[QUOTE=thelew1014;437030]Do you realize who you’re talking to?[/QUOTE]
Yes.
[QUOTE=X-49er;437005]It does not matter if he signaled a fair catch or not!!! [B]You still can’t take his head off before the ball gets there while he’s defenseless.[/B] The same applies for when a safety or linebacker can level a receiver. You can’t hit him until the ball gets there.[/QUOTE]
Everyone knows this. By the way, he didn’t hit him in the head, no matter how many times people claim he did (including the NFL statement). At most, his shoulder/arm slid up into the neck after initially hitting him in the chest/shoulder.
I don’t think anyone is arguing that it wasn’t a mistake on Wesley’s part and/or didn’t deserve a penalty. However, the point is it was a mistake (he clearly expected the ball to get there at the same time and you can’t stop yourself once your into the tackling motion at full speed). This to me makes a BIG difference when I consider whether to call a play/player “dirty”. Intent is a big factor to me. Nothing in Wesley’s past indicates that he is a “dirty” player.
[QUOTE=919R;437080]By the way, he didn’t hit him in the head, no matter how many times people claim he did (including the NFL statement). At most, his shoulder/arm slid up into the neck after initially hitting him in the chest/shoulder.
…
Nothing in Wesley’s past indicates that he is a “dirty” player.[/QUOTE]
Thank you! I don’t understand why I have to keep hearing everyone talk about the play like he speared him, went helmet to helmet, aimed his forearm at Smith’s throat - it’s like they didn’t even watch the play and yet they’re calling for Wesley’s first born! People are ridiculous.
The punishment seems about right, even if it is gonna hurt our special teams coverage.
[QUOTE=919R;437080]Everyone knows this. By the way, he didn’t hit him in the head, no matter how many times people claim he did (including the NFL statement). At most, his shoulder/arm slid up into the neck after initially hitting him in the chest/shoulder.
I don’t think anyone is arguing that it wasn’t a mistake on Wesley’s part and/or didn’t deserve a penalty. However, the point is it was a mistake (he clearly expected the ball to get there at the same time and you can’t stop yourself once your into the tackling motion at full speed). This to me makes a BIG difference when I consider whether to call a play/player “dirty”. Intent is a big factor to me. Nothing in Wesley’s past indicates that he is a “dirty” player.[/QUOTE]
Agree with all of this. These guys are paid to hit people and hit them hard and the other guys are execpting to get hit.
I don’t think he’s dirty, but this was a bad play. I don’t believe there was ntent to hurt anyone. The only issue I have is this is one of those situations where I feel like the players have to protect/look out for each other as dumb as that sounds. These guys are big and fast and to get hit when you’re expecting it is bad enough.
I may be wrong, but to me it’s one of those “unwritten” type of things. In baseball, pitchers have to protect their hitters by retaliating to beaners, but you don’t go throwing at someone’s head. Basketball, don’t undercut people, etc.
[QUOTE=919R;437080]Everyone knows this. By the way, he didn’t hit him in the head, no matter how many times people claim he did (including the NFL statement). At most, his shoulder/arm slid up into the neck after initially hitting him in the chest/shoulder.
I don’t think anyone is arguing that it wasn’t a mistake on Wesley’s part and/or didn’t deserve a penalty. However, the point is it was a mistake (he clearly expected the ball to get there at the same time and you can’t stop yourself once your into the tackling motion at full speed). This to me makes a BIG difference when I consider whether to call a play/player “dirty”. Intent is a big factor to me. Nothing in Wesley’s past indicates that he is a “dirty” player.[/QUOTE]
Others have testified to Wesley’s record as not being dirty. Again, you don’t hit a returner when he is still looking up for the ball: in the head, neck, chest, legs, feet, etc. Just saying he mistimed it is a copout. At any level of football players on the coverage team are taught not to hit the returner until he catches the ball, and they should be pulling up or slowing their sprint down a little until they either see the ball come down or the players head come down and look ahead. Wesley just went in like a speeding bullet with disregard to those guidelines.
[QUOTE=hootie;437103]I don’t think he’s dirty, but this was a bad play. I don’t believe there was ntent to hurt anyone. The only issue I have is this is one of those situations where I feel like the players have to protect/look out for each other as dumb as that sounds. These guys are big and fast and to get hit when you’re expecting it is bad enough.
[B]I may be wrong, but to me it’s one of those “unwritten” type of things. In baseball, pitchers have to protect their hitters by retaliating to beaners, but you don’t go throwing at someone’s head. [/B] [/QUOTE]
This. As I said before, Captain better be ready for a big hit on December 6 unless Wesley squared things with the Bucs returner. I don’t think the Bucs will hit him if he signals a fair catch, but I don’t expect them to even think about pulling up before the ball gets there. Football is sometimes different than baseball in players apologizing for stuff like this, but if I hit a guy illegally and did not mean to do it I would at least have the balls to go make sure he was okay. Wesley may have done so after the game, but he sure didn’t look at all apologetic right after it happened and he got ejected. He acted as if he had not done anything wrong.
[QUOTE=X-49er;437122]Others have testified to Wesley’s record as not being dirty. Again, you don’t hit a returner when he is still looking up for the ball: in the head, neck, chest, legs, feet, etc. Just saying he mistimed it is a copout. At any level of football players on the coverage team are taught not to hit the returner until he catches the ball, and they should be pulling up or slowing their sprint down a little until they either see the ball come down or the players head come down and look ahead. Wesley just went in like a speeding bullet with disregard to those guidelines.
This. As I said before, Captain better be ready for a big hit on December 6 unless Wesley squared things with the Bucs returner. I don’t think the Bucs will hit him if he signals a fair catch, but I don’t expect them to even think about pulling up before the ball gets there. Football is sometimes different than baseball in players apologizing for stuff like this, [B]but if I hit a guy illegally and did not mean to do it I would at least have the balls to go make sure he was okay. Wesley may have done so after the game, but he sure didn’t look at all apologetic right after it happened and he got ejected.[/B] He acted as if he had not done anything wrong.[/QUOTE]
Again, did you even look at the play? As soon as the play was over and whistles blew, the Bucs players were swarming Wesley----how would you propose that he go over and check on Smith at that point with multiple Bucs getting in his face, pushing and shoving?
I did hear on the radio this morning that Wesley has attempted to contact Clifton Smith, but was not able to get through to him.
totally defenseless. couldnt protect himself in any way. he should have been suspended more than 1 game.
and im a panthers fan. shameless act of stupidity.
[QUOTE=919R;437131]Again, did you even look at the play? As soon as the play was over and whistles blew, the Bucs players were swarming Wesley----how would you propose that he go over and check on Smith at that point with multiple Bucs getting in his face, pushing and shoving?[/QUOTE]
I’ve seen it about 30 times via Youtube and the highlights. All you have to say is “I didn’t mean to hit him early” after the play was over and he sees Clifton Smith laying there motionless on the ground. It’s that simple. Hold up your arms as a gesture if they can’t hear you. Some of the Buc players may have still been upset, but most would have backed down had he shown any remorse. Watch the YouTube videoagain. [URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOYqZfNbXcc][B][U][COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Illegal Hit[/COLOR][/U][/B][/URL] A few of the Panther players were upset at him when he came to the sideline, and he his still bitching about being villified and then ejected when he gets there. He’s still talking sh!t after the play was over and when he goes to the sideline after the melee. He really lloks like a player who “just made a mistake”.
[QUOTE=CharSFNiners;437132]I did hear on the radio this morning that Wesley has attempted to contact Clifton Smith, but was not able to get through to him.[/QUOTE]
Good to know, but why he waited this long is beyond me if he actually cared.
[QUOTE=X-49er;437147]I’ve seen it about 30 times via Youtube and the highlights. All you have to say is “I didn’t mean to hit him early” after the play was over and he sees Clifton Smith laying there motionless on the ground. It’s that simple. Hold up your arms as a gesture if they can’t hear you. Some of the Buc players may have still been upset, but most would have backed down had he shown any remorse. Watch the YouTube videoagain. [URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOYqZfNbXcc][B][U][COLOR=deepskyblue]Illegal Hit[/COLOR][/U][/B][/URL] A few of the Panther players were upset at him when he came to the sideline, and he his still bitching about being villified and then ejected when he gets there. [B]He’s still talking sh!t after the play was over and when he goes to the sideline after the melee.[/B] He really lloks like a player who “just made a mistake”.
Good to know, but why he waited this long is beyond me if he actually cared.[/QUOTE]
I assume you’re a lip-reader and also that you know for certain exactly WHEN he attempted to contact Smith---------you seem very eager to make this “hit” and Wesley seem as bad as possible.
one other thing-----for those of you who think that Wesley intentionally hit him (with forethought) early, what possible reason could he have for doing that knowing full well that he would be penalized at the very least and that every camera in the stadium would be focused on the play? Does that really sound reasonable to you? Again, it goes back to intent…mistake yes, intentionally trying to hurt someone with a “cheap shot” as you seem to think, no.
[QUOTE=919R;437152]I assume you’re a lip-reader and also that you know for certain exactly WHEN he attempted to contact Smith---------you seem very eager to make this “hit” and Wesley seem as bad as possible.[/QUOTE]
I never said I knew when or if he tried to contact Smith during or after the game. The 100 or so news outlets covering the game would have said so had he tried to contact Smith before yesterday or today. He didn’t try before yesterday, and that’s lame to try at that point anyway.
[QUOTE=X-49er;437154]I never said I knew when or if he tried to contact Smith during or after the game. [B]The 100 or so news outlets covering the game would have said so had he tried to contact Smith before yesterday or today.[/B] He didn’t try before yesterday, and that’s lame to try at that point anyway.[/QUOTE]
How would they know?..You’re making my point for me-----what you say MAY be true, but you do not KNOW it and yet you state it as fact in order to rip Wesley even more. Its called “piling on”.
When is Smith going to apologize for not calling fair catch that led to someone being able to accidentally hurt him?
[QUOTE=919R;437173]How would they know?..You’re making my point for me-----what you say MAY be true, but you do not KNOW it and yet you state it as fact in order to rip Wesley even more. Its called “piling on”.[/QUOTE]
He should have told them if he was remorseful AT ALL. He did not, and only bothered to try to contact Smith AFTER he was going to be suspended. All he said was “I’m not a dirty player, etc., etc.”
[QUOTE=stonecoldken;437175]When is Smith going to apologize for not calling fair catch that led to someone being able to accidentally hurt him?[/QUOTE]
The same date that you apologize for holding a diploma from Charlotte and lessening it’s value for the rest of us that also have one.
one thing not mentioned (and it happens every game in every team sport) is the case of sending a message. Maybe Dante meant to lay his asss out. Maybe the dude talked junk and had it coming to him. There are a million reasons that might of caused it. Maybe one of our guys got chop blocked and that was what we did in return. There are all kinds of things going on that you can’t see on tv, nor will the announcers speak about. I think its funny when people go on and on how “dirty” something is when you have not idea what may happen behind the scenes. Maybe the kickoff or punt before Dante got purposely hit in the nuts or spit on…there is no telling what made him do it.
[QUOTE=metro;437241]one thing not mentioned (and it happens every game in every team sport) is the case of sending a message. Maybe Dante meant to lay his asss out. Maybe the dude talked junk and had it coming to him. There are a million reasons that might of caused it. Maybe one of our guys got chop blocked and that was what we did in return. There are all kinds of things going on that you can’t see on tv, nor will the announcers speak about. I think its funny when people go on and on how “dirty” something is when you have not idea what may happen behind the scenes. Maybe the kickoff or punt before Dante got purposely hit in the nuts or spit on…there is no telling what made him do it.[/QUOTE]
Well, payback is a possiblity, but unlike baseball where the AL pitchers and relievers do not come up to the plate to pay the piper, Wesley should have dished out the payback to the wrongdoer and not the returner. If he wanted to get even with someone, get even with the person that committed the wrong and not someone else wearing the same uniform. No need to punish someone who did nothing wrong. It’s different in baseball when some pitchers don’t have to stand in the box. You have to hit someone else to get even. In football, everyone comes to bat.
[QUOTE=X-49er;437258]In football, everyone comes to bat.[/QUOTE]And I thought you knew your sports. :shades: X, everyone knows you don’t have batters in football.
[QUOTE=Over40NINER;437261]And I thought you knew your sports. :shades: X, everyone knows you don’t have batters in football.[/QUOTE]
…and I thought you could follow along!!! 
[QUOTE=stonecoldken;437175]When is Smith going to apologize for not calling fair catch that led to someone being able to accidentally hurt him?[/QUOTE]
Should a rape victim apologize for being too pretty to resist?