The Boldin Sh*t Storm.... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

perfecto1 · 10-02-2008, 08:40 AM

ESPN Posted an article about the "Blame Game" surrounding the Anquan Boldin hit, during the AZ and NYJ game. They are saying that in a game that lopsided, players of Boldin's caliber should not have been playing. There are a few things that bother me about this:

If they benched Boldin, then they should have benched the ENTIRE 1st string, you can't ONLY bench Boldin because he's a better player than everyone else, this is a team sport.
Let's say you do bench just Boldin, you throw in his back up, he runs the same exact route and he takes that hit. That makes no sense and is unfair. Granted no one knew the hit was coming but it's the principal of the entire thing. Basically they are saying "We'll if Boldin wasn't playing he wouldn't have gotten hurt, but if his backup was in and got hurt, no biggie."
Just the idea of benching your higher caliber players is absurd. Yea there was only 26 seconds left in a very high scoring game, but if you sit players because you are losing that bad, that shows you have no heart and it's bad sportsmanship.

On a separate side note, I don't think, Smith, the player that committed the helmet-to-helmet hit should have been fined and suspended, I think the defender who deliberately threw his shoulder into Boldin's back should have been punished. If you watch the highlight of the hit, the defender who made the hit behind Boldin, made the dirty play, causing Boldin's head to fall forward, in turn causing Smith to hit helmet-to-helmet.

This whole thing ticks me off!

Here is an excerpt from the article I didn't post the whole thing:

Quote:

The blame game began before the football game ended.

Anquan Boldin lay awkwardly on the field, surrounded by Arizona Cardinals teammates and medical personnel. Quarterback Kurt Warner led players from the Cardinals and New York Jets in prayer.

Twenty-seven seconds remained in a game the Jets were leading by 21 points.

The league would fine and suspend Jets safety Eric Smith for leading with his helmet against a defenseless receiver. But there was enough blame to go around. The sequence raised questions about player safety and, ultimately, coaching tactics during lopsided games.

Both head coaches -- Eric Mangini of the Jets and Ken Whisenhunt of the Cardinals -- were going all out even though the outcome wasn't in question.

Mangini ordered a 2-point conversion after Brett Favre's sixth touchdown pass extended the Jets' lead to 19 points with 2 minutes remaining.

Whisenhunt ordered his first-team offense back onto the field with instructions to push for more points.

Jets safety Kerry Rhodes hit Boldin from behind on the play in question, sending the receiver's head more directly into the path of Smith's helmet.

And then Smith blasted Boldin. The hit made a distinct and sickening sound that witnesses said they wouldn't forget. Both players were injured, and for what?

"I think the biggest disappointment was that there was no need to throw the ball into that space in the first place," ESPN.com user Illianthar wrote.

"It was completely irresponsible for Ken Whisenhunt to be attempting to score with under 35 seconds left and his team down three touchdowns," Kyle from St. Louis wrote. "Even worse, he kept going for it after Boldin was injured. He should be embarrassed."

"Just thinking of that play and how unnecessary it was makes me sick to my stomach," KGsGreenTeam wrote. "Boldin is a great young receiver and to see him go down in such a way, on a meaningless play, is gut wrenching."

"It's football, things like that happen," wrote seank12283. "Whisenhunt and Warner should just have run the clock out. There was no way they would have surpassed 21 points in that short of time."

"I blame Mangini for running up the score and Warner for trying to make a miracle cheesecake comeback happen with sour ingredients," AntLynn72 wrote.

"AntLynn72, you can't be serious," Takl321 wrote. "How can you blame Warner? The only decisions he makes are who to throw to or to call an audible. Are you going to pull your starters out of the game and show them you're giving up? Did Warner know what was going to happen before he threw that pass?

"And how can you blame Mangini? Your team is up against one of the most potent offenses in the league [that] can score in a heartbeat. ... Have you never seen a comeback of over 20 points to win a game? Wake up."

On it went.

For the record, Whisenhunt kept pushing for points as part of a broader effort to encourage his team to finish strong no matter the circumstances -- particularly after trailing 34-0 at halftime.

"The thing you look at is, we did respond in the second half," Whisenhunt told the team's Web site. "We scored 35 points on five consecutive drives and probably would have scored a sixth had we not had the injury to Anquan.

"We never quit fighting. As tough as things went for us and you say, 'Well, you are scraping, you are reaching for positives,' that to me is a positive that we played hard."

Glory's Sun · 10-02-2008, 08:49 AM

the blame game is stupid. the players and coaches get paid to play at the highest level. there is something to be said for trying to score at the end of the game.. most teams do it. the only embarrassing thing I saw was the hit that was completely uncalled for.

football is just becoming a big joke.. first this, then Al Davis, then Henry being arrested for a cocaine deal.. and Ocho Cinco saying he's going to take a reporters job if they talk bad about him.. and the fact he changed his name. Players are now bigger than the game.. and it's pretty fucking sad.

perfecto1 · 10-02-2008, 09:02 AM

I completely agree guccilvr. In a way I wish the XFL would have survived so there could be a dumping ground for this type of shit and let football be football.

Redlemon · 10-02-2008, 09:35 AM

I think that, following the Boldin injury, that Warner should have just taken a knee and ended the game. There was no chance to win at that point, he's already made the point that (as long as they don't fumble) they can still run a competent offense, and for all they know at that time, a member of their team will never walk again. End the game out of respect.

Flip side to the "sit the players out" question: the last week of the regular season last year, Giants vs. Patriots. The Giants merely had to attend the game, they could have put in their practice squad, and it wouldn't have made any difference in their standings. Instead, they created an emotional high that brought them to a Superbowl win. Statistics and emotions are quite different.

Project-1 · 10-03-2008, 10:13 AM

I agree with you perfecto1. You just can't bench player if the games are lopsided. Players have certain clauses or incentives to play a whole game or make a certain amount of catches, tackles to gain a bonus at the end of the year. Benching these players would limit them to the chances they have of the numbers they need to receive the bonuses.

djtestudo · 10-03-2008, 11:36 AM

If you are behind and even have the remotest chance, you don't stop fighting.

I wouldn't have taken Boldin out.

Honestly, even if I didn't think there was any chance, after the two-point conversion I would have come out fighting simply because it meant that the Jets didn't think it was over if they needed those points that bad.

Redlemon: the reason the Giants won the next time in the Super Bowl wasn't any emotional high, but because they already knew the weaknesses of New England (specifically hitting the offensive line and Tom Brady repeatedly and relentlessly). The close game in Week 17 gave them that knowledge.

10-02-2008, 09:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
perfecto1 Upright Location: Baltimore, MD	I completely agree guccilvr. In a way I wish the XFL would have survived so there could be a dumping ground for this type of shit and let football be football. __________________ Dr. Peter Venkman: Alice, I'm going to ask you a couple of standard questions, okay? Have you or any of your family been diagnosed schizophrenic? Mentally incompetant? Librarian Alice: My uncle thought he was Saint Jerome. Dr. Peter Venkman: I'd call that a big yes.

10-02-2008, 09:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	I think that, following the Boldin injury, that Warner should have just taken a knee and ended the game. There was no chance to win at that point, he's already made the point that (as long as they don't fumble) they can still run a competent offense, and for all they know at that time, a member of their team will never walk again. End the game out of respect. Flip side to the "sit the players out" question: the last week of the regular season last year, Giants vs. Patriots. The Giants merely had to attend the game, they could have put in their practice squad, and it wouldn't have made any difference in their standings. Instead, they created an emotional high that brought them to a Superbowl win. Statistics and emotions are quite different. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

10-03-2008, 10:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
Project-1 Upright Location: Dirty Jersey	I agree with you perfecto1. You just can't bench player if the games are lopsided. Players have certain clauses or incentives to play a whole game or make a certain amount of catches, tackles to gain a bonus at the end of the year. Benching these players would limit them to the chances they have of the numbers they need to receive the bonuses. __________________ You Get Nothing, You Lose! Good Day Sir!

10-03-2008, 11:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	If you are behind and even have the remotest chance, you don't stop fighting. I wouldn't have taken Boldin out. Honestly, even if I didn't think there was any chance, after the two-point conversion I would have come out fighting simply because it meant that the Jets didn't think it was over if they needed those points that bad. Redlemon: the reason the Giants won the next time in the Super Bowl wasn't any emotional high, but because they already knew the weaknesses of New England (specifically hitting the offensive line and Tom Brady repeatedly and relentlessly). The close game in Week 17 gave them that knowledge. __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

10-02-2008, 08:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	the blame game is stupid. the players and coaches get paid to play at the highest level. there is something to be said for trying to score at the end of the game.. most teams do it. the only embarrassing thing I saw was the hit that was completely uncalled for. football is just becoming a big joke.. first this, then Al Davis, then Henry being arrested for a cocaine deal.. and Ocho Cinco saying he's going to take a reporters job if they talk bad about him.. and the fact he changed his name. Players are now bigger than the game.. and it's pretty fucking sad.