Brandon Merriweather

[Firefox]

"When Ellis Hobbs was carted off after a helmet-to-helmet hit early in the second half of Sunday night's Eagles-Giants game in Philadelphia, I got buffeted with a few critical remarks on Twitter mentioning how I wrote a post criticizing Asante Samuel for his helmet shot on Derek Hagan, but didn't do anything on the hit that caused Hobbs' injury.

Of course the hit Hobbs took was gruesome and dangerous. But it was also technically legal and I'm just trying to apply whatever sense can be made of the NFL's standard on helmet hits. And that standard, or emphasis, or whatever you want to call it, states that a ball carrier is pretty much fair game for those kind of hits."

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/11/22/1829453/ellis-hobbs-hit-injury-eagles-helmet-nfl

"This is a legal hit. If the defenders helmet in this play collides with the ball carrier's helmet, he will not be flagged."

http://www.lasentinel.net/Over-reaction-to-helmet-to-helmet-hits.html

[KSpan]

Just for fun, here is Jordan Gross laying Meriweather out at the Pro Bowl. 27-second mark :)

[CRA]

But it's not when you lead with the head against a defenseless receiver- which he did.

Smitty had already caught the ball and was making a move as a runner......which is why his hit didn't stop him (ball was already secured and Smith was ready to run).

[SauceBoss]

This guy can't cover. Most safeties nowadays can't. He's a POS. Hell New England cut him and their defense is a joke.

[GotSwag?]

Was going to post this on the refs thread, but I had a very weird feeling all game long like someone didnt want us to win this game. I realize we had chances to win this game. Blocked FG, some bad playcalling(not giving it to Williams and Stewart enough after the Godfrey pick) amongst others but Merriweathers helmet to helmet that was OBVIOUS and wasnt called and the other things discussed I thought were for sure penalites and werent called.

Then we get flagged for a PI on Shockey when I just didnt see it. A holding call on Connor that even the announcers were shocked.

All in all, the Bears won this game b/c we couldnt stop Forte, but the refs were HORRID. I was watching with my dad and was getting on his nerves talking about the officiating and it was comforting to come on here and see that Im not the only one that caught these things.

We have a very good football team. A dangerous one in a year or two and this respect will come from these officials.

[jtnc]

Dude tried to take Newton's head off when he ran in after a touchdown, luckily Newton's helmet missed him, definitely would have been helmet to helmet and a late hit.

[JawnyBlaze]

I didn't see this Hobbs hit, but if he speared with the crown of his helmet, this Michael Tunison person is wrong. It's NOT tecnically a legal hit. There's a difference with a helmet colliding with another player's helmet and spearing.

"When Ellis Hobbs was carted off after a helmet-to-helmet hit early in the second half of Sunday night's Eagles-Giants game in Philadelphia, I got buffeted with a few critical remarks on Twitter mentioning how I wrote a post criticizing Asante Samuel for his helmet shot on Derek Hagan, but didn't do anything on the hit that caused Hobbs' injury.

Of course the hit Hobbs took was gruesome and dangerous. But it was also technically legal and I'm just trying to apply whatever sense can be made of the NFL's standard on helmet hits. And that standard, or emphasis, or whatever you want to call it, states that a ball carrier is pretty much fair game for those kind of hits."

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/11/22/1829453/ellis-hobbs-hit-injury-eagles-helmet-nfl

"This is a legal hit. If the defenders helmet in this play collides with the ball carrier's helmet, he will not be flagged."

http://www.lasentinel.net/Over-reaction-to-helmet-to-helmet-hits.html

[Jackofalltrades]

Smitty had already caught the ball and was making a move as a runner......which is why his hit didn't stop him (ball was already secured and Smith was ready to run).

One the sideline catch Smith got blasted as soon as the catch was made, he didn't have a chance to do anything. Billick even remarked about how Smith managed to reel it in despite the hit.

[Snake]

It does not matter how it happened. Leading with your head into another player is a fine and a foul in this league.

[monstercat]

It does not matter how it happened. Leading with your head into another player is a fine and a foul in this league.

Seriously, why can't people understand this. You cannot use your helmet as a weapon, AKA spearing...period. I would have been very happy to trade the fine that's coming for the flag that didn't come though.

[PantherFan52]

I now know why the Pats cut that bum. He is a dirty, dirty player. Every since he came into the league he's done nothing but lead with his head time after time. Smitty made him his bitch today when he took his best shot and it didn't even knock him down.

[PeppersHarrisOlsenRivera]

This thread is a perfect example of why the NFL will become flag football by the time Goodell is done cutting the testies off of Defensive teams. The phrase Defense Wins Championships will be a thing of the past because no body can risk getting an injury or having hurt feelings. Same is happening with Military training so its actually a microcosm of modern society.

[Big Beast]

I was screaming helmet to helmet when that hit happened. Steve is on tough son of a gun, he did not even come out for one play. Merriwether is a dirty player for sure.

[monstercat]

This thread is a perfect example of why the NFL will become flag football by the time Goodell is done cutting the testies off of Defensive teams. The phrase Defense Wins Championships will be a thing of the past because no body can risk getting an injury or having hurt feelings. Same is happening with Military training so its actually a microcosm of modern society.

This thread has nothing to do with Goodell. Spearing was illegal long before he became the commissioner and long before the phrase "defenseless receiver" was ever invented.