Dante Wesley hit, good hit or cheap shot?

[jtm]

Know the rules before you Type anything. You are a idiot. The returner has the right too the ball with or without a fair catch. That's why people slow up and let them catch the ball before they hit him. You can't get the ball unless it touches him or another player on his team. You can't hit a defenseless player. You can't launch yourself into a defenseless player. Dante did both.

I agree. I always question the football IQ for some of the folks on this site. He will get a big fine, but I doubt he will get any additional suspension. The hit Ray Lewis put on Chad Johnson last week was almost as bad and he was fined $25k.

[pantherman23]

This is great a bunch of TV watchers and their rules books. Obviously none of you guys EVER played football! Why is there even an argument about clean hit or not. Has anyone ever been a headhunter on a punt team? The reason why the punt returner calls fair catch is because he is the only one looking at the ball! You can't see the ball running down the field on a punt as a headhunter because you are too busy protecting your own tail from being blocked. Dante blew passed his defender and laid out the punt returner and you guys are crying? For what? The goal of the punt team is to HIT the punt returner. Not to think about hitting him but to nail him. THE RETURNER NEVER CALLED FAIR CATCH which equals in football (for all of you who never played) HE CAN BE HIT. Dante misjudged his timing OF COURSE but whether or not it was clean or intentional shouldn't be a question...He didn't spear him or cause helmet to helmet contact...so how is a solid lick not clean. He pretty much did a tackle that everyone loves to watch on replays but because someone did a nice performance on the ground people are in an uproar and are calling it unclean. FOOTBALL ISN'T FAIR TV WATCHERS. The punt returner made a rookie mistake and he learned his lesson. btw READ

The member of the receiving team must raise one arm a full length above his head and wave it from side to side while kick is in flight. (Failure to give proper sign: receivers’ ball five yards behind spot of signal.) Note: It is legal for the receiver to shield his eyes from the sun by raising one hand no higher than the helmet.

No opponent may interfere with the fair catcher, the ball, or his path to the ball. Penalty: 15 yards from spot of foul and fair catch is awarded.

A player who signals for a fair catch is not required to catch the ball. However, if a player signals for a fair catch, he may not block or initiate contact with any player on the kicking team until the ball touches a player. Penalty: snap 15 yards.

and there was no faircatch. Sooooo.

[pantherman23]

Here the link so you wont think I typed things in

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/faircatch

[pantherman23]

Know the rules?? WHAT RULEBOOK ARE YOU READING? Id love to see that rule. If the return has the right to the ball FIND THE RULE!! THE REASON WHY PEOPLE SLOW UP AROUND THE RETURNER IS BECAUSE HE CALLED FAIRCATCH!!! Go and watch your replays. Nobody stands around in front of the punt returner and he didn't call fair catch. That's ridiculous

[pantherman23]

Know the rules before you Type anything. You are a idiot. The returner has the right too the ball with or without a fair catch. That's why people slow up and let them catch the ball before they hit him. You can't get the ball unless it touches him or another player on his team. You can't hit a defenseless player. You can't launch yourself into a defenseless player. Dante did both.

Know the rules?? WHAT RULEBOOK ARE YOU READING? Id love to see that rule. If the return has the right to the ball FIND THE RULE!! THE REASON WHY PEOPLE SLOW UP AROUND THE RETURNER IS BECAUSE HE CALLED FAIRCATCH!!! Go and watch your replays. Nobody stands around in front of the punt returner and he didn't call fair catch. That's ridiculous

[Phil Dees]

Nick Night, Newport News Va 07:11 PM ET

hey bucky what do you think about that hit on clifton smith

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com

Nick, The hit on Clifton Smith was clearly a cheap shot and I would expect Dante Wesley to pay a heavy fine. The punt returner is in a vulnerable position when attempting to field a punt, and there is no place in the game for cheap shots like that.

http://chat.nfl.com/front/index/503

[beastson]

There are no cheap shots against rivals. Hit em, and hit em hard

Take that, take that

[KillerKat]

Know the rules?? WHAT RULEBOOK ARE YOU READING? Id love to see that rule. If the return has the right to the ball FIND THE RULE!! THE REASON WHY PEOPLE SLOW UP AROUND THE RETURNER IS BECAUSE HE CALLED FAIRCATCH!!! Go and watch your replays. Nobody stands around in front of the punt returner and he didn't call fair catch. That's ridiculous

If you knew the rules, you would know the returner has to touch the ball before the gunner can hit him. It's just like a defensive back can't hit a receiver before the ball arrives. You can't f**king nail a punt returner 2 seconds before the damn ball arrives. You try to act like you know something but in the end you FAIL.

[Skew]

clean hit. The return man only has a clean right to field the ball if he calls for a fair catch, which he did not. That's the difference between college and the nfl. The penalty called was fair catch interference, which was completely wrong.

All other points aren't relevant. How was wesley supposed to know that the return man was letting the ball go?

This is what it all comes down to. I'm not too sure of the rules, but I do know you CAN NOT LAUNCH YOURSELF AT A DEFENSLESS RECEIVER.

But from what I understand, if a kick returner doesn't give the fair catch signal, he is like any other player on the receiving team and can be blocked.

If Wesley had just run into the receiver and tackled him, it wouldn't be a discussion. Maybe a 15 yard penalty and that's it.

I have no problem with the penalty or the ejection. Correct call.

But some of you need to chill out and let it go. There is no reason to get banned over a play like this. Let it go.

We won. I understand you want to discuss this play, but keep it civil.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Rodney Harrison: "Dirty"

Tony Dungy: "I won't say dirty but I will say DUMB"

[Happy Panther]

This is great a bunch of TV watchers and their rules books. Obviously none of you guys EVER played football! Why is there even an argument about clean hit or not. Has anyone ever been a headhunter on a punt team? The reason why the punt returner calls fair catch is because he is the only one looking at the ball! You can't see the ball running down the field on a punt as a headhunter because you are too busy protecting your own tail from being blocked. Dante blew passed his defender and laid out the punt returner and you guys are crying? For what? The goal of the punt team is to HIT the punt returner. Not to think about hitting him but to nail him. THE RETURNER NEVER CALLED FAIR CATCH which equals in football (for all of you who never played) HE CAN BE HIT. Dante misjudged his timing OF COURSE but whether or not it was clean or intentional shouldn't be a question...He didn't spear him or cause helmet to helmet contact...so how is a solid lick not clean. He pretty much did a tackle that everyone loves to watch on replays but because someone did a nice performance on the ground people are in an uproar and are calling it unclean. FOOTBALL ISN'T FAIR TV WATCHERS. The punt returner made a rookie mistake and he learned his lesson. btw READ

The member of the receiving team must raise one arm a full length above his head and wave it from side to side while kick is in flight. (Failure to give proper sign: receivers’ ball five yards behind spot of signal.) Note: It is legal for the receiver to shield his eyes from the sun by raising one hand no higher than the helmet.

No opponent may interfere with the fair catcher, the ball, or his path to the ball. Penalty: 15 yards from spot of foul and fair catch is awarded.

A player who signals for a fair catch is not required to catch the ball. However, if a player signals for a fair catch, he may not block or initiate contact with any player on the kicking team until the ball touches a player. Penalty: snap 15 yards.

and there was no faircatch. Sooooo.

That is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out objection...Overruled!

[Happy Panther]

Bucs PR Clifton Smith left Sunday's game with concussion after being drilled while waiting to return a punt.

Carolina's Dante Wesley leveled Smith a full second before the ball arrived in one of the dirtiest hits you'll ever see. The play sparked a rumble with Wesley being ejected while Smith headed to the locker room.

from rotoworld

[fitty76]

I thought Tampa was going to man up and win the game after that. Guess I didn't realize how Gutless Tampa is.

[MisterJiggyFly]

This is great a bunch of TV watchers and their rules books. Obviously none of you guys EVER played football! Why is there even an argument about clean hit or not. Has anyone ever been a headhunter on a punt team? The reason why the punt returner calls fair catch is because he is the only one looking at the ball! You can't see the ball running down the field on a punt as a headhunter because you are too busy protecting your own tail from being blocked. Dante blew passed his defender and laid out the punt returner and you guys are crying? For what? The goal of the punt team is to HIT the punt returner. Not to think about hitting him but to nail him. THE RETURNER NEVER CALLED FAIR CATCH which equals in football (for all of you who never played) HE CAN BE HIT. Dante misjudged his timing OF COURSE but whether or not it was clean or intentional shouldn't be a question...He didn't spear him or cause helmet to helmet contact...so how is a solid lick not clean. He pretty much did a tackle that everyone loves to watch on replays but because someone did a nice performance on the ground people are in an uproar and are calling it unclean. FOOTBALL ISN'T FAIR TV WATCHERS. The punt returner made a rookie mistake and he learned his lesson. btw READ

The member of the receiving team must raise one arm a full length above his head and wave it from side to side while kick is in flight. (Failure to give proper sign: receivers’ ball five yards behind spot of signal.) Note: It is legal for the receiver to shield his eyes from the sun by raising one hand no higher than the helmet.

No opponent may interfere with the fair catcher, the ball, or his path to the ball. Penalty: 15 yards from spot of foul and fair catch is awarded.

A player who signals for a fair catch is not required to catch the ball. However, if a player signals for a fair catch, he may not block or initiate contact with any player on the kicking team until the ball touches a player. Penalty: snap 15 yards.

and there was no faircatch. Sooooo.

this should help clarify your post: