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
89 comments Add your comment
Me and Julio down in d school yard!
September 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
1st
FL Falcon
September 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
UNO
FL Falcon
September 28th, 2011
12:14 pm
…dos
Me and Julio down in d school yard!
September 28th, 2011
12:14 pm
Hat to see that. Maybe we should all take up a collection. He deserved it after the dirty bird dance.
PMC
September 28th, 2011
12:14 pm
The absolute right call under the rules. Can’t say I didn’t like it, but it was definately illegal.
Die Hard Falcon
September 28th, 2011
12:22 pm
I think that this is a totally crap call. Once Freeman leaves the pocket to scramble and doesn’t slide, he is the same as a running back. Josh Freeman is 6″5 or 6″6 and weighs 250 lbs., he continues to run and doesn’t try to go out of bounds or slide he should get lit up the same as Michael Turner, the rules ONLY apply to QB’s in the pocket and defenseless receivers, not head first runners diving for the 1st down.
just sayin'
September 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
sure we’ll get the normal ‘it was a clean shot’ from the coach..btw, he looks lost this year…seems as if this year the calls aren’t going his way..pretenders…
dean
September 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
I woulda sworn that was a right shoulder to head hit. Either it was or the refs just let it ride since it didn’t appear to be intentional. Oh well. Just another pass the collection plate in the locker room.
Season Ticker Holder
September 28th, 2011
12:29 pm
The correct title is “Me and Julio Down by the School Yard”
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
12:35 pm
” It was a clean shot, right smack in da head “, excerpt from Coach Clean Shot
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
12:37 pm
Falcons better play Good Football so they can keep earning those salaries to pay all the Fines they are getting hammered with , thanks to Coach Clean Shot…….lol
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
12:41 pm
I am glad I didn’t buy Season Tickets……I have to ask for a refund because the product isnt as good as it was claimed to be
Rikus
September 28th, 2011
12:50 pm
@Michael M. – All I hear from your post is “Waaahh, my team isn’t undefeated like I thought.” Freaking fair-weather fans. It’s a long season. Sit down and grow a pair.
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
12:52 pm
The Falcons are their own worse opponent, stupid penalties, blown assignments, poor tackling,dropped passes,turnovers, think thats to many already listed…….but………..if all that was taken care of then they would have few Teams that could actually beat em .
PMC
September 28th, 2011
12:56 pm
It was shoulder to head, he “launched” at Freeman, this was very well described last year on the Dunta collision. ANY shoulder or head contact will be fined whether it is flagged or not.
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
12:56 pm
Ha ! Ha ! 3 or 4 more losses and it definately will be one longggggggggggggg season !
Tom G
September 28th, 2011
12:59 pm
Someone, anyone please tell me why we are keeping a kicker averaging 34 yds per punt and also can’t reach end-zone from 35 on KO’s? I really want to know?
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
1:01 pm
Coach Clean Shot , ” Go low or high, but be sure you lead with the helment “, and ” You didnt hear me tell you that William, understand ?…lol
I like to see em hit like that for it makes it interesting.
Fred-D
September 28th, 2011
1:03 pm
Michael M. never believe the hype, never ever believe the hype, whether it is positive or negative. We were told by many of the “experts” that this was a championship contender. I wonder how many of those experts actually saw a Falcons game start to finnish, rather than just the highlights of Ryan making a comeback. If they would have seen the entire game they would have seen that the Falcons did everything they could to throw away games they had total control of, the best example being the Bengals game. Last year they had a weaker schedule and were able to slide, this year they are playing better teams who are really taking this team seriously. This team just needs to realize that they must play FOUR QUARTERS OF SOUND FOOTBALL instead of a half, or in the case last week, 1 1/2 quarter of good football.
Mr. Swamp People
September 28th, 2011
1:03 pm
dirty Failcons players
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
1:07 pm
lol……Swamp
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
1:09 pm
comments here please
Bishop Eddie Longs Red Panties
September 28th, 2011
1:14 pm
Let just give everone a white flag stick it in their belt loop and the flag is the only thing a player is able to contact Geeeeshhh what a bunch of wusses NFFL National Flag Football League
**Frederick(Bailey)Douglass**
September 28th, 2011
1:15 pm
DOL,
This is perplexing. At the point of contact, Freeman was not defenseless and was – in essence – a running back. Other things are peplexing as well:
1) Mularkey. I ASSUME that we run off a script of plays to start a game. If correct, Coach Mularkey has lost touch with the game. Just as last year, his premonitions are dead wrong. Think about it…he “fakes” the reverse to Julio against the Eagles and Turner got 0 yards. A week later vs. Bucs, he “runs” the reverse to Julio and gets -5 yards. Dude…what are you doing???? More: Falcons don’t even throw the ball deep…at all is the first half. A deep throw has the same effect as a run…if forces the DBs to account and THINK. No deep throws early in the game…DBs are squatting on routes all over the field. Thus is football 101. Last: with these weapons, the Falcons should not go complete halves with out scoring a TD. In three games they have been held without for three halves. For that DOL, his role should be reassessed.
2) Tackling. I know Blount is a tough player, but he cant be that strong. Play after play he ran through our defenders. Brent Grimes, for reasons that I can speculate, has decided not to tackle. #23 has not made a tackle behind the L.O.S. that I can remember. I want to see Vance Walker and Sidbury. Akeem Dent too. Somebody can tackle…its all “want to”.
3) Personnel. Turner has not broken a tackle this year. Put #44 or #22 in on first down and watch them pick up yardage. Baker is embarrasing himself. About to play right out of the league. Roddy White dropped big thime passes. Matt Ryan was very inaccurate on throws down the field. Are practicing correctly?
4) Intangibles. Falcons have to PLAY. No one is going to lay down because of last year. I dont see the urgency in the beginning of the game from Ryan, Turner or Abe.
FBD
CGD..
September 28th, 2011
1:16 pm
You go 13-3, guess what? You a marked team! You got cross hairs on your backs and helmets!
Everybody is going to bring their A-game, heck you were picked by the Genius Peter King with Sports illustrated to go to the freaking SuperBowl this year? Hugh???????????????
Went ta yo head Coach Clean Shot? Karma is a b*tch!
St. Richt
September 28th, 2011
1:17 pm
That was a clean hit- he led with his shoulder. Just so happens that the freaking head is attached to the shoulder, not much you can do about that. Freeman was also far from “defenseless” on the play. This is BS.
Fred-D
September 28th, 2011
1:24 pm
The way the NFL protects quarterbacks is unreal. You cant’s even accidentally hit them below the knees, in the head, nor with your helmet. you can’t touch them after they scramble and embarass your defense with a first down if he baseball slides; while monster sized quarterbacks can keep a play alive with defenders hanging around/off them, clearly showing the qb in the grasp (where did that rule go). I’m all for eliminating helment – helment contact because too many defenders believe throwing a forearm at an opponent as close to the head as possible is tackling(are you listening D. Robinson, entire Steeler defense). I know that if Ryan gets hurt this team is screwed, but if you can’t touch the quarterback, at least make it a penalty if he leaves the the pocket established by his offensive tackles
Mike Franklin
September 28th, 2011
1:40 pm
These new illegal hit rules are ruining the game and in this case, being used by the league to make an example by way of the Falcons. The Bucs game was a prime example as penalties were called on one side of the ball and often completely ignored on the other.
But beyond that, these rules are killing the game. The guys out there are professional players, bringing home six and seven figures or more. They are paid to play this rough, violent game we call football. To try and invent a politically correct way of tackling is absolutely horrible. The only way it survives the fans is because when these fines are slapped on a player, the only ones to defend them are team fans. The rest of the NFL nation agrees with the fines and penalties because it kicks potential opponents and makes them less likely to play hard against their own team.
Yeah. It’s a rough sport but they get paid really well to play a rough sport. Moreover, once you indoctrinate the players to tackle nicely, the game we once knew will be gone forever. There will be fines and penalties for jumping to high for a catch or blocking too long without letting disadvantaged players get a better shot.
Just makes me ill.
DawgFan
September 28th, 2011
1:49 pm
I’m just waiting on someone to get fined for looking at a quarterback the wrong way. We should change NFL to NFFQBL – National Flag Football Quarterback League.
The hit was fine. Freeman was the same as a running back at that point. If the league keeps up this practice of fining player on plays that don’t even draw in-game penalties, then eventually we’ll have NFL games with scores like 76-65. It’ll be just like the Arena Leagues.
CGD..
September 28th, 2011
1:52 pm
Its going to be another dog fight on this Sunday!
The film dont lie..The Oline cant protect a non mobile, unable to improvise much again QB named Melt..
Seattle’s been watching film all week.. The Clean Shots are coming…..
Disaster is about to unfold over these next two weeks….
loyal falcon
September 28th, 2011
2:06 pm
@ THE OFFENSIVE LINE OF THE ATLANTA FALCONS….DO YOUR JOB AND PROTECT YOUR QUARTERBACK!!!! It all starts with you. If you protect your QB that’ll enable him to make better decisions and more plays. Which in return generates longer drives and lets the defense rest. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! GET IT RIGHT!
loyal falcon
September 28th, 2011
2:09 pm
You all aren’t playing physical enough and I know you can because I’ve seen it. Man up!…Try controlling the line of scrimmage and not letting the other team defensive front control you. Let’s Go!!!
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
2:12 pm
Sounds like a drama in the making…..should be a good movie…….another Number one Hit ! according to Coach Clean Shot Smitty
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
2:14 pm
Man up Troops, helment to helment…….give it your best shot……we worry bout the fines later……lmao
Get the fair weathers outta here
September 28th, 2011
2:19 pm
We are making too many mental erros and it’s killing us. Seems as tho we forgot how to tackle this offseason. All that wrappin up around the chest is never going to accomplish anything and that’s why Blount ran all over us last week. Bosher needs to get it together, the O-line needs to protect Matty more, we need to start tackling better and mostly stop making all these mental mistakes!:)
Columbus Falcons Fan
September 28th, 2011
2:20 pm
Wow, some of you need to go be a fan of a another team. I can’t believe how we as fans sit here and bash your team with only 3 games played into a 16 game season. The current staff in this organization have accomplish things that no other organization has ever accomplish in Falcons history. So with that being said, I trust the coaching staff as well as front office staff that they see the same things wrong with the team as we the fans see. So I feel that they will make the proper adjustments and still have a 11-5 season. The Falcons, roster wise, have the potential to be Super Bowl Champs this year and I still wouldn’t count them out. I guarantee you Coach Smith and the boys will get it together and make a deep push in the playoffs. GO FALCONS>>>RISE UP.
Nice Hit!!!!
September 28th, 2011
2:22 pm
GREAT HIT!!! I wish moore would tackle like that every play. Thats why we watch the games. The gladiator style tackles & hits along with nice plays. I wish his head would have rolled off =)
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
2:23 pm
Have we heard what the Game plan is going to be for Sundays game yet ?
LutherB
September 28th, 2011
2:36 pm
He launched himself and led with the helmet. You can see him ready himself before the hit. It’s a penalty…case closed. Freeman was not defenseless but it was the way the tackle happened. Just imagine if you had someone unloaded on Matt Ryan like that, you all would go insane and rightfully so.
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
2:36 pm
I hope you are right Capt. Columbus, my faith in the home town favorite…Falcons….is slowing slipping away after that devestating fiasco down in the Bay !
Michael M.
September 28th, 2011
2:39 pm
Smitty trains his boys right, Luther, hit em hard, we can pay the fines later, just make em cough up the ball so we can get it back and try to score !
Falcon_4_Life
September 28th, 2011
2:53 pm
I second Columbus Falcons Fan, We are having an off year, S. Baker’s play has slipped a bit, and we are dealing with a major injury on the D line and with our center being out the first two games. Mcclur calls the blocking changes to pick up the blitz surely everyone noticed how much we missed him in the firs two games. Coach Smith and TD will get these things fixed. So they missed on Baker, Just means we will find someone from some were.
Scott
September 28th, 2011
3:03 pm
The hit was not legal, he led with his head! When I saw it happen, I told my son that he would be fined this week. Also this was not because it was the QB or defenseless player, again he led with his head and went for his head. One time I would like to see Robinson or Moore try and make a real tackle, meaning arms are out to wrap up instead of being down by thier side. All either one tries to do is blow someone up, when they miss the other player is off to the races. I agree that the defenseless player rule is stupid, why should anyone have to wait for a reciever to take two steps before they can tackle them, but this all has come due to players like Moore and Robinson that don’t tackle they just try and hit someone and knock them down. They never wrap up, until they start at least making it look like a tackle they will keep getting hit with flags and fines.
Moore says he was fined $7500 by NFL for hit – Newsday (subscription) | Football News and Topics
September 28th, 2011
3:10 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
ATrueFalconsFan
September 28th, 2011
3:13 pm
Thats BS that he got fined. It was a clean hit because Josh Freeman wasn’t a defenseless player. Oh The NFL at its best yet again!!!!!
Micheal M. is a....
September 28th, 2011
3:29 pm
total moron.
Micheal M. is a....
September 28th, 2011
3:30 pm
parrot. Please go back to the Aints blog.
Tom G
September 28th, 2011
3:36 pm
Josh Freeman is the size of a DE, hit him in the mouth and maybe he will not do that bird dance to taunt us next time? This is not flag football!!
saintbim
September 28th, 2011
3:48 pm
failcons living up to their name; rise-up, what a joke.
TomDawg
September 28th, 2011
3:54 pm
Why is everyone talking about the hit on Josh Freeman? He got the fine for hitting Ernest Graham. Josh Freeman was never mentioned in the article. Yes I know Freeman got the snot knocked out of him (like football was meant to be played). I’m just curious.
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.