Dunta Robinson's hit vs. Brandon Meriweather's

[Dpantherman]

Pat Yasinskas on Dunta's hit...

I wouldn’t call it dirty. Both players were going at full speed and Robinson made the move in a split second. I don’t think it was intentional because Robinson probably felt the impact as much as Jackson did.

Both players left the game and did not return. Robinson was flagged for unnecessary roughness and he could end up drawing a fine for the hit. Should his penalty be more severe?

More...

[Dpantherman]

damn, I can't find Meriweather's hit, but it looked intentional to me

[natty]

Looks like a legit hit to me.

[blackcatgrowl]

I was watching this game when the hit happened. It doesn't matter if it was intentional or not, it was a really, really stupid move by Robinson that could have hurt him as badly as it did Jackson. It's basic fundamental football to NOT make plays against other player's heads and necks. He should have lowered his shoulder and gone for the waist or legs.

Honestly, if they can fine Julius Peppers for his hand accidentally smacking the helmet of Matt Stafford, they should make an example out of Robinson, and suspend him for a few games. This is professional football, not street ball.

[zebrainz]

The helmets never contacted. Shoulder to chest. The guy hit him the way the league told him to. Receiver had the ball in his hands when he hit him, causing an otherwise completed pass to become incomplete. I'm sorry some of you had Jackson in fantasy football.

-A receiver without the ball is a different story.

-Blocks like this happen all the time on special teams, no outcry then, I wonder why?

-If a running back was hit like this to cause a fumble, the hit would be applauded.

-The hit wasn't dirty, they were face to face, Robinson ducked his helmet and used his shoulder.

-Jackson's head had turned around and he saw both defenders in front of him before the hit.

-I hear the baseball playoffs are on tv.

[blackcatgrowl]

The helmets never contacted. Shoulder to chest.

Ah Bullsh!t. The announcer said it was a shoulder hit before they showed the reverse angle, but he was wrong.

Go watch the video from 35 seconds to 38. Robinson's head was right up against Jackson's facemask.

If it was shoulder to chest Desean Jackson wouldn't have a severe concussion right now.

The guy hit him the way the league told him to. Receiver had the ball in his hands when he hit him, causing an otherwise completed pass to become incomplete. I'm sorry some of you had Jackson in fantasy football.

Wrong again. The league does not permit helmet to helmet. Go watch the video again.

-A receiver without the ball is a different story.

-Blocks like this happen all the time on special teams, no outcry then, I wonder why?

-If a running back was hit like this to cause a fumble, the hit would be applauded.

-The hit wasn't dirty, they were face to face, Robinson ducked his helmet and used his shoulder.

-Jackson's head had turned around and he saw both defenders in front of him before the hit.

-I hear the baseball playoffs are on tv.

Jackson was watching the ball come down, not watching Robinson. He had less than a second to react before Robinson's helmet smashed into his jaw.

That was a stupid hit that shouldn't have happened, period.

By the way, if it wasn't helmet to helmet, then why did Robinson get concussed too?

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81b6e30f/article/falcons-robinson-sustained-concussion-on-jackson-collision?module=HP_headlines

[Dpantherman]

The helmets never contacted. Shoulder to chest. The guy hit him the way the league told him to. Receiver had the ball in his hands when he hit him, causing an otherwise completed pass to become incomplete. I'm sorry some of you had Jackson in fantasy football.

-A receiver without the ball is a different story.

-Blocks like this happen all the time on special teams, no outcry then, I wonder why?

-If a running back was hit like this to cause a fumble, the hit would be applauded.

-The hit wasn't dirty, they were face to face, Robinson ducked his helmet and used his shoulder.

-Jackson's head had turned around and he saw both defenders in front of him before the hit.

-I hear the baseball playoffs are on tv.

You do realize Dunta was penalized right?...meaning it was an illegal hit.

[Falcons1stPanthers2nd]

You do realize Dunta was penalized right?...meaning it was an illegal hit.

So James Harrison's hit was legal?

[Dpantherman]

So James Harrison's hit was legal?

nope. wasn't flagged, but it should have been.

[Falcons1stPanthers2nd]

nope. wasn't flagged, but it should have been.

I was just pointing out flawed logic. I don't think Dunta's hit was intentional but that is far from the point.

[zebrainz]

People see what they want to see I guess. Or what they are told to see. I've watched the vid 5 times now, still no helmet to helmet. Helmet to helmet contact does not have to happen for a concussion to occur. He needed a Hans device more than a helmet to prevent his concussion on that play. As I said, shoulder to chest, he certainly didn't lead with his helmet. Take off the tinted/slanted eyeglasses that league, media, and dumb blonde on NFLNW are giving you and you watch the video again. I saw what I saw.

The penalty was announced as "defenseless receiver". Which is exactly what I am saying did not happen on this play.

He turned his head past Robinson to the other DB before he was hit. He already had control of the ball and was starting to make a football move. So yeah, he was watching the ball:rolleyes:.

[Dpantherman]

I was just pointing out flawed logic. I don't think Dunta's hit was intentional but that is far from the point.

the intent thing was brought up by Pat Yasinskas, not me just to clarify. Both hits are illegal.

[Falcons1stPanthers2nd]

the intent thing was brought up by Pat Yasinskas, not me just to clarify. Both hits are illegal.

I don't even know if Dunta's was illegal. It's questionable. Doesn't look helmet to helmet. Looks like his shoulder hit Jacksons helmet and Dunta's head hit Jackson's shoulder.

[zebrainz]

Just for contrast, Merriweather/Heap from the Pats/Ravens game. This is what helmet to helmet and a defenseless receiver looks like to me. Merriweather clearly had the opportunity to pull up, but changed direction and jumped at Heap's head as the ball went by. Bellicheck even gave Merriweather the "what were you thinking?!?" look when he came back to the sideline. Best view is about 1:00-1:05. I thought this was Rodney Harrison for a second.

The results were similar, but for me, the line in the sand needs to be drawn somewhere between this and the Robinson/Jackson hit, based on the actions of the players involved, not knee jerk reactions. It's football, there will be some risk of injury even if they go to flag football rules. I don't wish this kind of injury on anyone and yes, defenseless receiver is a point of emphasis this year as it should be. Both injuries were part of another point of emphasis with the concussions, also as it should be, but the Robinson/Jackson hit looked clean to me. What are you going to tell Robinson? Don't hit him as hard next time? Aim lower and miss? For the record, I have no rooting interest in either of these 4 players or teams. Well, I do like watching the Falcons lose, but that's almost a Pavlovian response the way our season is going.

EDIT:

Also, the Harrison hits from today are now posted on YouTube. The hit on Cribbs is a perfect example of a "defenseless runner" (as I described in an earlier post), contrary to Wilcot's opinion. On the Massaquoi hit he also leads with his head, not his shoulder.