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

[Bowser]

Obviously these goddamned punters are out of control.

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

I've played on coverage teams. I've been blindsided. I considered it part of playing special teams.

However blind siding a punter with a shot using the crown of your helmet makes you a ****ing pussy. My only wish here is that I can't be on the field to hit that ****ing Steelers pussy in the mouth back. I hate seeing that shit. He's a bitch, and should be treated like a bitch.

Why special treatment for the punter? It could be the last play of the game and a score needed to win, so you would patty cake block him instead of sealing it? The guys in the vid I link got laid out the same way, are those 'pussy' dirty hits too?

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Aspengc8

Why special treatment for the punter?

Punters aren't real football players. He probably doesn't even lift.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

As for the "no evidence" suggestion, just read the thread.

Look at the bottom of the GIF, the Steeler player leaves his feet.

To suggest that he had no intent to blow the guy up, when he's obviously LAUNCHING himself at him, is laughable.

The only thing funnier is suggesting it's "incidental" contact.

"I showed evidence, including those pictures where the punters head snapped forward...."

Except that it didn't.



Those are the two photos before and at impact. When you lay the angles of the head in relation to the body over each other, they're the same at best. If anything, the lower angle is actually more acute, indicating his head went a little backwards at impact.

You know why? Because the guy took the crown of the helmet to the ****ing throat, that's why. On the later pictures his head is spinning sideways because the energy of the blow went straight into his jaw.

What a bunch of mouthbreathing half-wits.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Punters aren't real football players. He probably doesn't even lift.

Lawrence Tynes would ****ing pummel your ass.

And mine too.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

So defenses played nicer back when they were allowed to make MORE hard hits on defenseless players. That's completely nonsensical, sorry.

Well, they didn't play "nicer", but they played with a different kind of anger I'd say. And I'd say those playing against them played with a bit more concern for their own safety. Maybe not... It's just my opinion, but when thos doode get back from his jaw surgery, I recommend he look where he's running.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

I hope the idiots that lack self control and discipline enjoy all the fines. They deserve them.

Indeed...

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I don't believe this at all.

First, as I mentioned previously, the REAL problem facing defenses is the more routine penalties, namely defensive PI and holding. That's what is making defense difficult, not outlawing bone-jarring hits.

Second, this Steeler player isn't mad AT ALL. He saw that punter and thought "I'm gonna be on Sportscenter." You know why that is? Because the same bloodsport spectators that are arguing in this thread that there was nothing wrong with it are the ones ESPN is catering too.

The only thing left to do is let them cut each other up with swords. We need more blood!

And he got on Sportscenter. Hell, he has people on the blog breaking his hit down frame-by-frame. So he got his moment in the sun.

[listopencil]

I don't remember anyone posting this in the thread, so I'll put it here for clarification:

“This is an illegal block. It should have been a flag for a 15-yard penalty,” Dean Blandino, the vice president of officiating, told NFL Network. “You’ll see the close up where you can see the contact to the head or neck area. So this will certainly be a point of emphasis this week, especially with our referees who are responsible for the punter on plays like this.”

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/stor...rtebra-surgery