Man,it is good to need just a thing or two to be completed before the real rush starts!
In any event,it is good to be back (in blogville at least) and I have plenty of things that I need to catch up with here.
I do not go back to work until Wednesday night,so I'll have time to add Thursday's Devils win (Next post up), today's Devils matinee against Montreal,the Pirates and their flurry of moves,NHL realignment,my thoughts on the NBA's rejection of the Chris Paul trade,a few food stops and one of the most moving experiences that I have had at a site ever.
Hope you enjoy those as I hammer them out over the next day or two.
The Cleveland Browns went toe to toe with the Pittsburgh Steelers and gave them all they wanted for most of a 14-3 loss to the Steelers,but a cowardly hit,a questionable decision to put a dazed quarterback back into the contest,that quarterback's bad decision and a slip by the teams best cornerback contributed to the loss.
I have very little to say about the Browns offense other than the first drive,but give the defense credit-they showed up after a few off outings and slugged out with the Steelers and made them work for this one.
Cleveland falls to 4-9 on the year and hits the air to Arizona next Sunday against the suddenly revitalized Cardinals...Brownie Bits
1) James Harrison is a cheap shot artist and needs to be suspended.
Period.
End of discussion.
2) You can look at things one of two ways.
One-Harrison is a talented player that does not have to play in the manner that he does and just enjoys playing like a thug on the street or two-he has to play that way in order to succeed in the league because he is not talented enough to play straight up.
I tend to believe it is the former of the two,but I am open to the latter.
3) If the league was really serious about the crackdowns on concussions,try this plan implemented for size.
I realized head hits can happen.Once is an accident,twice a coincidence and three is a pattern.
Try this plan on for helmet to helmet shots.
One hit-15 yard penalty,two hits (If these hits occur over the course of a season) 15 yard penalty and warning that this is the next punishment,three hits-removal from the game,one game suspension and two game checks lost.If it happens again,tighten the punishment further.
Watch how much James Harrison straightens up when "his kids college fund is threatened" according to the noted psychologist Mike Tomlin.
4) One more Harrison note (and this tells you how exciting the game was offensively when I spend 4 notes on the opposing linebacker,read this quote-“From what I understand, once the quarterback leaves the pocket, he’s considered a runner,” “All the defenseless(ness) and liberties that a quarterback has in the pocket are gone and you can tackle him just as he’s a running back. The hit wasn’t late, so I really don’t understand why it was called.”
Well,Dumbass-the rule says the following-
One: "If a player uses any part of his helmet (including the top/crown and forehead/'hairline' parts) or facemask to butt, spear, or ram an opponent violently or unnecessarily."
Two: "Forcibly hitting the defenseless player's head, neck, or face with the helmet or facemask, regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him."
Three: "Lowering the head and violently or unnecessarily making forcible contact with the 'hairline' or forehead part of the helmet against any part of the defenseless player's body."
All of three of those apply and on NONE of these does it specify the difference between a quarterback and running back,so his ridiculous argument that McCoy was not in the pocket carries ZERO water.
The point is that you launched your helmet without any attempt to avoid contact with the opponents helmet and made heavy contact with said player.
McCoy's running had nothing to do with it.
5) Colt McCoy should have never re-entered the game and that might have made a difference.
The oft-criticized Seneca Wallace had moved the team to the Pittsburgh five before the return of McCoy,who then was called for intentional grounding and then was picked off in the end zone to end the threat.
NFL Network's camera crew had great shots of McCoy at the line of scrimmage and he looked clearly out of sorts.
The league has some explaining to do on this one as the concussion decisions are no longer made by the teams,but by independent contractors paid by the league.
6) Colt McCoy's father was critical of his return to the game as well.
I think Brad McCoy was right,but I also think his opinion was irrevelant and made his son look bad like he needs dads statement on the matter.
The man loves his son,but I didn't have to read about it...
7) Note seven and finally to something not related to the Harrison cheap shot.
I understood the reversal of Colt McCoy's TD run in the first quarter,that was a good call,but what I didnt understand was why the Browns did not try to lean McCoy in on the third and mere inches call.
Instead Peyton Hillis was hammered for a loss of two and then Phil Dawson's field goal.
If you push the pile and McCoy is still short,you can try again on fourth down.
The Hillis play put Cleveland in a tougher situation....
8) Give the Browns defense credit for the turning of Rashard Mendenhall away four times at the goal line and keeping the team in the game.
D'Qwell Jackson and Chris Gogong each had terrific games and Gogong was the star of the goal line stand.
9) I don't like Ben Rothlisberger,but give him all credit for toughness that you can give after the ankle injury last night and returning.I would not say that he was all that effective after his return,but he did keep Charlie Batch off the field and that might have won Pittsburgh the game...
10) No special teams issues either.First time in a while I have written that!
11) This game just did not have much going on.
If Harrison would not have smacked McCoy,this could have been very short..
Photo Credits
Cheap Shot:Justin Aller-Getty Images
Rothlisberger"AP Photo
No comments:
Post a Comment