In the second quarter of the Broncos and Bills preseason game this weekend, S Rahim Moore delivered a punishing hit that left the Bills' Donald Jones knocked silly on the sideline. The NFL in the last couple of years, especially in the last year, has put an emphasis on safety, namely defenseless receivers.
The hit on Jones certainly looks vicious and, while it still may result in a fine, it's not a complete cheap shot, in my opinion. Moore leads with his shoulder and appears to hit Jones in the chest. He didn't launch himself and doesn't appear to leave his feet.
Obviously, there's some disagreement on whether this was a dirty hit, as evidenced by this paragraph in the Denver Post's recap of the game:
After the vicious hit, Moore was advised on the sideline to play smart. But the first-year pro from UCLA also claimed his coaches told him: "Keep it up."
The play drew a flag from the refs and we'll find out this week if it draws a fine.
But was it a dirty hit?