NFL ... should have fined him and SUSPENDED him.

He was clearly after Tom's knees.

By taking no action the NFL has opened the door to more these kinds of
injuries in the future.

How do you think PATs D players are going to react to this? Would you
be surprised if more QB's are IR's due to some PATs D HITs?

Then you think that team might respond in like manner when they face
other teams?

So where does it stop?

Pollard could not Hit Brady above the waist from the ground ...so
he opted to go at Tom's legs. NFL should make him pay and instead of
playing chicken little .... nip this thing before it gets out of hand
.... because if they don't .... the players are apt to deal justice
as they see fit.

The NFL should have had the guts to send a CLEAR message to all
players ... you go after a QB's knees ... you and your team will pay.

 

[NJPatsfan26]

NFL ... should have fined him and SUSPENDED him.

He was clearly after Tom's knees.

By taking no action the NFL has opened the door to more these kinds of
injuries in the future.

How do you think PATs D players are going to react to this? Would you
be surprised if more QB's are IR's due to some PATs D HITs?

Then you think that team might respond in like manner when they face
other teams?

So where does it stop?

Pollard could not Hit Brady above the waist from the ground ...so
he opted to at the legs. NFL should make him pay and instead of
playing chicken little .... nip this thing before it gets out of hand
.... because if they don't .... the players are apt to deal justice
as they see fit.

The NFL should have had the guts to send a CLEAR message to all
players ... you go after a QB's knees ... you and your team will pay.

The reason why this wont happen is simple.....Roger "Jets" Goodell.....

HE wont let the NFL support the Patriots in anyway shape or form....

Amazing isnt it....

 

[Watson's IQ]

The reason why this wont happen is simple.....Roger "Jets" Goodell.....

HE wont let the NFL support the Patriots in anyway shape or form....

Amazing isnt it....

Seems like a sound logical deduction.

 

[NJPatsfan26]

Seems like a sound logical deduction.

Yeah and god forbid anything happens the lord farve....heads will roll and some how some way the NFL will blame the Patriots...fine us $1,000,000 and hire a hit man to take out Cassell.....

 

[JoePats]

Brady stepped into him with his left leg as he was moving forward to release the ball. This wasn't a dirty play, neither was the Wilfork play from last year against Losman. If you want to say that there wasn't enough difference to have a fine in one and not the other, fine, I don't disgaree there. But this was unlucky, not dirty.