NFL deems Wes Welker hit on Aqib Talib legal

Discussion in 'NFL General Discussion' started by Sportsguy, Jan 23, 2014.

  1. Sportsguy

    Sportsguy AKA-Sportsguy9695

    NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino has spared Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker of any wrongdoing for his hit on New England Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

    "It was a legal hit," Blandino said on the NFL Network on Wednesday night.

    On Monday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick blasted Welker for the hit, calling it "one of the worst plays" he's seen in 39 years of coaching.

    "It was a deliberate play by the receiver to take out Aqib. No attempt to get open," Belichick said, never mentioning Welker, the former Patriots receiver, by name. "I'll let the league handle the discipline on that play."

    There will be no discipline, as Blandino said Wednesday it wasn't a penalty.

    "The first potential foul would be for offensive pass interference; a receiver can't block downfield before the ball is touched, so the timing is important," he said. "The contact occurs, the ball is touched almost simultaneously. We don't have a foul for pass interference.

    Source: ESPN Boston
     
  2. DaBearsrule4ever

    DaBearsrule4ever Hall Of Famer

    Hahaha! Suck it Belichick! Players are encouraged to go low while delivering a block and that's what Welker did. An injury to Talib just happened. It sucks but it is what it is.