Was Sean Taylor out of line?

by Skin Patrol on Feb 12, 2007 12:06 PM EST in Recaps Comment 6 comments

The answer is no. Now that that is settled...

Well yea, he was out of line, at least according to Pro Football Talk (scroll way down). I love PFT for their rumors, which are often times spot on, but care less for their frequent moralizing. Actually I take that back, when they're laying it on Terrell Owens I actually find it entertaining. I'm awarded no points for consistency.

Although the Pro Bowl hit from Redskins safety Sean Taylor on Brian Moorman was fun to watch, there's a strong feeling in league circles that Taylor's decision to blow up the Bills punter violates an unwritten rule that applies to the NFL's annual exhibition game in Hawaii.

Despite the fact that Moorman is being magnanimous (thank you, Tiki) about the whole thing, Taylor had no business slamming his body at full speed into Moorman.

And then they take a cheap shot over ATVs and spitting.

I'm focused only on The Hit and I suppose reasonable minds can disagree. If you part ways with me, feel free to express your disdain in the comments section. You don't have to play in the Pro Bowl (Chris Samuels didn't), and I suppose hits like this might discourage people from doing so in the future.

My attitude is that if you're suited up, running with the football, and heading down field towards a 1st down on a fake punt, then anything the rulebook allows is on. Let us not forget that Taylor made a brilliant, heads-up defensive play that helped his team -- though they ultimately lost.

I will say that I might feel differently had Moorman not gotten up. But he did, and all is well that ends well. If there really is an "unspoken rule", then I wonder why his NFC teammates along with Moorman, took the time to congratulate Sean Taylor on something they all viewed as excessive and implicitly forbidden.

What a hit though.

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I'm kind of in between on this

it was during the game, so you know you take what you get, so uncalled for maybe not. Not needed probably. He could have easily not hammered him.

Some players have a rep for being head hunters, Taylor is one of them. You would like to think somewhere like the Pro Bowl people wouldn't go in looking to light someone up, but whatever.

by WCG on Feb 12, 2007 1:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I hear you...

I know Sean Taylor is a guy that likes to hit, has that reputation for a reason, and perhaps went overboard in this instance. But it's 4th down and their guy is yards away from a first down. He's a punter, but he's also a ball carrier.

I want to reiterate props to that punter for getting up and acting accordingly. No hard feelings from him, means none from me.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Feb 12, 2007 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What I want to know...

is if they're not saying anything about ARI's Adrian Wilson hitting Chad Johnson near the end of the game? He never made a play on the ball and Chad was 10 X's slower to get up than the 95 pound (okay, 175 pound) Moorman.

So if it's an unwritten rule, why is okay to not make a play on the ball in the air 40 yards downfield and hit a star reciever but not okay to hit a punter to stop him 2 or 3 yards from getting a 1st down?

by TexSkins on Feb 12, 2007 1:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You hit the nail on the head

I don't know that I have an opinion on the hit or not, but I -do- have an opinion on the excessive moral grandstanding at PFT. My Lord does that get tiresome.

by Burnt Orange Nation on Feb 12, 2007 1:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

They cannot go a post

without laying it on, either with their "Turd Watch" or else telling me why I should be outraged.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Feb 12, 2007 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Simple answer!

Sean taylor did not know exactly where the 1st down marker was but he knew he was close so he wanted to stop him dead in his tracks! If Bill wanted to make that call and put the ball in the hands of his punter then its on him, not Taylor. Besides if you watch the play in slow motion it almost looks as thought Taylor did not want to hit him square and he kinda hit him more to his one side thats why he kinda flipped Moorman sideways. Could you imagine if he hit him totally square, he would have been knocked out for sure.

by Sincethebeginning on Feb 12, 2007 7:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs