Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
I get that some of the Patriots players are going to be upset that they lost their superstar for the season. But no one should be directing their anger at Bernard Pollard, the man who took Brady out. Many writers and bloggers throughout the internets defended Pollard yesterday, and by the end of the day, the NFL had put it to bed, officially saying the hit was legal. (Players are allowed to hit the QB below the waist when their progress to said QB is impeded by a blocker.)
When Pats tackle Vince Wilfork heard this news, he wasn’t pleased. Last season, Wilfork received a penalty and subsequent fine for hitting J.P. Losman in the knee. When told that Pollard wasn’t similarly penalized, this was Wilfork’s reaction:
“Fair should be fair. They got me, point blank. I don’t want to get singled out. Don’t make me feel like I’m getting singled out. If you’re going to do a job, be consistent at what you do. This falls into the same category as mine, no if’s, and’s or but’s. He hit the quarterback below the waist. I hit a quarterback below the waist. I got fined. I got flagged. He didn’t get flagged. And from what I’m hearing, he didn’t get fined.”Pollard’s hit falls “into the same category” as Wilfork’s? Why don’t we take a look at both hits after the jump and I’m fairly certain we’ll see that one was dirty and one was not.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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if the pats players treat brady like a god why wouldn’t u say cheifs s bernard pollard should get fined. the hit was legal-they have seen the footage- we have seen the footage time again-brodie left wit an injury-and no one said anything about a fine for the cheifs qb getting hurt. this is the nfl were injuries happen. it just happen to be brady that got hit.
by imani99 on Sep 9, 2008 11:46 AM EDT reply actions
It looks to me that Pollards hit on Brady’s leg was not caused by Morris’s block. It looks like Pollard deliberately Lunged at Brady’s legs.
Wilfork’s hit on Losman came while he was falling forward from a block/ trip.
I can’t tell if Wilfork stuck his elbow out to protect his fall or to hit Losman but Wilfork’s momentum caused by the Bill linemen tripping him clearly led to the injury on Losman.
by Mungomunro on Sep 9, 2008 11:56 AM EDT reply actions
"It looks like Pollard deliberately Lunged at Brady’s legs." Yes, he did, in order to tackle Brady, not to intentionally injury him.
"I can’t tell if Wilfork stuck his elbow out to protect his fall or to hit Losman." Was he trying to protect his fall with Losman’s knee?
by cmottram on Sep 9, 2008 12:02 PM EDT reply actions
Well the video is proof. Wilfork was definately falling after being tripped…or even "tackled" by the blockers. The hit on Brady appears the same. I am not saying that either one was illegal or not, but in defence if Vince Wilfork, it seems that if they fined him for his actions then Pollard should be definately fined for his. Or at least give Vince his money back.
by helojockey on Sep 9, 2008 12:10 PM EDT reply actions
Doesn’t matter whether he was "trying to protect his fall" or trying to tackle Losman. Point is, its very clear from the video (see sec 12 and sec 25) that Bill’s No. 67 trips up Wilfork (i.e., impedes him) as he is going forward. He should NOT have been fined.
by banana head on Sep 9, 2008 12:13 PM EDT reply actions
There is no comparison. Wilfork used his elbow to try to inflict physical harm Pollard was trying to make a tackle while being blocked. The refs made the right call as did the league officials
by dusty50533 on Sep 9, 2008 12:15 PM EDT reply actions
"Why don’t we take a look at both hits after the jump and I’m fairly certain we’ll see that one was dirty and one was not."
Its evident from 2 different angles that Wilfork was tripped. Did you even look at the video?
by banana head on Sep 9, 2008 12:16 PM EDT reply actions
well, I dunno, they look very similar to me. Wilfork was tripped up and hit Losman, and Pollard was taken down, and then continued to Brady’s knee. I think because Wilfork is much bigger than Pollard - a safety, the hit from Wilfork looks much worse. But if Wilfork doesn’t get tripped up, I am sure he hits Losman legally. In the end, as I understand it, the rules are pretty clear, you are not supposed to hit below the knees and this Pollard hit was below the knees, so I don’t get why this wasn’t a penalty and a fine??? seems like a double standard to me….
by mrsure on Sep 9, 2008 12:37 PM EDT reply actions
Wow, now that I see the video, I see why Wilfork is upset. He is clearly tripped and falls into Losman. He was robbed.
by The Great Snook on Sep 9, 2008 3:02 PM EDT reply actions
I think the problem was there wasn’t any intentional eye-gouging.
by dgerlo1 on Sep 10, 2008 11:38 AM EDT reply actions
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