Does clay get fined or suspended this week?

[sjb12681]

I think both. They seem keen on making an example out of him, and he is playing right into it by voicing his thoughts post game.

Ive done my fair amount of clay bashing of late, but if that wasn't the way to get after the qb, then there isn't a way to do it effectively and definitively any more.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that last week, before clay got penalized, I think either Kenny Clarke or Mike Daniels pulled up on a sack dead to rights, and the Cousins ran up the field like 20 yd.

Which would/should the D do? This is going to be a BIG issue if the league doesn't fix it.
I don't think they will, bc they are incapable of a mea culpa needed to say they are wrong and need to course correct. They proved it by immediately putting data out last week and today to explain the call in real time.

Thoughts on the hit and on what defenders should do moving forward?

 

[Raptorman]

Another BS call.......................

 

[gonzozab]

Maybe a fine, which shouldn't happen, but there's no way he gets suspended. There was no malicious intent to injure Smith, and deep down the suits at the NFL have to know they are making themselves look foolish with this terrible rule and don't want to double down on it doleing out a suspension. Right???

 

[BrokenArrow]

Thoughts on the hit and on what defenders should do moving forward?

I'm thinking maybe it's time to just take the QB's head off. Maybe a Turkey Jones kind of thing. If you're going to be flagged anyway, you might as well make it count.

 

[Guacamole]

I'm thinking maybe Clay is a marked man. In the Charger/Rams game today, Suh did what Clay did, but 10 times worse and never got flagged.

https://www.therams.com/video/ndamukong-suh-takes-down-philip-rivers-for-first-sack-as-a-ram

 

[MadCat]

I agree, Clay now has a huge target on his back. But if I'm not mistaken, on one sack on Rodgers today it looked like he was driven into the ground, but no flag. That's the problem, it's all subjective and will depend on the official, the "offender", and the victim. And now they will be directly impacting results of drives... Games... Division titles.

And the NFL wonders why they are losing fans?

 

[Guacamole]

so why no flag on this? **** you Officials!!
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/a...uplexed-aaron-rodgers-for-his-first-nfl-sack/

 

[Greg Poplawski]

The league is thinking about covering the qb’s uniform with flags. When a defender wants to “tackle” the qb he just needs to remove a flag to stop the play. Seriously it seems this is about all they’re allowing with the new rules in effect. Gotta change and clarify the rules now, were this close to professional flag football. Ridiculous rule...

 

[PackerfaninCarolina]

I think both. They seem keen on making an example out of him, and he is playing right into it by voicing his thoughts post game.

If they do, he should take them to court and file a big old lawsuit.

 

[sjb12681]

Here's that Mike Daniels play where he let up to avoid a penalty

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So what exactly is a defensive player to do? I say just tee off and let the chips fall where they may. At least then the offense will know it's not getting anything for free like this garbage above. Drive em into the ground, smash em. Make it at least hurt as they walk back to the huddle with a first down.

 

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

The NFL HAS to fine Matthews.
That will prove to them the "roughing the passer" rule is working even though it's not and everyone thinks it sucks.

 

[OldSchool101]

THis isn’t about players making the correct adjustment as much as the referees making the correct judgement and the league reversing momentum.
I believe Rodgers getting hurt directly cost the NFL huge last year.. viewership was down and I believe this is the result of a monetary decision. IMO “Protecting the QB” is being used as a cover up to “protect viewership”. Which = “protect the NFLs pocket books”.
What the NFL has become centered on is not us fans or player safety..that’s a ruse and they don’t think us fans are smart enough to read between the lines. IMO The NFL has proven multiple times that it has increasingly become a monetary Giant and is in the beginning stages of ultimately losing its way. You can’t say the word NFL without it costing you $. This not the NFL of 1980.. it’s not the NFL of 1990 either.. these poor business decisions by themselves are not fatal, but the precedent they set have already secretly set an avalanche into position.
I worked for the Corporate Giant Circuit City in its hey day.. it was a Monster too, ranking #1 in the NY 500 during the entire 1980’s decade (yes #1) I also similarly watched it dismantle itself with poor corporate decisions that eerily parallel what I’m watching today in the NFL.
It is alienating its fan base (customers) and this is no longer a tackle football friendly sport. That sounds ridiculous but what’s more ridiculous is this is just the beginning of what’s about to happen when fans take the silent vote. There won’t he a survey either that can fix this fans will vote with their 2 feet.
I’m personally about a micro milliliter from turning away from the sport I used to love. I’m not alone either.. my brother, my step brother and now my father in law have already walked (3 different teams) I know many others that have been aggravated to the point of exhaustion.

 

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

Did you see fat MM after roughing the penalty call walking fast along the sidelines while the ref was back peddling for his life...……...To funny

 

[sjb12681]

Its really beginning to feel like we should expect a flag whenever a game changing play happens, or a game sealing play occurs. It's like wrestling... Can't let it end without a twist to keep it interesting. I've come to be surprised when a big play happens and NO flag gets thrown.

 

[easyk83]

Here's that Mike Daniels play where he let up to avoid a penalty

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So what exactly is a defensive player to do? I say just tee off and let the chips fall where they may. At least then the offense will know it's not getting anything for free like this garbage above. Drive em into the ground, smash em. Make it at least hurt as they walk back to the huddle with a first down.

Thats what I was thinking take your lumps and play dirty where quarterbacks are concerned, especially against the good ones.

 

[melvin dangerr]

With all the roughing the passer BS The rules committee will have to let New York review it, at the next meeting.....

 

[Dantés]

I have a lot of respect for him for not destroying that ref. Obviously, it’s not the official’s fault. It’s a stupid league initiative. But after last week, I feel like my impulse would have been to shove that flag down the guy’s throat.

 

[melvin dangerr]

I was impressed with MM getting fired up finally

 

[Dantés]

I was impressed with MM getting fired up finally

That was amazing. He was the koolaid guy’s much angrier, drunker brother. And that ref was almost literally running away.

 

[AKCheese]

OK I’ve seen both plays. CM definitely pancaked Smith... he flat out flattened him with 100% of his body weight.... stupid stupid stupid play.... we’ve seen it from him before. Would that be called a few years ago ? No. Was it as bad as the play Rodgers got hurt on last year? No. Was it clearly a violation of the rules put in place by owners to protect QBs? Yes... clearly... no question. Could CM have avoided coming down with all his weight in Smith? Yes. The Rodgers sack in todays game that everyone is wailing about? Not even close to the same. The guy grabs Rodgers as they’re going by and spins while dragging him down. Almost NO body weight on him. Trying to compare those two makes you sound like someone who has to win based on debating refs calls instead of superior play. Last weeks call against CM was questionable. The Chicago game was just plain a dirty hit. This week was stupid. What’s a pass rusher to do? Adapt to the rules or hang up your jock... stop costing us games. I did enjoy watching MM waddle after the ref in protestation tho... that was amusing!

 

[pacmaniac]

I was impressed with MM getting fired up finally

That's what happens when your *** is getting scalded by your chair.

 

[easyk83]

OK I’ve seen both plays. CM definitely pancaked Smith... he flat out flattened him with 100% of his body weight.... stupid stupid stupid play.... we’ve seen it from him before. Would that be called a few years ago ? No. Was it as bad as the play Rodgers got hurt on last year? No. Was it clearly a violation of the rules put in place by owners to protect QBs? Yes... clearly... no question. Could CM have avoided coming down with all his weight in Smith? Yes. The Rodgers sack in todays game that everyone is wailing about? Not even close to the same. The guy grabs Rodgers as they’re going by and spins while dragging him down. Almost NO body weight on him. Trying to compare those two makes you sound like someone who has to win based on debating refs calls instead of superior play. Last weeks call against CM was questionable. The Chicago game was just plain a dirty hit. This week was stupid. What’s a pass rusher to do? Adapt to the rules or hang up your jock... stop costing us games. I did enjoy watching MM waddle after the ref in protestation tho... that was amusing!

yep Clay clearly should have suspended the laws of gravity during that hit. If you're driving forward and trying to form tackle someone odds are you are going to land on them. Too many people who have never played this game are promulgating rules.

 

[rmontro]

What irritates me is it seems like the league has decided that it is now illegal for the Packers to get any sacks. No sacks at all on Alex Smith today.
The NFL seems to have decided to make an example of us. "Hey, they have no pass rush anyway, they probably won't even notice".

 

[pizzle]

Maybe recent circumstances in my life have made me more forgiving/less judgmental towards those I share some type of bond with. Maybe I'm a little inebriated on tequila and my lady friend finally took me out of the doghouse and let me "roam". Whatever the reason-I want to give #52 a semi-mea culpa.

What the NFL is doing to him right now is deplorable. They are not only suppressing him from playing to his best abilities-but they are trying to punish him after the fact for things either he wasn't made accountable for when they "occurred"/don't directly apply to him (PEDs/dirty hits on QBs in the past/Aaron being knocked out for the year by Barr).

At this stage in his career Clay simply isn't Von Miller or Khalil Mack. He doesn't have the ability to affect an OL/QB/offensive protection scheme with sheer athleticism. He is playing on technique and will right now. But dammit-HE'S A PACKER. I got excited when I saw him burst through the line and put Alex Smith on his *** with authority-I hadn't seen him do that in A LONG TIME. And as soon as I saw that flag drop after his hit I was infuriated-not just because all the years I'd strapped up a helmet/studied the game tells me without prejudice that was a solid, non-malicious football play but also because that penalty was a huge microcosm of alot of things over time/recently that shows me Green Bay gets the short end of the stick by the NFL.

Fail Mary comes to mind.

We all as fans are subjective-but doesn't it seem like the Packers are normally the team that loses close calls over other teams when it matters? I know I'm not the only sensible fan that has been bothered by feeling that way in the last 5 years.

Today-I felt like alot of Cheeseheads-we didn't deserve to win but the refs still jobbed us. And it ****** me off.

For the rest of this season-regardless of my thoughts/opinions on #52's current abilities/future with the team-I will be rooting for him with spirited vigor.

Clay-if they're gonna use you as a scapegoat to take away clean/fair physicality from football-then I will not be against you anymore. You play for my favorite team-and you made one of the biggest plays in our franchise's history that helped us capture our 2nd modern era Super Bowl Championship in 2010. I would never take that away from you nor forget that.

Screw this bs-I ride for my guys!

Go get 'em-even if it means we gotta eat some flags. If you can make plays like the one you were flagged on consistently I won't complain a peep. GPG...

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

The NFL HAS to fine Matthews.
That will prove to them the "roughing the passer" rule is working even though it's not and everyone thinks it sucks.

They didn't after his hit on Cousins, which was called "textbook teaching film", so why would they on this?

OK I’ve seen both plays. CM definitely pancaked Smith... he flat out flattened him with 100% of his body weight.... stupid stupid stupid play.... we’ve seen it from him before. Would that be called a few years ago ? No. Was it as bad as the play Rodgers got hurt on last year? No. Was it clearly a violation of the rules put in place by owners to protect QBs? Yes... clearly... no question. Could CM have avoided coming down with all his weight in Smith? Yes. The Rodgers sack in todays game that everyone is wailing about? Not even close to the same. The guy grabs Rodgers as they’re going by and spins while dragging him down. Almost NO body weight on him. Trying to compare those two makes you sound like someone who has to win based on debating refs calls instead of superior play. Last weeks call against CM was questionable. The Chicago game was just plain a dirty hit. This week was stupid. What’s a pass rusher to do? Adapt to the rules or hang up your jock... stop costing us games. I did enjoy watching MM waddle after the ref in protestation tho... that was amusing!

Go back and watch both of them again. After that, if you still think Payne's sack was "legal" under today's rules and Clay's this week and last week were "illegal/questionable", than you are in the minority.

My opinion is that Clay's hits look a lot worse than they are due to the fact that he has a full head of steam coming into them. Should he try to put on the brakes, pull up, shake the QB's hand and than try to tackle him? Both Payne and Suh's sack that someone posted, probably didn't look nearly as violent due to the fact that they weren't running at the QB, but both of those tackles clearly involved the player making sure their full body weight came down ******* the QB, Clay's 2 hits, not so much.