By Jeff
When I was scanning the usual media sources today, like local radio and newspapers, ESPN and Cleveland media, I found varying opinions of the James Harrison hits on Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi (Saw his name so many times I don't even need to look up the spelling!). Both hits were to the Cleveland Browns players heads and knocked them out of game and reality. Massaquoi was so out of it he tried walking over to the Steelers' sideline.
If you listen to the Pittsburgh media, the hits were clean. In the one against Cribbs, the Browns players was running the ball and lowered his own head, making Harrison's head-first tackle legal. As for Massaquoi, Harrison led with his shoulder, so they say that's legal.
The Browns media is on the opposite side, of course. This link has some of the chatter and links to more Cleveland chatter.
My take? At first, I thought the hit on Cribbs was going to result in a fine. Harrison clearly led with his helmet and had every intention of crushing Cribbs. But after looking at it again, Cribbs lowered his heads, which makes him fair game. He wasn't a defenseless receiver. If you put your head down to try and break a tackle or get the extra yard, you can be hit in the head without penalty. I think Harrison could have tackled Cribbs with his body, but what he did was not illegal.
As for Massaquoi, it was completely legal if you see the slow motion replays. It wasn't helmet-to-helmet. Harrison led with his shoulder. Also, Massaquoi was dropping the ball and started ducking. Had he been running upright and been deck in the head, it would have been a penalty and I would have no argument of a fine. But he ducked his head. That point can't be argued.
The videos are below. Feel free to share you thoughts and call me a joke like that Greg kid does.
Johnny Cash - Hurt
I wasnt abel to watch it live coming back from Michigan but after watching Michigan wiff on tackles all game it is good to see the Steelers hit people. The problem is the NFL is gonna crack down on people and if the suspened people it will hurt our team. The NFL is going soft but thats what happens when so many people watch it, that style of play is going to upset someone.
ReplyDeleteIt just seems that they are making it harder and harder for defenses to play defense. Guys on offense to give stiff arms to the face or drop their heads and act like a battering ram. Defenses try that and it's 15 yards.
ReplyDeleteThe No Fun League shows its ugly head again!
ReplyDeleteMaybe they should lower it and see what happens.
All kidding aside, I thought Harrison would be fined with the Cribbs hit. I wasn't aware of the 'lowering your head' rule. That's good to know. I think he'll be fined anyway.
The hit on Massaquoi was as beautiful as it was legal.
The NFL said they won't fine Harrison for the Cribbs hit. There is still no word on what they are going to do about the Massaquoi one.
ReplyDelete