Adrian Wilson Fined $25,000
October 10, 2008 by David Kindervater
Filed under Arizona Cardinals
National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson was fined $25,000 for his hit on Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards last Sunday. I knew this was coming. Take a look at the replay. When a player puts the crown of his helmet into another player’s facemask and drives him to the turf, that’s unnecessary roughness. Adrian very easily could’ve gone lower, putting his shoulder into Trent’s midsection and wrapping him up on the tackle. This was a dirty play. I’ve always liked Adrian’s aggressive style, but this is just plain wrong and he would be lying to say otherwise. He knew what he was doing — trying to take out the opposing team’s quarterback. Which he did. Trent suffered a concussion and never returned to the game. Officials didn’t flag the play, but the NFL has a soft spot for its QBs and will go the extra mile to protect them. Adrian wasn’t surprised with the outcome and actually seemed kind of proud of his “accomplishment”:
“We’ll see where it goes, but it’s kind of hard to appeal something when you have 15 personal fouls in your career, numerous fines for hits like that. It’s kind of reputation ….. Anytime you have a quarterback on the ground, of course it is going to be questioned.”
The league reminded Adrian in a letter that he was fined twice last season, once for a late hit and once for a horse collar tackle, and that “future infractions can lead to increased disciplinary action.” Translated, that means his next such penalty will draw a one-game suspension and double the fine. Knowing Adrian, I really doubt he’ll change his game one bit. In fact, when he was asked that very question, his response was quickly, “No.” Do you think the league has a special lookout on Adrian Wilson now? You better believe they do. He asked for it.
Source: AZCardinals.com
Wow, you think that was a dirty hit? Have you played football? You expect a defensive player to slow down and try to hit a moving target in the precise location that is “acceptable” for a tackle, and miss making the play in the process? The reality is it’s a split-second action, not the 10-second slow-mo replays after the fact for the armchair quarterbacks to analyze over and over. It’s the killer instinct that makes great defensive players what they are, and defenses are already at a constant disdvantage in the game. Geez…it’s football, not soccer.
I know what you’re saying about the defense being at a disadvantage and all that. It’s true. But Adrian CLEARLY went high on purpose. And it wasn’t like he was already airborne and couldn’t stop himself. Watch it at regular speed. Completely in control of himself, he lunged at Trent’s head. And Trent wasn’t a moving target, by the way. He was just standing there. You’re telling me Adrian isn’t smart enough or coordinated enough to tackle an opposing player the correct way? We both know he knows the correct way to tackle. And going after Trent’s head isn’t it. Unless he doesn’t know the rules or has some sort of vision problem we’re not aware of. I don’t expect a defensive player to slow down. But I do expect him to be fined if his helmet hits the quarterback’s helmet and he drives him into the ground with his helmet. Have you played football? Then you should know how to tackle, too. It was a dirty play. I do understand what you’re getting at. There are many other instances where I would side with the defensive player. Sometimes it’s impossible to stop. And you still get fined. But not in this case.
Maybe we just have different definitions of “dirty”. I’m not saying it was a textbook tackle, but I don’t think it was an intentional attempt to break the rules. Trent didn’t have to stand in there and take the hit unprotected, but he was a man and chose to stay in there and complete the pass instead of duck and cover. I give him props for that. At the same time, you have to be willing to get blasted if you do. I’m not going to say Wilson wasn’t trying to hurt Edwards, because EVERY player, whether they’re making a textbook tackle or not, is looking to hurt the other player. Not necessarily injure them, but put a hurting on them to make them think twice the next time they’re in the same situation. There’s a big difference between a ‘dirt’ hit and a ‘poor technique’ hit.
And yes, I played football. I was a FS, so have little sympathy for QBs who decide to make a play and take the hit from the ‘little man’ instead of ducking and covering like they would with a lineman coming at them.
Right on. While we’re on the subject, did you read ESPN mag’s recent article on “Inside the NFL’s Tackling Problem”? It’s in the October 20 issue. Very interesting story.