its his fault...he really didnt have to murder keith rivers. when you get your jaw hecked up into pieces on a block, not a tackle they have to address it. it was a dirty blindside hit and if anyone hit ward like that all the steeler fans who just think hes the toughest in the whole wide world would be calling for the player to be suspended with a heavy fine
Or pull up and not make the block, not get the first down and have 4th and whatever instead of 3rd and whatever plus 15 and don't win the game. sure if you are committed to failing. Or hesitate and not make the block and then get your own bell rung...sure if you are committed to failing. :icon_rolleyes: It's football.
its football, i know this...hes allowed to block and he can block hard, hes very good at it but thats not what the rule is about, the rule iss about freaking up a defensless player like he did. he could have blocked rivers cleanly and the same results would have come up, he didnt have to lead with his helmet into rivers face....theres a big difference, i wish some could just admit once that maybe ward wasnt 100% right in this one
are you denying that? [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC0zTurm9yU]YouTube - Hines Ward Jacks Up Keith Rivers - www Super-Bowl-XLIII com[/ame] for real?
He hits with his shoulder first. His head is in front of the block like it should be, like they teach you all the way back to pop warner and his chin is actually tucked. Show me one player that doesn't block or tackle "leading with the helmet." lol. If you want to argue that Rivers was defenseless fine...but don't argue "leading with the helmet."
yeah ok he put his shoulder down, but the smashed his helmet into rivers face...thats not a form tackle, and its definitely not a clean block
lol...he hit with his shoulder first. It's not like he lifted his head and tried to smack him in the jaw with his helmet. He hit Rivers and Rivers helmet collided with his helmet. It was a legal block. Just because Rivers got hurt doesn't make it dirty. Defenseless...yes. Dirty...no. Matt Spaeth is "dirty" considering he led helmet first at the end of the play.
hop off his nuts for once, theres no way you can say it was clean saying "lol...he led with his shoulder" doesnt mean anything, he could lead with his rod but if his helmet still smashes rivers face it was malicious. I hate the bengals, i really do, but keith rivers doesnt deserve getting his jaw smashed into pieces and ruining a promising rookie year after chasing a RB that was clearly planning on running out of bounds. Blocking is awesome, im so glad that ward does it, he extends plays and hes a very good blocker but you cant sit there and tell me he doesnt try to hurt people....people try to hurt him all the time. i said before hes very smart about it, usually and doesnt get a penalty but this instance was dumb, it was a goobered way to throw that block and the hines ward rule is his own fault. this might seem 180* from what i usually say, i love injuries, i love seeing player i dont like ger hurt, brady i hurt i was happy...the best moment in 2008 for me was the time mcgahee laid on the field and everyone prayed for him...i loved it. i just hate the black and gold fairy land people live in that say ward is 100% clean and not dirty in the least bit cause he is, hes just smart
It was a "legal hit." Plain and simple. By the rules, it was a legal hit. To say Ward tried to break Rivers' jaw on purpose? Please...that's just silly. Rivers was defenseless...yes. Ward knocked him on his butt according to the rules, legally. Are you thinking that Ward should take into account in this case that Rivers' helmet could snap back and that Rivers' jaw could be broken? Actually, I should ask, do you think Ward, calculated on the run that if he comes in "leading with his helmet" but hits shoulder first, "to make it legal," at the right angle that he could possibly break Rivers' jaw and put him out for the season? I personally never said Ward was 100% clean. I'll agree that some of the hits are unnecessary, some are necessary...and in this case Spaeth got about 5 extra yards but his hits aren't illegal. Maybe you think they are dirty because he's knocking down defenseless players, but they'd be doing the same to him or another player. If this play happens at the four yard line and Ward pulls up, Rivers makes the tackle and the next play Roethlisberger throws an interception, you'd snitch about Ward not making the block. I sure as hell would... He just makes sure when he makes his blocks that it is within the "rules." I for one hope he doesn't change his style of play. I love it. Tomlin obviously loves it. There's 100% chance that there will be a 15 yard penalty here or there this season on Ward. He's under the microscope, but it could set the tone for the rest of the game. Could fire the team up. I like to see players give 100% out there and if he's got to knock a few players on their butt because that's his style...oh well...
its never about knocking players on their asses, thats cool....i love that he blocks, i really do and im sure he didnt make these little calculations in his head to break bones, thats freaking goobered but he is a dirty player and is known as being a dirty player....no one ever called him dumb though because hes not. I guess hes gotta do what hes gotta do to keep his rep up, i mean 11 drops last year, deteriorating knees, slowing down...his skills are diminishing, hes gotta make an impact somehow. whether its within the rules or not, it wasnt a clean shot
Great conversation gentlemen. Great points on both sides. 1) I agree with KTrain that Ward does take the severity of his blindside blocks too far sometimes and that's why he has injured guys (however, that is kind of the point. if defenses constantly have their heads on a swivel looking for blindside blocks from Ward, it makes their entire offense more productive) 2) But I also agree with 86Ward that his block on Rivers, and almost all of his great blocks, although very aggressive, are 100% legal. He is a great blocker and that is one of the things that has made Ward such an invaluable asset to the Steelers for many years.
legal yes...but its also kinda hecked up....hence the rule. its his own fault. i understand the head on a swivel concept, but he could have thrown that block without devastating rivers face, i know, ive seen him do it. like i said i couldnt imagine what would be said if rivers, or got forbid ray lewis busted wards face up with a blind side hit....their would be an uproar in the black and gold fantasy land
