Props to Pettis

Seriously. After the first non-fair catch blow up he was fearless. Stupid came into play when he did it again.

This.

Also, I disagree with the penalty...he did not signal fair catch. He had the ball in his possession (barely) and got rocked.

These "defenseless receiver" calls all over the league are taking away too many good, clean hits.

It used to be the rule that you just had to let the ball get to the returner before hitting him. Paul did that...and still got flagged by some made-up fairy rule that can't be enforced uniformly because it's a pure judgment call by the refs.

This.

Also, I disagree with the penalty...he did not signal fair catch. He had the ball in his possession (barely) and got rocked.

These "defenseless receiver" calls all over the league are taking away too many good, clean hits.

Well, Niles Paul came in high, not too early. Pettis had the ball in his hands when Paul crushed him, but it was helmet to helmet, thus the flag. If Paul had him one foot lower, no flag.

Looked like a hit to the chest to me.

Looked like a hit to the chest to me.

If you watch the slow-mo replay, Paul's arms definitely made contact with Pettis' chest, but he went in helmet first, and his helmet clearly made Pettis' head jerk back. It was the correct call to throw the flag.

If you watch the slow-mo replay, Paul's arms definitely made contact with Pettis' chest, but he went in helmet first, and his helmet clearly made Pettis' head jerk back. It was the correct call to throw the flag.I thought it was more an an issue with Paul not really knowing where to put his head. It looked to me like if he had put his head towards his left shoulder he'd have been fine; but he put his head towards the right which caused it to hit the receivers facemask. That said, I can't really argue with the call.

I thought it was more an an issue with Paul not really knowing where to put his head. It looked to me like if he had put his head towards his left shoulder he'd have been fine; but he put his head towards the right which caused it to hit the receivers facemask. That said, I can't really argue with the call.

I mean it happens SO fast down there on the field, I'm sure Paul wasn't trying to spear the guy. But yeah, it was the right call to throw the flag.

refs made the right call... still, what a hit.

Well, Niles Paul came in high, not too early. Pettis had the ball in his hands when Paul crushed him, but it was helmet to helmet, thus the flag. If Paul had him one foot lower, no flag.


I dont believe that’s true. I believe Riley and Paul were both flagged for the defenseless receiver rule not the helmet to helmet rule. From everything ive read on the defenseless receiver rule it doesn’t necessarily matter if you hit helmet to helmet. All that matters is making “unnecessary contact” on a player who is in a defenseless position.

Although I havent seen the full rule and I dont think anyone on this board has either. See this for more info:

http://www.thewarpath.net/redskins-locker-room/44250-understanding-hard-hitting-rules.html

There's a fine line between fearless and stupid

And Pettis crossed it BIG TIME. I'm not sure what the call was exactly but Paul smoked his ass and you have to like his effort.

I dont believe that’s true. I believe Riley and Paul were both flagged for the defenseless receiver rule not the helmet to helmet rule. From everything ive read on the defenseless receiver rule it doesn’t necessarily matter if you hit helmet to helmet. All that matters is making “unnecessary contact” on a player who is in a defenseless position.

Although I havent seen the full rule and I dont think anyone on this board has either. See this for more info:

http://www.thewarpath.net/redskins-locker-room/44250-understanding-hard-hitting-rules.html

Apples and apples. Even if the flag on Paul was for hitting a defenseless receiver, they could have also called helmet to helmet and they wouldn't have been wrong.