Falcons safety William Moore fined $7,500
- Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes, left, and safety William Moore, right, tackle Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones during 2nd quarter action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons strong safety William Moore said he was fined by the league $7,500 on Wednesday.
Moore was fined for a helmet hit he placed on Tampa Bay running back Earnest Graham in the third quarter. On third-and-4 from Tampa Bay’s 36, Graham caught a short pass for a 5-yard gain. Moore came over to aid linebacker Sean Weatherspoon on the tackle and was called for unnecessary roughness on the play.
“It was called a late hit,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said on Monday, when asked if he thought Moore would be fined. “Again, whether he was a defenseless player, that will be something that I’m sure the League will determine but that was a personal foul, late-hit penalty is what they called it, not helmet-to-helmet.”
For the second week in a row, a Falcons’ defensive back has been fined by the league. Cornerback Dunta Robinson was fined $40,000 for a hit he put on Philadelphia receiver Jeremy Maclin, who was deemed a defenseless player.
“You see that the rules are changing, so we have to change with them,” Moore said. ”We have to continue to play physical. You can’t go out there and see how you are hitting a player. You just have to play fast and deal with it.”
Moore will have a tough assignment this week, going against Seattle tight end Zach Miller.
“He’s an explosive tight end,” Moore said. “If you’ve seen what he’s done in the past, you’ve got to respect him. He’s got great hands and is a great blocker. I’ve got my hands full this week.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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89 comments Add your comment
Bit My Toungue
September 28th, 2011
3:56 pm
I would play but you cut me and Coach Andy made me a new home
thechamp404
September 28th, 2011
3:58 pm
can someone tell me why we don’t wear our all-black uniforms anymore?
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
3:59 pm
what a bunch of nuts…………….ha !
TomDawg
September 28th, 2011
4:05 pm
At least Falcons did not lose to Seattle in the playoffs last year,
, yeah I know….Green Bay whipped our @ZZEZ, but still not the same as Seattle.
TomDawg
September 28th, 2011
4:06 pm
Hey D-Led, how about a kudos for being 1st on second page? Lol
Joe P.
September 28th, 2011
4:11 pm
Just another “Dirty Bird!”
kb
September 28th, 2011
4:12 pm
Moore needs to understand that the days of spearing are over. You cannot lead with your head to tackle someone. The striking area is below the shoulders and above the knees. To all of you people who say football is become a girly sport are the ones who have no clue the amount of money involved.
The amount of money poured into these players is crazy. Quarterbacks are paid the most of these outrageous amonts of money because the commerial market wants to see more offensive, not defense. If I was a business man I would like to see more regulations to keep my product (the players) productive as long as they can play. People need to see the cold hard facts of commerialism. If people are too stupid to see these facts, then they need to go back to school and learn about capitalism.
Die Hard Falcon
September 28th, 2011
4:17 pm
Tom Dawg, the earlier version of this article said it was for the hit on Freeman, that’s why all of us were complaining, I don’t remember the Earnest Graham play, so I cannot comment.
kb
September 28th, 2011
4:21 pm
And what is the deal with tackling? Is this a lost art? Whatever happen to a good looking form tackle? How about wrapping a ball carrier these days? Everyone wants of be a highlight these days. If players like Moore and Robinson keep trying to tackle with their heads will end up really hurt themselves. They are doing this because very few players know how to do a form tackle (put your head into someone’s breastbone, wrapping your arms the thighs or waist, picking the ball carrier, and put the ball carrier on the ground. Not trying to body slamming a person……)
JSH
September 28th, 2011
4:28 pm
If you put your helmet in the ball carriers brestbone, it’s now called spearing and you get a fine. The game of football we learned as a kid is gone and it’s not coming back.
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
4:33 pm
Its what I call nocking the snot out of the other Teams guy….lol
UPDATE: Falcons safety William Moore fined $7,500 | NFL Online News
September 28th, 2011
4:37 pm
[...] Atlanta Falcons This entry was posted in Atlanta Falcons and tagged $7500, Falcons, fined, Moore, safety, update, William. Bookmark the permalink. ← Gailey instilling confidence to resurgent Bills (AP) [...]
Bit My Toungue
September 28th, 2011
4:46 pm
I been hit so much told refS to throw a flag and all they do is laugh at me
kevin
September 28th, 2011
5:26 pm
We need to protect our qb if he keep getin hit we are not going to have a qb I thank we are scared to. spend money we need to get some quality player like julio Jones that what our team do that why they are good like green bay and saints look at bills they are good read this comment closely thank u
Matt
September 28th, 2011
5:37 pm
No Big deal, William Moore hit didn’t hurt anyone and we still got the W over the choke artist Falcons…
Wednesday fine roundup – Jets Nation | Football News and Topics
September 28th, 2011
6:50 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
NFL fines William Moore, Phil Taylor – ESPN | Football News and Topics
September 28th, 2011
7:10 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
LakeDawg
September 28th, 2011
7:42 pm
I hate to see this. I can understand a QB in the pocket or “launching” against a receiver, but how do you control helmet to helmet when playing 100 mph? When I played, its how we were taught to tackle.
NFL fines William Moore, Phil Taylor – ESPN | My Football Search
September 28th, 2011
7:47 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Ichabod
September 28th, 2011
8:07 pm
Other than Julio and Dahl’s slot we have the same OL as last year, besides the OL what gives…?
TomDawg
September 28th, 2011
8:23 pm
Just read this again, thanks Die Hard Falcon for clearing that up.
fan
September 28th, 2011
8:44 pm
What about Stocker, the tight end catching Dunta in face mask and slinging him to ground. The Ref. was watching and didn’t throw a flag. Why didn ‘t the NFL great commisioner fine Stocker. Seems to me they are calling it tight on falcons and let other team do as they please! Against Eagles Abe, just touch QB in back fifteen yards. They about torn Ryan in half no flag. Rules should be called the same on both teams, if they are going to make it flag football game. I do not like these new rules. Let them play football. This is going to be arena football on field, the way its going. ANFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JAY
September 28th, 2011
8:48 pm
READ THE ARTICLE AGAIN FOLKS!!!! The hit Moore was fined for was on Earnest Graham, NOT Josh Freeman!!!
Macon Fan
September 28th, 2011
8:51 pm
Brian Bellick demonstrated with film that Dunta Robinson’s hit in Week 2 was a clean play. The receiver was not defenseless, he had caught the ball and taken 3 steps. Dunta hit him with his shoulder.
Macon Fan
September 28th, 2011
8:55 pm
And then we got WATB (that’s whiney a** tittie baby) Michael Vick crying about the hits he’s gotten. If he had been given half of the cheap shots Ryan has taken, the WATB would be begging to go back to Leavenworth.
CGD..
September 28th, 2011
9:41 pm
Seattle 20 Falcons 16.. Book it Dano..lol
dbird1 kick rocks dude….
falconfanintitantown
September 28th, 2011
10:22 pm
Micheal m. you sir are, are an idiot, please forget how to properly deflate your blowup doll girlfriend. That way, you will have to run out to the store and buy another one. That will give the real falconfans time to blog about the team that they love. Look, i know the birds have some problems to work out, but i think they can get it done in time to have a good season. there is alot of football left to be played, and this team has too much talent to suck. Remember, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Just like how Greenbay snuck into the playoffs and rode momentum all the way to a superbowl title. I’m not saying the birds are superbowl contenders right now, but who knows how this season will end. Let’s just hope they can finish strong all the way to a championship!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jake
September 28th, 2011
11:14 pm
Fred D. You’re about the only one that really understands and you express yourself very well.
B'Red
September 28th, 2011
11:19 pm
The Falcons will bounch back and get a win, will be 2 and 2 when they face the packers. Looking forward to Rogers getting more touches and making a difference in the offense.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 29th, 2011
1:31 am
TomDawg — Kudos to you!
Voice of Reason
September 29th, 2011
3:36 am
Does nobody read the article? The fine was not for the hit on Freeman.
A Reader
September 29th, 2011
7:22 am
The reporter should have stated the facts of Moore’s fine. The headshot to Josh Freeman that he is being fined for happened on the last play of the game. Remember the offsides jump of Peters? Moore hit Freeman while he was taking a knee, then grabbed him around the ankles when he stood up, so Freeman had to “kick” out of it.
I really wish these guys would do their jobs and report accurately.
You there ?
September 29th, 2011
7:26 am
No matter how they pick the rules apart there is a huge need to protect player from head to head contact. I see many retired players for their ills. They expected bad knees and shoulders but 99% would take back every “jello brain” hit they dished out. They feel thisway because they are watching their peers and them selves suffer from what appears to be alzheimer’s and dementia. This is occurring to them in their 50s and even 40s.
just sayin'
September 29th, 2011
8:04 am
these guys want to make the ‘highlight’ reel with those helmet hits..that way there’s no ‘highlight’ of their poor pass coverage..keep fining them….make it a percentage of their salary..make them put 15″ tires on their suv’s…make them drive ‘civics’…how else can you get their attention?
ATL Fan
September 29th, 2011
9:15 am
The hit was properly called a late hit. Moore did have his head down, and therefore, would likely bring forth a fine. It wasn’t a viscuous hit or one that looked like he was intentionally trying to hurt Graham. It looked like over aggressiveness.
Hopefully he will appeal the fine. This is an example of following the letter of the law not the spirit of the law.
Sec 127
September 29th, 2011
9:24 am
Luv da hitt, Keep up the good work Willie Moe….
If they catch da ball “They Get Knock Out”….
Season Ticket Holder..
Bruzer
September 29th, 2011
12:23 pm
This hit was a legal and proper hit. I agree with those who say this call and fine is BS. Football is getting to the point of being ridiculous. Don’t cry about “short careers” or “permanent injuries”. These guys know what the risks are when they sign the contract and step on the field. If the players don’t like the risks – GO GET A REAL JOB!. Stop whining about protecting the players. Play the game the way it was intended or go paint houses for a living.
lombardi
September 29th, 2011
7:45 pm
Big deal. This is why they wear helmets. They need to man up.
Chop Buster
September 30th, 2011
6:45 am
Keep laying the wood Willie Mo! Don’t let the NFL change your style of play. We have enough soft players on this team that lack attitude. You’ll just have more tax write offs at the end of the season.