OT: Wanna see what the death of football looks like? Here:

[bucs90]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xuvLwokg1I" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That video is of Ravens LB Courtney Upshaw performing one of the most absolutely beautiful, vicious and most perfectly done form tackles I've ever seen. Hell, he even squares up and chops his feet on approach.

But, the pansy ass "Necessary Softness Football League" threw a flag. God forbid a precious QB get touched.

That's it boys. That video one day could be the case study of the death of football. When THAT play is illegal? Well, boys, its no longer the sport we all knew and loved. We are in the awkward transition from when players still hit, and flags fly rapidly, and what we'll have in 10-20 years, which will be basically flag football.

[Beachdude]

Yep...Football is being ruined by pansies.....

I long for the good ol' days, like these when men were men:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xuOHtxg4WU

[keydet21]

NFL just trying to protect a marquee QB. Less star players injured = more money.

[bucs90]

Yep. You guys are both right. They are gonna ban tough guys from the NFL. They are catering to the fantasy football loons with all the rules limiting defensive players.

Just disgusting. That Upshaw hit in the video....wow. Doesn't get more perfect. Nick Saban probably collapsed due to an overdose of satisfaction when he saw his former player do that. And the NFL penalizes it.

[SuperHornet]

I'm a wannabe quarterback...and I STILL say that call was BS....

[Aho Old Guy]

You guys are dumber than a box of rocks.

If you can't distinguish a spear using the crown of the helmet from a legal tackle, your posting privileges should be revoked.

[93henfan]

You guys are dumber than a box of rocks.

If you can't distinguish a spear using the crown of the helmet from a legal tackle, your posting privileges should be revoked.

Good. I'm glad I didn't have to be that guy. I like hitting, but you can't hit a QB with your helmet in the gut. C'mon guys.

I thought the more flagrant pussification calls were two seasons ago when they were calling every DB in the league for clean shoulder decleeter hits on WRs.

Spearing QBs on the other hand is always going to be 15, even when the QB is a rapist.

[bucs90]

It wasnt a "spear". His facemask was on the numbers. Textbook tackle.

[MTfan4life]

You can blame this on the NFL all you want, but the real problem starting all this crap is the people filing all the lawsuits against the NFL for getting hurt. I mean, who plays football without knowing that it's very possible you could get some life-altering injuries? But in this sue happy world, people think they need to be compensated for everything. The lawsuits are causing the NFL to develop more strict rules on plays like this. Because the former players are whining that they were hit too hard when they played in the nfl.

[Mvemjsunpx]

It wasnt a "spear". His facemask was on the numbers. Textbook tackle.

If by "on the numbers," you mean "staring at the QB's crotch."

I don't think he was trying to spear him, but he did.

[clenz]

It wasnt a "spear". His facemask was on the numbers. Textbook tackle.

If by "on the numbers," you mean "staring at the QB's crotch."

I don't think he was trying to spear him, but he did.

Not a spear... Or even all that close

[93henfan]

Clearly a spear. I've seen far worse yes, but a spear nonetheless.

[clenz]

Clearly a spear. I've seen far worse yes, but a spear nonetheless.

Face mask placed right in the sternum. How is that a spear?

[93henfan]

Crown of the helmet. Just can't lower the helmet like that. Easy call.

[clenz]

So the crown of the helmet is now the face mask?

[93henfan]

So the crown of the helmet is now the face mask?

No, above the face mask dummy.

[clenz]

Opening of the eye spot put right on the sternum. That's how tackling is taught.

Also, spearing wasn't the call so....

[93henfan]

Like I said earlier, I've seen worse, but you can't put the crown of the helmet on a QB. 15 every time.

[93henfan]

Also, spearing wasn't the call so....

Actually, it was.

Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8 (Unnecessary roughness)

(f) 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.

[SuperHornet]

Spearing has always been called when it was to the back. (See the call on Dan Fouts back in the day; he let a DB have it after a pick.)

This was nothing worse than an old-school textbook tackle. People are scared of neck injuries, but neck injuries don't happen with a face-on collision; they happen when the head is down, which compresses the neck.

The call is bogus. Period.

[GannonFan]

What ever happened to the "see what you tackle" technique? The guy had his head down and used his helmet to drill him in the sternum. Granted, it wasn't a penalty 5 years ago, but it is today. Keep your head up and see what you hit and it's not a problem.

[kperk014]

Since about 80% of the players are broke by the time they've been out of the NFL for 2 years, they had to come up with some other way to get money instead of, God forbid, working.

[clenz]

Also, spearing wasn't the call so....

Actually, it was.

Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8 (Unnecessary roughness)

(f) 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.

What's the rules for roughing the passer...that's what was called.

[93henfan]

Actually, it was.

What's the rules for roughing the passer...that's what was called.

I think it all falls under the same penalty.

I'm not saying I agree with the roughness being taken out of football, btw. I loved the 70s Steelers and Raiders. That was football.

[SuperHornet]

The Goodell NFL would have flagged that hit UM put on the South Dakota quarterback scrambling in the red zone late in the third quarter. Good, clean hit, but Goodell would have flagged it anyway.