Okay folks. And I know I’m probably gonna piss a few people off here, but here goes...
1) It’s not a race thing, as the NFL has been handing out fines and punishments to Caucasians and non-Caucasians for all sorts of things these days - many of them silly, while some don’t go far enough. (full disclosure: my biggest issue has been with the lack of consistency with fines, suspensions, etc), but I digress...
2) I looked at the incident carefully, as EVERYONE repeatedly saw it in slow motion. I did something a little different to get it in full context: I increased the speed on the playback just to see it in close to real time. With that view, and the actions immediately following, it appears to me that it probably wasn’t intentional.
3) Yes, the ground is heated in Lambeau Field. Doesn’t mean one’s feet can’t get cold while you’re out there.
4) Among the primary responsibilities given to The position of referee, is the protection of the QB. Now, you football fans know that literally ‘breathing’ on a signal-caller call gets a flag these days - especially against a ‘top-shelf’ QB like Rogers, and no one likes Suh, anyway. Yet there was no flag thrown. Translation: Ref didn’t see a penalty.
I was among those that thought a one-game suspension against and pro-bowl lineman was a little much since much worse things happen inside a scrum during a fumble. IMHO, [conspiracy hat on] The suspension was being done to help R. Goddell’s butt buddy, Jerry Jones this weekend. This was more than punishing Suh, this was punishing the Detroit Loins - who did nothing wrong. [conspiracy hat off]
It’s football, people. Yes, I know Suh has a history, but is Rodgers the first player to get stepped on during a game? I know when I played, it happened every game, and that was just high school.
The bigger problem that I see is how the NFL has become totally reactionary when it comes to incidents. The won’t bother with something until ESPN plays it to death with endless commentary that ‘something should be done’, until something is done - which creates a whole different controversy on its own.
Myself, I’ve turned much of it off because the NFL is become more of a politically correct ballet than it is a sport, like back in the day.
just my $0.02
jimjohn - OUT.
I agree.