Punter Getting Clocked In Steeler-Bengal Game

[listopencil]

I saw an article this morning about that particular play. Here's a link:

http://deadspin.com/missed-penalty-g...e-a-1484135728

The author points out that this is clearly illegal as the Punter qualifies as "defenseless" and is supposed to be given extra protection. Not that he can't be blocked or hit, but he is not supposed to be hit in the head or neck area. It looks to me like that Steeler LB 1) lead with the crown of his helmet, 2) making first contact in the head/neck area, 3) on a defenseless player. Here's the rule:

Article 7
:
Players in a Defenseless Posture
.
It is a foul if a player initiates unnecessary contact against a player who is in
a defenseless posture.
(a) Players in a defenseless posture are:

(1) A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass;
(2) A receiver attempting to catch a pass; or who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a runner. If the receiver/runner is capable of avoiding or warding off the impending contact of an opponent, he is no longer a defenseless player;
(3) A runner already in the grasp of a tackler and whose forward progress has been stopped;
(4) A kickoff or punt returner attempting to field a kick in the air;
(5) A player on the ground;
(6) A kicker/punter during the kick or during the return (Also see Article 6(g) for additional restrictions against a kicker/punter);
(7) A quarterback at any time after a change of possession (Also see Article 8(f) for additional restrictions against a quarterback after a change of possession);
(8) A player who receives a ―blindside‖ block when the offensive blocker is moving toward or parallel to his own end line and approaches the opponent from behind or from the side, and
(9) A player who is protected from an illegal crackback block (see Article 2);
(10) The offensive player who attempts a snap during a Field Goal attempt or a Try Kick



(b) Prohibited contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture is:
(1)Forcibly hitting the defenseless player’s head or neck area with the helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder,even if the initial contact of the defender’s helmet or facemask is lower than the passer’s neck, and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him;or
(2) Lowering the head and making forcible contact with the top/crown or forehead/‖hairline‖ parts of the helmet against any part of the defenseless player’s body; or
(3) Illegally launching into a defenseless opponent. It is an illegal launch if a player(i)leaves both feet prior to contact to spring forward and upward into his opponent, and(ii)uses any part of his helmet (including thetop/crown and forehead/‖hairline‖ parts) to initiate forcible contact against any part of his opponent’s body.

Note:
This does not apply to contact against a runner, unless the runner is still considered to be a defenseless player,as defined in Article 7 above.
Note1:The provisions of (2) do not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or helmet in the course of a conventional tackle or block on an opponent.
Note 2: A player who initiates contact against a defenseless opponent is responsible for avoiding an illegal act. This includes
illegal contact that may occur during the process of attempting to dislodge the ball from an opponent. A standard of strict
liability applies for any contact against a defenseless opponent, even if the opponent is an airborne player who is returning
to the ground or whose body position is otherwise in motion, and irrespective of any acts by the defenseless opponent,
such as ducking his head or curling up his body in anticipation of contact.

https://www.nfl.info/download/2012Me...ule%20Book.pdf

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Bowel Movement

It was sarcasm

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

What?

No, the blocker most certainly did not lead with his shoulder, that was a head down shot with the crown of the helmet.

That hit's been illegal for decades. This isn't a wussification of the sport thing, that hit was brutal and dirty as a mother****er.

Like most, I don't care for the 'defenseless player' rules, but as has been noted, they aren't even terribly relevant to this instance. That is a guy that put the crown of his helmet under another player's facemask. It's been illegal forever and there's no room in the game for it.

I still haven't seen them call the flag this year on running backs leading with the crown of their helmet to break tackles.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Valiant

I still haven't seen them call the flag this year on running backs leading with the crown of their helmet to break tackles.

I've seen one.

It's damn near impossible to call it because the rule is that they have to be past the LOS or outside of the tackle area or some other weirdness.

Essentially they have to be initiating contact in the open field with the crown of their helmet. The rule, as written, really shouldn't be called that often. My concern was always that the rule would get broad and broader to where they start calling it every time a RB lowers his head at the LOS.

[Demonpenz]

m

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

m

You did not add him shitting blood. WTF?

[Demonpenz]

Someone should just act unaware at all times and make all the tackles.

[The Franchise]

FYI.....The Punter on Twitter change his main picture to him ge thing lit up.

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by -King-

In the gif? How is the ball career a good distance away. He's literally 10 feet away. It's a block that NEEDED to be made. Even if the punter didn't make the tackle, he would have certainly slowed down the returner or made him cut back into traffic.

ball carriers foot is on the diamond of the logo and the punter is just outside the circle. Maybe 5 to 8 feet?

[MOhillbilly]

**** soccer players.


No lube

[penbrook]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Over Dustin Colquitt?

**** no!

Colquitt is number one in pro bowl voting according to Adam Schefter.

[Sorter]

Ouch.

[BossChief]

The guy knew what he was doing when he lowered his helmet and he probably deserves a suspension for it. No place for that...never has been.

That said, if punters don't want to get lit the **** up, they need to be like everyone else and keep their heads on a swivel or get the **** out of the way.

I would have lit him up, too...but no way would I have hit him that high while lowering my head.

[RunKC]

If you're going to hit him, hit him in the numbers, not in his ****ing jaw where you'll get a penalty/fine/suspension.

Some players in the NFL are just dumb.

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by RunKC

If you're going to hit him, hit him in the numbers, not in his ****ing jaw where you'll get a penalty/fine/suspension.

Some players in the NFL are just dirty.

FYP

[A Salt Weapon]

Originally Posted by listopencil

You did not add him shitting blood. WTF?