Dunta’s hit on Jackson: Scary, but was it against the rules?
Dunta Robinson was fined $50,000 by the NFL today, and his hit on DeSean Jackson was indeed terrifying. Both men stayed down for a while; both had to be helped to their respective locker rooms; both have been diagnosed with concussions. But now the question:
When did “terrifying” become the same as “illegal”?
The NFL announced today it will start suspending players for “egregious and elevated hits.” (This from Ray Anderson, the league’s director of football operations who was once a Falcon exec.)
On Monday, Anderson told Chris Mortensen of ESPN: “We can’t and won’t tolerate what we saw Sunday … These devastating hits and head shots with a very necessary higher standard of accountability … What we saw Sunday was disturbing. We’re talking about avoiding life-altering impacts.”
Thing is, Robinson’s hit wasn’t helmet-to-helmet. It was shoulder-pad-to-helmet. (It appeared helmet-to-helmet to everyone in the stadium, but replays indicated otherwise.) Robinson was penalized for hitting a defenseless receiver, which Jackson might not have been. He’d gotten his hands on the ball and taken a step and a half before Robinson slammed into him.
Understand: Nobody wants to see a guy’s life or his livelihood imperiled. But what exactly is the definition of “devastating”? Something that just looks bad? That makes the fans in the stands go “Ooh”? In a sport where the idea is to hit the other guy hard, is it possible to be penalized/suspended for hitting cleanly but too hard?
The NFL’s intent is noble. Its methodology will be unworkable. It is, lest we forget, the N-F-L. It’s not the National Flag Football League.
The Eagles’ reaction was instructive: Nobody was heard to call Robinson a headhunter or a taker of cheap shots. If anything, the Eagles were concerned about their man but also about the man who’d hit him. Two guys were playing hard. Too hard, apparently.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
420 comments Add your comment
Tweets that mention Dunta's hit on Jackson: Scary, but was it against the rules? | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
October 19th, 2010
1:01 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Brett Israel and Hot In Sports, BK. BK said: Looked legal to me.RT @MarkBradleyAJC: Dunta Robinson's scary hit: Was it actually illegal? #Eagles #Falcons #NFL http://bit.ly/du1zk5 [...]
stendek
October 19th, 2010
1:01 pm
The Now For Losers (NFL) brains (such as they are) have spoken! Wins and losses now meaningless. Only thing that matters is protecting multi millionaires from other multi millionaires. Especially QBs. Country club atmosphere. Play a few seasons. Make tons of money. Never excel. Never become violent. Never strive to intimidate. Tackle meekly. If tackle is missed no big deal. Paycheck remains same. All for one and one for all. Want it to appear realistic to few fans who still believe? Contact Vince McMahon! Maybe some staged hits will satisfy watchers. Hmm. STENDEK
Brock
October 19th, 2010
1:02 pm
Never ex, what’s your point. I want to see the product that I want to see on the field. Thanks for letting me know you’re one of those PC guys.
Brock
October 19th, 2010
1:04 pm
and if you’re ex everything why do you care. Please EXit from the blog. Your post in meaningless.
Devildog
October 19th, 2010
1:04 pm
One good way to make them stop using the helmet as a weapon is to remove the face mask. It’s another world when you’re tackling with your face hanging out. I remember the days, and the broken nose. . . everytime I look in the mirror.
Andy
October 19th, 2010
1:05 pm
It was a clean hit. The receiver had his hands on the ball and Robinson hit him in the shoulder. It was a hard hit but completely legal. If Robinson gets fined or suspended he should fight it all the way.
Mark (a different one)
October 19th, 2010
1:05 pm
In my view he led with his shoulder and there is no foul. It is awful hard to disconnet your head from your shoulders so that it isn’t in the picture, so I can see how someone watching it at full speed might see it differently.
The real issus is two very fast professional athletes running in opposite directions hitting dead-on. The force imparted is enough to ‘rattle the brain’ inside their skulls. No helmet is going to assist with that issue. The term is rapid deacceleration and due to their original speeds, and the angle of attack, this was a tremendous release of force.
stendek
October 19th, 2010
1:05 pm
Understandably X BCS & NFL jerk. High rewards high risks. I know many who risk all you stated for far less than NFL prima donnas earn. So **** off! I am for the little guy. Not fat cats! SOB. STENDEK
Whopper Dawg
October 19th, 2010
1:06 pm
OK, they should do this.
All QBs, RBs, and receivers should wear flags. No more hitting these guys or tackling them. They are down when a defender pulls off the flag. You can’t touch any of these players save for their flags. They cannot block anymore either.
Lineman and LBs can block and hit each other but but just below the head and above the waist.
No more blitzing. Every team must play a 4 3 and safeties and corners cannot be within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage.
No more kick offs, the receiving team just takes it on the 30.
All punts must be fair caught.
If there is a fumble, the defending team automatically gets the ball. No more piles of players fighting for the ball.
If you intercept, you are down where you catch the ball. No returns.
If the game ends in a tie, then each team’s place kicker kicks 45 yard field goals until one misses. The one that misses first loses. No need to risk further injury after regulation.
There. That should do it.
GTMustang
October 19th, 2010
1:07 pm
Ex-BCS,
No it’s not different. The only difference in the video’s is where the DB made contact. The part that is important is where was the force of the hit from the DB. In both cases it was the shoulder. That’s the important part because there is no penalty for hitting with the shoulder unless you turn yourself into a rocket, when Dunta didn’t do because he planted his leg and hit with this shoulder.
It’s people like you who are causing this sport to become sissyfied. Yes, some hits are illegal, but there was nothing wrong with Dunta’s hit.
Like I said, if anything, it’s Kolbs fault for throwing a lob pass to a crossing route. It’ll happen every time. If a QB can’t sling a rocket to the crossing receiver, he shouldn’t make that throw.
My wife hits harder than that
October 19th, 2010
1:08 pm
If the league is so worried about helmet hits, then why not redesign the helmet? They could make the outside padded to reduce the chance of injury.
Whopper Dawg
October 19th, 2010
1:09 pm
Oh, I forgot one thing. No rushing a punt or place kick. They are relatively uncontested. You can jump up and down at the line of scrimmage though and yell at the kickers.
ManUp...
October 19th, 2010
1:10 pm
I guess he could’ve hit him lower? I don’t see a problem with the hit he laid though…other than he hurt himself. In general it’s wise not to drop the head, but that wasn’t a spear either. Clean hit as the rules go – just unfortunate they got hurt. I don’t see what rule change could fix something like this on the macro scale. You suit up for football you should expect to get a concussion or five…in its early days this was all akin to a team boxing match. A bloodsport. Now it’s like “oh we want to play but not get hurt!” Well, there’s two hand touch…but they don’t pay millions to televise it. We pay to see grit and power…and hits.
yo
October 19th, 2010
1:11 pm
He could always in mid flight see he is about to perform a head shot and suddenly change his direction to hit the receiver much lower. LOL
falconfiend
October 19th, 2010
1:11 pm
The NFL RULE BOOK states RULE 12 ARTICLE 8 There shall be no unnecessary roughness. This shall include but not limited to: (G) using any part of a players’s helmet (including the top/ crown and forehead/ “hairline” parts) or facemask to butt, spear, or ram an opponent VIOLENTLY or unnecessarily; although such VIOLENT or unnecessary use of the helmet or facemask is impermissible against any opponent, game officials will give special attention in administering this rule to protecting those players who are in virtually defenseless postures(e.g., a player in the act of or just after throwing a pass, A RECIEVER CATCHING OR ATTEMPTING TO CATCH A PASS, a runner already in the grasp of a tackler, a kickoff or punt returner attempting to field a kick in the air, or a player on the ground at the end of a play.)
ex-BCS & ex-NFL
October 19th, 2010
1:11 pm
Brock, because I have friends who have been crippled and in one instance killed because of this. Let’s say the devil meets with you when you’re 15 and says; “I will give you a career in the NFL, a Super Bowl ring, and a NFL pension; but you will not see your 50 th birthday, and your wife will be a widow, and your children will not have a father.”? Would you take the deal? This isn’t about PC or I’m serious, if you “want to see” violence, enlist in the Army or attend/watch MMA events (or dog fights). And Stendek, the “product” you watch in 2010 is far closer to the WWF/Vince McMahon than the game I played in the 80’s.
CJ
October 19th, 2010
1:13 pm
This call probably cost us as chance to get in the game. It was the difference between being down 14-0 and getting the ball back and instead giving up a 15 yard penalty and going down 21-0. Not even close to a “cheap shot”.
My wife hits harder than that
October 19th, 2010
1:13 pm
Anyone remember back in the ’70s when they were worried about protecting the ‘defenseless quarterback’ from hits by defensive players? Terry Bradshaw (who is otherwise a tool) suggested that maybe they should put skirts on quarterbacks.
GTMustang
October 19th, 2010
1:14 pm
EX-BCS,
If you have a big problem with football, then here’s an idea….don’t watch it.
yo
October 19th, 2010
1:15 pm
They could change the rules to all tackling must be below the waste and the tackler can only use his arms and hands when performing a tackle (use of any other part of the body would be illegal). What do you think?
Oh yea! They might also throw in that the defender is not allowed to leave his feet when performing a tackle.
Now…..that should work.
stendek
October 19th, 2010
1:16 pm
What did football Nuts Fags Losers (NFL) style deviate from tackling man WITH the ball? STENDEK
dean
October 19th, 2010
1:16 pm
Does the mean we’re going to see “The Called Penalty is Under Review” soon?
yo
October 19th, 2010
1:17 pm
ex-BCS & ex-NFL I didn’t realize these guys had no choice when it comes to entering the NFL.
Ace
October 19th, 2010
1:20 pm
Receivers should not cross the middle unless they are prepared to get rocked. This is the only defense.
Richard
October 19th, 2010
1:21 pm
I am a HUGE Falcons fan but Robinson’s type of hit on Jackson has to be removed from the game. Even if the end result was not a helmet-to-helmet collision, he intentionally went towards the head-neck area of the receiver which can result in someone sustaining a concussion or maybe even paralysis.
As for the NFL “over-protecting” QBs, I for one don’t want to pay $100 for a ticket or even watch on TV a game featuring back-up QBs like Chris Redman, Brian Hoyer, Curtis Painter, Todd Collins, etc
Are you kidding?
October 19th, 2010
1:21 pm
You people on here talking about how Robinson lead with his head, and that it was not a clean hit, must be blind. How many times do you have to watch the play to see that Robinson’s shoulder pad hit Jackson’s chest. Stop crying, these players know what they are getting into when they go out on the field, that is why their salaries are much larger than the average American. When two guys are running at 20mph and collide there are going to be times when it looks real bad.
If Robinsons hit was illegal, then the league needs to make it illegal for running backs to put their heads down against defenders.
There are inherent risks involved with playing football, just like there are risks when you go driving down the road. If you don’t want to get in a car wreck; then don’t drive! If you don’t want to get hit in football; then don’t play!
Richard
October 19th, 2010
1:23 pm
By the way, a big hit can be delivered without a defender using their helmet or going high on a receiver. The first thing players are taught in Pop Warner is “hit what you see & see what you hit”
stendek
October 19th, 2010
1:24 pm
How many hard legal tackles have resulted in fumbles which altered a football game. AT ANY LEVEL? Afraid of injury? Become burger flipper. Money not as good but occupation much safer. Excluding armed robberies of course. Oh well. Put that life on line for minimum wage. Sure McDonald conglomerate will appreciate it. Uh huh! STENDEK American football will soon slip into soccer. Everyone knows how exciting THAT sport is! zzzzZZZZ ^ _ ^
moorman
October 19th, 2010
1:24 pm
exactly. the FLAG was disturbing. the NFL’S response has been disturbing. That was a DREAM HIT by a defensive back. If ANYTHING, jackson is lucky it wasnt a safety that did the damage. Not to say that a cornerback cant hit as hard as a safety. Trust me, the NFL cannot look a defensive player in the eye and say that they cant hit like that. This is all SHOW. IMAGE talk, thats it.
PMC
October 19th, 2010
1:25 pm
People should be talking about the harrison hits today, the Robinson hit was full speed obviously both were doing everything they could there there was no intent.
The Harrison hits, were head first. Harrison lead with his head.. He used his helmet as a weapon.
That’s really poor tackling. It’s called spearing, the NFL has just not called spearing in years. When David Pollack broke his own neck, it’s because he dropped his head and speared Ruben Droughns.
The Robinson hit was scary but there was no intent to injure and he did not launch himself. That hit was a product of speed and it takes too very good NFL players off the field next week so we don’t get to see them.
The league HAS to do this. This is about safety. It’s not sissification of the league. Rules are changing because guys who bring in revenue are getting injured. There will still be plenty of hard hits.
They DO have to get rid of spearing, that means outlawing this BS type of poor tackling including the head into the midsection of players to try and cause a fumble. Head up, Explode through. That’s a freaking tackle. If you’re not strong enough to do that go lower keep your eyes on the guy and push his ankles toegther.
Learn how to freaking tackle NFL.
ex-BCS & ex-NFL
October 19th, 2010
1:25 pm
GTMustang, I agree that Robinson’s hit was “clean”. He clearly led with his shoulder. The only difference was where his blow landed, and the nature of the injury to the receiver – wind knocked out vs. concussion. When did you play in the NFL? You know, my “career” lasted less than the halftime show at the Super Bowl, but when I played, me and the guys used to think the guys in the stands, or sitting on a couch watching a TV were the “sissies”. Do you (and Stendek) think because you buy a $200 jersey, $150 ticket, or subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket you know what it takes to “be a man”? Any of you men want my autograph?
A friend
October 19th, 2010
1:26 pm
Dr. Warren…you said “he could have lowered his head and made a conventional tackle”. You said you played “padded” football for years so you know all about it. I don’t know who you played “padded” football for, but if the coaches taught you to lower your head to make a tackle you are lucky you didn’t suffer a broken neck. People who have actually played know that you keep your eyes up when tackling which is very hard to do with your head down. The Robinson hit was exactly the way you are supposed to tackle in the secondary. I guess you aren’t supposed to hit Philly players too hard.
reebok
October 19th, 2010
1:26 pm
it was a legal hit.
ex-BCS & ex-NFL
October 19th, 2010
1:26 pm
GTMustang, I don’t watch football. As I said, I played it. It doesn’t mean I don’t have an opinion about the game.
Are you kidding?
October 19th, 2010
1:27 pm
Goodell is ruining the game. Soon you will be watching flag football on t.v. We’ll see how much you guys are complaining about hard hits when you have to watch the NFFL(National Flag Football League) on sundays. GIve me a break!
falconfiend
October 19th, 2010
1:28 pm
All the NFL is trying to do is prevent injury to both offense and defensive players, But league just came up with this suspension rule last night. NFL has to give account to games suspended and interview players to see what their thinking is because this has been going on since i can recall and it was more violent in NFL’S HISTORY. LOOK AT THE TAPES. Dunta and Desean are not big guys so this is less than say a linebacker hitting desean. The league needs to come up with a solution on tackling at the point dunta was in. if, he goes low he has to lead with shoulders and head, but, he has to be careful of injuring neck on the tackle. SEE 49ERS HISTORY. Maybe he should have played the ball and maybe their would have been a possible collision anyway.
PMC
October 19th, 2010
1:29 pm
This rule HAS to happen. Your occupation should not require your brains being scrambled after you finish.
Players are so much bigger and faster now than they were the forces of impact are becoming too great for human bodies.
This happened in F1 years ago where the technology was too great for the physical attributes of the drivers… too many lateral G’s. They grooved the tires, people complained, but no one blacked out in corners anymore.
You have to do things for the betterment of your sport. This suspension rule has to be upheld… eventually players will start observing it….and there will still be big hits.
stendek
October 19th, 2010
1:29 pm
Hey X everything! If you do not watch football how did you find out about hit which upsets you so much? I do not watch basketball so what happens in that sport concerns me not! Maybe you should stick to opera and leave football events to others. Just saying. STENDEK Most fans on here are passionate about Falcons. Have been with em since 1966. Bless my soul. Sigh.
GTBob
October 19th, 2010
1:30 pm
I think it was a clean hit, but maybe it shouldn’t be. These kind of hits are out of control these days and players are getting injured regularly from them. The NFL is right to step in and try to do something about it.
stendek
October 19th, 2010
1:32 pm
Hey PreMenstralC! Stick with watching ballet! STENDEK
Richard
October 19th, 2010
1:33 pm
Stendek:
You are an absolute moron if you are going to argue that an NFL game is better from a fans’ perspective with back-up QBs playing! Hell, there aren’t even 32 good starting QBs in the league at this point. The NFL is in the business of making money which comes from ticket sales and TV contracts which is based on ratings! By the way, your first sentence looks like it was written by a 1st grader and judging by the rest of your post, I would have guessed you were at least a 5th grader…
uga_b
October 19th, 2010
1:34 pm
A few points:
-Yes he “dipped” his head…along with his waist because you are taught to coil and explode.
-He did not launch
-He clearly tried to lead with his right shoulder
-Impact was chest shoulder pad region and slid up
-Jackson had his hands on the ball one step prior
-Players are taught to separate the ball after a hit not tackle at the waist, which would have been infinitely more dangerous in this situation because you truly dip your head.
-James Harrison should get 2 games. Meriweather 1 game. I would be mad if they fined Dunta.
Are you kidding?
October 19th, 2010
1:34 pm
PMC, thank you, I posted about Harrison’s hit yesterday. In my opinion his hits seemed a lot more intentional, I mean he had two in the same game; come on! If a Steelers player makes a big hit then it is ok, but if a Falcons player does then it is a penalty. I don’t hear all of this fuss when Hines Ward takes defenders heads off.
waynester
October 19th, 2010
1:34 pm
I understand why there are so many sarcastic posts on here– as this whole discussion, in light of the inherent violence of contact sport, is virtually meaningless. For the former players on this blog–you loved playing this game BECAUSE of it’s physical nature not despite it, didn’t you? Otherwise, you’d have spent your irreplaceable youth on other pursuits, right? You enjoyed the competition, not just the attention and the money, right? The new collective bargaining agreement needs to once and for all answer the healthcare problem of former players but not by diminishing the full speed ahead demeanor of pro football.
To Sociopath
On ATLs 1st series, Kroy Biermann nearly had his head twisted off by a philly lineman trying to stop a sack on Kolb. Don’t come here with that “innocent” act. I’ve watched your team and it’s HC too long to buy that steaming load….
Dunta seemed to be going for the PBU/forced fumble to me–I believe we were robbed of a possible game-altering turnover, and adding insult to injury–the 15 yard penalty. I agree with those who say this was a knee-jerk reaction by an official without any recourse for the coaches to challenge. That also has to change along with the threatened new suspensions for players…..
stendek
October 19th, 2010
1:35 pm
Leave legal and illegal hits up to judgment of officials? That will really work. Ever see a Sunday afternoon game stretch into Monday morning? Watch for it! STENDEK
GStateBen
October 19th, 2010
1:35 pm
I really hope that Dunta doesn’t even get a fine for this hit. The receiver wasn’t defenseless, his QB throw a poor pass and it was a legal hit. I’d be interested in hearing from the NFL referee’s after seeing the replays. Dunta ran at Jackson after Jackson already had two hands on the ball and took a step forward.
Like it or not folks that was a legal hit. Hard legal hit.
Doug
October 19th, 2010
1:35 pm
If defenders are taught to hit hard to jar the ball loose, the one option the NFL could pursue is to grant the offense possession of the ball at the spot of the foul. This removes the incentive to strike the receiver horizontally instead of just making a form tackle. Problem is: that puts a lot of the outcome of games on a judgment call from the referees. The NFL needs to also look at the reality (as someone posted earlier) that many of these collisions are because the QB throws late to a receiver. The only other way I see to avoid these collisions is to make a rule that you can’t tackle a receiver from the front (just like you can’t block someone from behind) unless the receiver has taken two full steps with possession of the ball.
meh
October 19th, 2010
1:35 pm
he didn’t lead with his head. if he had lead with his head his head would’ve hit the guy. which it didn’t. his shoulder hit they guy as you see in the picture.
coachx
October 19th, 2010
1:35 pm
Leading with the shoulder is a legal hit, plain and simple.
ex-BCS & ex-NFL
October 19th, 2010
1:37 pm
yo, I’m not saying they don’t have a choice. What I am saying is, I think you macho men need to dial it down a bit. Your attraction to violence borders on homosexuality or pornography. Football is a great game. Who mentioned Terry Bradshaw? You know what he does now, when he’s not on NFL Today? He suffers from depression? He hawks anti-depressants for drug companies? Do you think his multiple concussions might have something to do with it? Have you seen the NFL films clip from the 7o’s where he is slammed on his head by a Cleveland Brown DL? Look at his arms, they way they straighten out and then look at both Jackson’s and Robinson’s arms; it’s temporary paralysis, and the difference between Bradshaw and Darryl Stingley, or Mike Utely, or Chuckie Mullins, or the kid from Rugters, is a fraction of an inch here, or a slight turn of the head there. It’s not about choice, it’s about pathetic losers who are ‘entertained’ by watching others injur themselves.