#84 . . . is that Brown? He had one foot on the ground for less than a second before he was hit. There is no way the momentum could change in time to avoid the hit that occurred. Yes . . . the hit involved head/helmet contact. Can’t see how it could have been otherwise. The recent rules regarding proper methods of contact have thrown a cloud over the game in certain respects. Don’t have a dog in this fight, but think the penalty on the Bengals defense was unnecessary. I’m writing of the play that brought up the first of two consecutive 15-yard penalties.
Helmet contact per se is not illegal. As a matter of fact, you will see helmet-to-helmet contact on just about every running play in the league, because ball carriers dip their heads in anticipation of a hit. They do this both to punish the defenders and to protect their necks.
Because of that behavior, the NFL has never said helmet contact with ball carriers is illegal.
Once a receiver takes two steps he is a ball carrier, and is no longer protected as a "defenseless player."
Your claim about Burfict is nonsense as well. Burfict was three steps away from Brown when the ball went over his head. In the NFL players launching at QB's and receivers are permitted ONE AND A HALF STEPS, anything further away than that it's expected that the defender has time to pull up. Doesn't matter when Brown came down, all that matters is how far away Burfict was when it became clear that the ball was uncatchable. He had plenty of time. He's a POS who goes out of his way to injure other players.