No doubt about it. The circumstances pretty much demanded at least a 5-6 game suspension, so I’m not too mad about his being gone for the year. But the folks wanting criminal charges or having him kicked out of the NFL need to get a grip. And maybe watch the whole incident. Everyone focuses on the helmet swing, which, to be fair is something we haven’t seen before and could be an attack with a deadly weapon. Except it’s a clearly defensive reaction to being charged by Rudolph. Of course, Garrett should never have been holding the helmet to begin with, and that’s the core reason for his suspension with the swing just adding to it. This isn’t part of a continuing pattern of egregiously violent behavior like we’ve seen with certain other players. Garrett is aggressive and prone to late hits, which he clearly needs to work on, but he’s not spearing, stomping on limbs, kicking downed players, regularly getting in fights, etc.
I thought it was only a penalty if you hit your opponent with the crown of the helmet. The replay clearly showed Garrett hit the QB with the edge of the helmet. Bad call.
One thing that’s not been noticed, or at least not been commented on anywhere, is that the q’back was grabbing at Garret’s helmet early in the ‘action’, before the whistle was blown, I think. Not that that would have made any difference, most likely, but it did have to do with the ongoing nature of the incident.
While Garret had by far the worst optic in this fiasco (although historically not the first time a helmet was used as a weapon) he does deserve the most severe suspension. The most egregious act in the melee was his being kicked in the head while pinned down and therefor helpless (yes I noticed he was still wearing his helmet, this apparently has not prevented concussions with less severe impact). What seemed to be missing from the NFL was any responsibility attributed to Baker M. who had been trying to bull Garret’s helmet off moments before and was in the position to be hit by his own helmet because he was charging Garret when Garret was being restrained. The range of suspensions seem to be appropriate with the exception that Baker M. should have had some consequences for his actions.
MS72 over 4 years ago
In Europe, I hear, the fights are in the stands.
J Quest over 4 years ago
More of a hockey thing. I remember a game between the Flyers and Bruins where the teams squared off before the puck was dropped…
ajr58 over 4 years ago
https://youtu.be/VHMi-j7W2gM
ksu71 over 4 years ago
https://twitter.com/clevelanddotcom/status/1198648029697458177/video/1
LeonStauffer over 4 years ago
No doubt about it. The circumstances pretty much demanded at least a 5-6 game suspension, so I’m not too mad about his being gone for the year. But the folks wanting criminal charges or having him kicked out of the NFL need to get a grip. And maybe watch the whole incident. Everyone focuses on the helmet swing, which, to be fair is something we haven’t seen before and could be an attack with a deadly weapon. Except it’s a clearly defensive reaction to being charged by Rudolph. Of course, Garrett should never have been holding the helmet to begin with, and that’s the core reason for his suspension with the swing just adding to it. This isn’t part of a continuing pattern of egregiously violent behavior like we’ve seen with certain other players. Garrett is aggressive and prone to late hits, which he clearly needs to work on, but he’s not spearing, stomping on limbs, kicking downed players, regularly getting in fights, etc.
Buckeye67 over 4 years ago
I thought it was only a penalty if you hit your opponent with the crown of the helmet. The replay clearly showed Garrett hit the QB with the edge of the helmet. Bad call.
Eugeno over 4 years ago
One thing that’s not been noticed, or at least not been commented on anywhere, is that the q’back was grabbing at Garret’s helmet early in the ‘action’, before the whistle was blown, I think. Not that that would have made any difference, most likely, but it did have to do with the ongoing nature of the incident.
jollyjack over 4 years ago
While Garret had by far the worst optic in this fiasco (although historically not the first time a helmet was used as a weapon) he does deserve the most severe suspension. The most egregious act in the melee was his being kicked in the head while pinned down and therefor helpless (yes I noticed he was still wearing his helmet, this apparently has not prevented concussions with less severe impact). What seemed to be missing from the NFL was any responsibility attributed to Baker M. who had been trying to bull Garret’s helmet off moments before and was in the position to be hit by his own helmet because he was charging Garret when Garret was being restrained. The range of suspensions seem to be appropriate with the exception that Baker M. should have had some consequences for his actions.