'The Tackle'

[SliddY]

I'm sure you've heard about the clothesline tackle made by Donovan Darius. Robert Ferguson was temporarily paralyzed, yet Donovan only got a 75,000$ fine. Sure it's big for a normal person, but not for someone of his stature. Not even a suspension.

The Tackle (http://espn.starwave.com/media/nfl/2004/1219/photo/a_ferguson_il.jpg)

It was clearly blatent.

[Pfef63]

It was not intentional. If you think it was, you have never played football.

If you watch the play closely, he went to make the play, overran his man, and in a last-ditch effort to make the tackle swung his arm up and hit him. Of course it was a bad hit, but it wasn't intentional. It was a good punishment.

[SliddY]

Hmm, that's not what I thought... I'll try and find a clip.

[Devastation]

No, I don't think he meant to hurt the guy, he was trying to make the play and his football instincts got the better of him.

[Biological_Dad]

I think the hard hit was intentional. However, i think there should be no punishment for Darius, these guys are getting paid a lot of money to play and part of playing is risking getting hurt.

[SliddY]

Eh, I can't seem to find a video.

I'm gonna side with you guys on this one, since I have never played football.

P.S. - Nice call pfef.

[poopchow]

See, no good comes from any donovan.

That tackle was blatantly irresponsible, i say a game suspension and 150k fine.

People can die that way in front of millions of people.

[TheTechnician]

that hit was definitely uncalled for...he went high on his clothesline and got him right on his neck....it was pathetic, and was disgusting to watch.....i dont think the $75,000 fine was enough...he should at least be suspended for a couple games.

[Awesome Andrew]

Here is a bigger picture:

Hit (http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20041220/capt.wimg10412200112.jaguars_packers_wimg104.jpg)

And yeah, the ref made the right call by throwing Darius out. Total cheap shot.

[Kusanagi]

I saw this when it happened and I don't think it was intentional. The reciever was up in the air when Darius brought his arm up. The reciever was on his way down when he was hit. Had he stayed in the air another quarter second, the blow would have hit his chest and not been a penalty.

Still, hell of a hit no matter how you look at it...

[TheTechnician]

the thing was that darius followed through and kept driving through with his arm.....he said that they are taught to go for the ball if you cant make a tackle........it doesnt take a force like that to knock a ball loose. It was cheap and dangerous, if it wasnt he wouldnt have got fined

[2000 civic si]

He knew what he was doing, he said the he was going for the ball, since when did a person hold a football at there neck. That was intentional. When he caught the football it was at his stomach. What's next, some one going to leg drop someone.

[Nerdcraft]

Football players right now are such pussies. You can't make contact with the reciever outside of 5 yards, you are barely alowed to touch the quarterback...Please, hits like that happened every game in the 70's, I understand we know a lot more about what can happen with injuries from hits like that, but damn, they are starting to look like girls

[/\/eO]

Football players right now are such pussies. You can't make contact with the reciever outside of 5 yards, you are barely alowed to touch the quarterback...Please, hits like that happened every game in the 70's, I understand we know a lot more about what can happen with injuries from hits like that, but damn, they are starting to look like girls

I don't care how much money these guys get paid, I don't want them paralyzed. :bang:

[TheTechnician]

Football players right now are such pussies. You can't make contact with the reciever outside of 5 yards, you are barely alowed to touch the quarterback...Please, hits like that happened every game in the 70's, I understand we know a lot more about what can happen with injuries from hits like that, but damn, they are starting to look like girls

hmm you make an excellent point against yourself.........in the 70's this was allowed, AND GUYS WERE GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED. This is why they made the rule, for the safety of their players. Its just the same thing as making construction workers wear hard hats and making factory workers wear steel toe boots.

[Nerdcraft]

No, it's not the same, they are being payed to play a game. A very physical game, and now every year it seems like there is a new rule against hitting someone hard

[TheTechnician]

its still their job and their health though you see what i mean....

[bob991]

That was a complete accident. I played cornerback on my school's football team this year and swinging a clothesline is what they tell you to do. When the receiver is still in the air, you take a swing at him and try and dislodge the ball. The only reason Darius hit him was because Ferguson's body twisted around when he made the catch, Darius was going for the ball 100%. I seriously doubt he had any interest in actually hurting another football player. Although it was an accident, the ref made the right call in throwing him out of the game.