Comments on: Eric Smith to Appeal

By: billvv

billvv — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:11:19 +0000

If it’s called ‘regardless of intent’ it, too, sends the wrong message. We’re not trying to stop violence in football, that’s at least half of its appeal, just intentionally trying to injure another defenseless player. The Bills QB got planted and knocked senseless and that’s alright because it wasn’t his helmet that was involved, but the intent was there to knock him senseless, of that there can be no question, and he was defenseless. Where is the line being drawn here?

By: Bent

Bent — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:47:01 +0000

One harsh aspect is that if he appeals successfully, one of his teammates will have to be cut.

Appeal or no appeal if one less person gets their bell rung because a safety thinks twice before lowering his helmet on such a hit in future, then the publicity is a good thing.

Yes, I think it was inadvertent too, but it might send the wrong message to other players if he gets away with it. Sucks that it has to be a Jet that they make an example of, but hey it could be worse – imagine the outcry if it was Rhodes.

By: Dan C

Dan C — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:00:03 +0000

Am I the only one that saw Kerry Rhodes inadvertently push Anquan Boldin’s head downward into Eric Smith’s helmet?

Yes?

No?

Because – that’s sure as heck what it looked like.

By: billvv

billvv — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:10:32 +0000

He has to appeal. And there should be a reduction. Boldin was knocked into him. Otherwise it would have been a helmet to the ball and we all know about putting a ‘hat on the ball’ is good football. Anything else that says ‘regardless of intent’ takes away from the next guys ability and desire to take that same shot and you’ll just introduce fear into the game. Might as well play flag football when that happens.

By: sjfalcon2001

sjfalcon2001 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:45:52 +0000

I think he is appealing because the fine is not proportional to his salary. It amounts to 1/8 of his salary if I remember his numbers correctly. Almost the equivalent of 2 game checks. I think the suspension will stand (especially since Boldin needed surgery), but the fine should be limited to his game check for the suspension since the hit was clean. Then again, he is being made an example of. It doesn’t hurt him to appeal though.

By: JustAGreenGuy

JustAGreenGuy — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:39:05 +0000

He is doing it because it wasn’t a dirty hit. If Rhodes doesn’t nail him from behind it is a clean hit. He is protecting his name and he should.

By: TJBfan

TJBfan — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:28:01 +0000

I think people arent looking at this the right way. You think that we know something Eric doesnt? Of course he knows it will be upheld.

I think its more about the matter that if he doesnt at least try to appeal, then its as if he is admitting guilt

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:25:06 +0000

this whole rotation of players in at safety- i just dont like! There should be the starter and then only one other player. I think this constant rotation at the safety spot is just messing up the chemistry and what role each player is supposed to play on defense in the secondary!

By: Harvlis

Harvlis — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:06:45 +0000

Eric Smith used his head on his vicious hit on Bolden. He needs to use it now and accept the one game suspension. The less we see of the hit, the better. I would have given him more than one game. I think he needs the week off, to get his act together. He has not had a good year, so far, and I think frustration got the better of him, on that hit. For him to argue the decision, shows he is not dealing with reality. He needs to watch films of his other games, as well. Maybe, he thinks he is playing well.

By: The Ed(itor)

The Ed(itor) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:42:39 +0000

Let’s see, deliberate late hits on.a QB get you a fine and accidental helmet to helmet hits get you suspended. Makes perfect sense.