NFL Out Of Bounds On Tuck Ruling

What a country we live in. Eliot Spitzer faces no charges for his part in a prostitution ring, embarrassing the people of New York and tarnishing the office of governor. BUT: Justin Tuck is fined $7,500 by the NFL for a supposedly damaging hit on Cowboys QB Brooks Bollinger during last Sunday’s 35-14 Big Blue win over the Cowboys. The league claims that Tuck “unnecessarily” drove Bollinger into the turf. Replays show that Tuck hit Bollinger just as he threw the ball.

The NFL is absolutely 100% wrong here. In the case of Tuck, there was nothing he could do. To expect a guy to just ease up after charging through a line full of 300 + pound lineman and make sure that a QB is OK just as he releases the ball is foolish. Truth be told, the Jets’ Kris Jenkins tossed Buffalo’s Trent Edwards on his head last Sunday, and there was NO penalty. The refs in the Giants-‘Boys game threw no flag on Tuck.

The league IS absolutely right to want its players, especially the quarterbacks, to be protected and safe. Everyone in the league office and TV advertisers lost their lunch when Tom Brady went down on Opening Day. Back in the old AFL, defensive players with compassion (make that minus the Raiders) tried to avoid Joe Namath’s knees. Broadway Joe was the face of the AFL after signing with the Jets in 1965.

The NFL is supposed to have tapes of EVERY game. Look at the videos each week, and try to remember: Football IS a violent game. Why do you think players where more than 20 pounds of pads plus a 5-6 lb helmet on their head? Why does Tuck, a member of the Giants, get a fine for at worst an accidental hit, while Jenkins gets a pass on a play MUCH more vicious. You don’t suppose Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones had something to do with this-just to tweak Big Blue?