Dr Z on Denver and Its "Bastard Blocks"

Amnorix · 10-29-2004, 11:31 AM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ock/index.html

I'll post the relevant excerpt in a reply to this thread.

Amnorix · 10-29-2004, 11:33 AM

Cheap chop

Broncos' blocking technique is legal, but it's dirty and unnecessary

OK, let's get right into it. Denver and the chop blocks. Which aren't really the same as cutting. I was on a Denver radio show Thursday. That's all the, uh, hosts, wanted to talk about. Even the Denver writers were taking shots at the kind of football the Broncos practice, in the wake of RT George Foster's shot to the side of the leg of Bengals DT Tony Williams. Broken and dislocated ankle. Out for the year. Business as usual for the Broncos.

So that's what these radio guys, wanted to discuss, and I felt like quoting from that old chain-gang song, "Another man done gone." Yep, another notch on the belt. Earlier this season it was Jacksonville DE Paul Spicer. Broken leg, thanks to LT Matt Lepsis' block after he had been propped up. Out for the year. Two years ago San Diego DT Jamal Williams was lost for the season after Denver guard Steve Herndon came down on the back of his ankle and dislocated it.

The league office decided this one was illegal and Herndon was docked a game check, which came out to $17,000 and change. I seem to remember RG Dan Neil getting involved in a similar incident a few years ago, but I can't pinpoint it. What did I tell the Denver radio guys? That it was filthy football and it makes me sick. I've written this a million times.
Then they told me that Broncos coach Mike Shanahan gathered the media into the film room and showed them highlights of other similar blocks around the league. I said I thought that was just swell, but the Broncos are still the filthiest team in the NFL, and if the league's ruling forces didn't have their heads up their you know whats, something would have been done about it long ago.

So they mumbled some other stuff about Foster's block being technically legal because it didn't draw a flag, and a lot more blah blah, and the Flaming Redhead could see my look of gathering fury, and she said, "Don't say it. Choke it down," which I did because to have let fly with the collection of profanities that was gathering would've meant I'd never be invited back to the show, or similar ones, at the usual honorarium rate of zero.

The e-mails Jimmy sent through ... no, that's not a typo ... Jimmy is back from his brief stint on the crocodile wrestling circuit, while Andrew recovers from a case of swollen eyeballs, having to wade through the thousands of e-mails per week ... anyway the four that he sent through on the topic come from Hans of Washington, Brandon of Norfolk, Va., Alistair of Oakville, Ont., and Jon of Irving, Texas. Fellas, hold on, I'm not finished with this thing yet.

I would advise you gentlemen, and anyone else who cares, to send your opinions to the NFL Office, addressed to the Commissioner Tagliabue or Joe Browne, the VP of Communications, or Mike Pereira, the Director of Officials. They're all at the league office, and you can find contact information here. If you want to get even more serious about this, you could write to Rich McKay, the GM of the Atlanta Falcons, who's the Chairman of the Competition Committee, but it wouldn't exactly be fair to do it while the season is going on. Better wait until afterward.

They keep modifying the chop-block rules by itty-bitty steps, and I'm sure that each referee has his own way of calling it, but the bottom line is, players are getting crippled by what is technically legal. Or if the block is deemed illegal, then the penalty isn't stiff enough, considering that a player was totaled for the season, and his career threatened. I've been Johnny One Note at the Competition Committee press briefings for years. "Simple rule, no cutting unless you're face up...simple rule, no cutting unless you're face up..." And Tex Schramm, the Committee's co-chairman used to groan and say, "There he goes again...is there a parrot loose in the room?" And Don Shula, the other co-chairman, pulled me aside after one of the sessions and said, "What do you want to do, get all our quarterbacks killed? We've got to slow those guys down." "Simple rule," I answered, "no cutting unless you're face up...simple rule, no cutting unless you're face up."

The league wants to help the offense, which crippling the pass rushers certainly accomplishes. But it's also into image, and the image of all these guys getting broken legs via Denver's patented "bastard block" (which was what we used to call it), isn't very attractive. You can believe that it is image, not the desire to promote player safety, that might get this thing dealt with correctly.

BIG_DADDY · 10-29-2004, 11:37 AM

fuck the Donx those cheap bastards. If I was a lineman I would have no problem going after their knees on a regular basis or spiking their QB.

KCWolfman · 10-29-2004, 11:43 AM

If made illegal, I would like to see a rule that if a guy is injured, the offender should have to pay a portion of his salary instead of a measly 17K fine.

BigChiefFan · 10-29-2004, 11:45 AM

Damn, it's good to see that some are still on Denver's asses about quitting the cheap-ass plays.

jspchief · 10-29-2004, 11:53 AM

Haven't you guys read the official Donkey response yet? "It's legal so there's nothing wrong with it."

It's so frustrating that only the Donkeys and their fans can figure this out, while the NFL players, football fans, and the national media are too stupid to get it. Obviously 99% of the world is wrong on this one.

BIG_DADDY · 10-29-2004, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCWolfman

If made illegal, I would like to see a rule that if a guy is injured, the offender should have to pay a portion of his salary instead of a measly 17K fine.

Pay half his salary for as long as he is out and that includes career ending injuries.

KCWolfman · 10-29-2004, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

Pay half his salary for as long as he is out and that includes career ending injuries.

I am all for it.

**Bob Dole** · 10-29-2004, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

Pay half his salary for as long as he is out and that includes career ending injuries.

Half hell. Let him foot the entire bill and apply it to the offending team's cap.

**Rain Man** · 10-29-2004, 12:15 PM

I've often thought that if a player is injured by another player who committed a penalty to cause the injury, the offending player should be suspended for the same amount of time that the injured player is out, even if it's career-ending.

And yes, I know that technically this may not have been illegal as a block, but it should have been a penalty for unnecessary roughness and/or unsportsmanlike conduct.

Garcia Bronco · 10-29-2004, 12:40 PM

How long are you going to cry like little girls about this?

I've been saying this all week...

would advise you gentlemen, and anyone else who cares, to send your opinions to the NFL Office, addressed to the Commissioner Tagliabue or Joe Browne, the VP of Communications, or Mike Pereira, the Director of Officials. They're all at the league office, and you can find contact information here. If you want to get even more serious about this, you could write to Rich McKay, the GM of the Atlanta Falcons, who's the Chairman of the Competition Committee, but it wouldn't exactly be fair to do it while the season is going on. Better wait until afterward.

Gaz · 10-29-2004, 12:43 PM

I’ve been saying this a lot longer than a week…

“…the Broncos are still the filthiest team in the NFL…”

xoxo~
Gaz
Surprised that any fan can would defend the Broncos dirty play.

KCTitus · 10-29-2004, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob_Dole

Half hell. Let him foot the entire bill and apply it to the offending team's cap.

Oh, yeah....like that would have any impact on the broncos.

Braincase · 10-29-2004, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

How long are you going to cry like little girls about this?

Until you guys quit cheating and play fair. Everybody in the league knows you cheat and play dirty. You might want to use a little Brasso to take the tarnish off those trophies you hold so dear.

broncoholic · 10-29-2004, 12:58 PM

When did cut-blocking become dirty?
REALLY?
It's been a while, but I used to play on the O-line, and we were taught to cut-block. I myself was very good at it. There's nothing cheap or "dirty" about it. It's a technique!
I also played on D-line, and I NEVER rememer having any problem with it. When you play football, you have to PROTECT yourself at ALL times.

What next is Tackling going to be called dirty, maybe defendive players should simply "herd" the ball carrier out of bounds.

10-29-2004, 11:31 AM
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Dr Z on Denver and Its "Bastard Blocks" http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ock/index.html I'll post the relevant excerpt in a reply to this thread.
Posts: 43,125

10-29-2004, 11:33 AM	#2
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Cheap chop Broncos' blocking technique is legal, but it's dirty and unnecessary OK, let's get right into it. Denver and the chop blocks. Which aren't really the same as cutting. I was on a Denver radio show Thursday. That's all the, uh, hosts, wanted to talk about. Even the Denver writers were taking shots at the kind of football the Broncos practice, in the wake of RT George Foster's shot to the side of the leg of Bengals DT Tony Williams. Broken and dislocated ankle. Out for the year. Business as usual for the Broncos. So that's what these radio guys, wanted to discuss, and I felt like quoting from that old chain-gang song, "Another man done gone." Yep, another notch on the belt. Earlier this season it was Jacksonville DE Paul Spicer. Broken leg, thanks to LT Matt Lepsis' block after he had been propped up. Out for the year. Two years ago San Diego DT Jamal Williams was lost for the season after Denver guard Steve Herndon came down on the back of his ankle and dislocated it. The league office decided this one was illegal and Herndon was docked a game check, which came out to $17,000 and change. I seem to remember RG Dan Neil getting involved in a similar incident a few years ago, but I can't pinpoint it. What did I tell the Denver radio guys? That it was filthy football and it makes me sick. I've written this a million times. Then they told me that Broncos coach Mike Shanahan gathered the media into the film room and showed them highlights of other similar blocks around the league. I said I thought that was just swell, but the Broncos are still the filthiest team in the NFL, and if the league's ruling forces didn't have their heads up their you know whats, something would have been done about it long ago. So they mumbled some other stuff about Foster's block being technically legal because it didn't draw a flag, and a lot more blah blah, and the Flaming Redhead could see my look of gathering fury, and she said, "Don't say it. Choke it down," which I did because to have let fly with the collection of profanities that was gathering would've meant I'd never be invited back to the show, or similar ones, at the usual honorarium rate of zero. The e-mails Jimmy sent through ... no, that's not a typo ... Jimmy is back from his brief stint on the crocodile wrestling circuit, while Andrew recovers from a case of swollen eyeballs, having to wade through the thousands of e-mails per week ... anyway the four that he sent through on the topic come from Hans of Washington, Brandon of Norfolk, Va., Alistair of Oakville, Ont., and Jon of Irving, Texas. Fellas, hold on, I'm not finished with this thing yet. I would advise you gentlemen, and anyone else who cares, to send your opinions to the NFL Office, addressed to the Commissioner Tagliabue or Joe Browne, the VP of Communications, or Mike Pereira, the Director of Officials. They're all at the league office, and you can find contact information here. If you want to get even more serious about this, you could write to Rich McKay, the GM of the Atlanta Falcons, who's the Chairman of the Competition Committee, but it wouldn't exactly be fair to do it while the season is going on. Better wait until afterward. They keep modifying the chop-block rules by itty-bitty steps, and I'm sure that each referee has his own way of calling it, but the bottom line is, players are getting crippled by what is technically legal. Or if the block is deemed illegal, then the penalty isn't stiff enough, considering that a player was totaled for the season, and his career threatened. I've been Johnny One Note at the Competition Committee press briefings for years. "Simple rule, no cutting unless you're face up...simple rule, no cutting unless you're face up..." And Tex Schramm, the Committee's co-chairman used to groan and say, "There he goes again...is there a parrot loose in the room?" And Don Shula, the other co-chairman, pulled me aside after one of the sessions and said, "What do you want to do, get all our quarterbacks killed? We've got to slow those guys down." "Simple rule," I answered, "no cutting unless you're face up...simple rule, no cutting unless you're face up." The league wants to help the offense, which crippling the pass rushers certainly accomplishes. But it's also into image, and the image of all these guys getting broken legs via Denver's patented "bastard block" (which was what we used to call it), isn't very attractive. You can believe that it is image, not the desire to promote player safety, that might get this thing dealt with correctly. __________________ "I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington
Posts: 43,125

10-29-2004, 11:37 AM	#3
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $4968410	fuck the Donx those cheap bastards. If I was a lineman I would have no problem going after their knees on a regular basis or spiking their QB. __________________ The diabolical genius of Marxism-Socialism is that it provides the emotional and intellectual road map for autocrats to persuade millions of people to support their own enslavement to government. ~Mark Levin April 15, 2019
Posts: 32,387

10-29-2004, 11:43 AM	#4
KCWolfman Fall down 7 times, get up 8 Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	If made illegal, I would like to see a rule that if a guy is injured, the offender should have to pay a portion of his salary instead of a measly 17K fine. __________________ How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words! Samuel Adams
Posts: 15,469

10-29-2004, 11:45 AM	#5
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $9924205	Damn, it's good to see that some are still on Denver's asses about quitting the cheap-ass plays. __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
Posts: 15,777

10-29-2004, 11:53 AM	#6
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	Haven't you guys read the official Donkey response yet? "It's legal so there's nothing wrong with it." It's so frustrating that only the Donkeys and their fans can figure this out, while the NFL players, football fans, and the national media are too stupid to get it. Obviously 99% of the world is wrong on this one. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
Posts: 27,207

10-29-2004, 12:15 PM	#10
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3058491 VARSITY	I've often thought that if a player is injured by another player who committed a penalty to cause the injury, the offending player should be suspended for the same amount of time that the injured player is out, even if it's career-ending. And yes, I know that technically this may not have been illegal as a block, but it should have been a penalty for unnecessary roughness and/or unsportsmanlike conduct. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,648

10-29-2004, 12:40 PM	#11
Garcia Bronco No Keys, No Problem Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Denver Casino cash: $5053136	How long are you going to cry like little girls about this? I've been saying this all week... would advise you gentlemen, and anyone else who cares, to send your opinions to the NFL Office, addressed to the Commissioner Tagliabue or Joe Browne, the VP of Communications, or Mike Pereira, the Director of Officials. They're all at the league office, and you can find contact information here. If you want to get even more serious about this, you could write to Rich McKay, the GM of the Atlanta Falcons, who's the Chairman of the Competition Committee, but it wouldn't exactly be fair to do it while the season is going on. Better wait until afterward.
Posts: 30,960

10-29-2004, 12:43 PM	#12
Gaz Defense Homer Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Rancho Gaz Casino cash: $10010793	I’ve been saying this a lot longer than a week… “…the Broncos are still the filthiest team in the NFL…” xoxo~ Gaz Surprised that any fan can would defend the Broncos dirty play.
Posts: 5,911

10-29-2004, 12:58 PM	#15
broncoholic Starter Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Colorado Springs Casino cash: $10004900	When did cut-blocking become dirty? REALLY? It's been a while, but I used to play on the O-line, and we were taught to cut-block. I myself was very good at it. There's nothing cheap or "dirty" about it. It's a technique! I also played on D-line, and I NEVER rememer having any problem with it. When you play football, you have to PROTECT yourself at ALL times. What next is Tackling going to be called dirty, maybe defendive players should simply "herd" the ball carrier out of bounds.
Posts: 99