Wilfork passionate about Pollard's hit

Wilfork has a legit gripe here.

The NFL still has it's head in the sand. Before the days of DVR's and NFL Sunday ticket not many people had access to the video so the "NFL review" took on an aura of invincibility. Now people can see for themselves over and over in slow motion. They obviously are not applying the rule consistently.

Actually, Wilfork does have a point.

It's about time someone in the organization stepped up to defend some of the double standard of officating against the Patriots... the players and the organization have been silent for a long time and the Boston "reporters" surely haven't done anything to defend this team. What about phantom Pass Interference calls in playoff games, overzealous league punishment for rule infractions, or completely false accusations printed and quoted (even by the Globe) for almost all of last year and the entire off-season?

We just lost the greatest player in the history of the organization on a hit at the knee by a no name player... and Brady might never be the same. Are the Patriot reporters ashamed that they completely failed to support him or this team for what might be the last year of his career by failing to do unbiased legitamite journalism? Or failing to call out multiple national media sources that were calling for a retaliatory Brady injury on the record over the entirety of last year?

Wilfork has a point, and every right to be upset. Intentional or no on Brady, he was hit at the knees by someone who knew he was low, and made no attempt to go anywhere but at the QB. Not that I blame him, it is what they are trained to do. But the Pats get flagged and fined, but the person who takes out Brady doesn't.

Seems the word is out in the NFL. Do anything you can to keep the Patriots from winning again. They have made a mockery of the NFL's precious parity. Now that there is no fine, the league is basically saying it is open season on the players of the Patriots. This could get VERY ugly very quickly. Maybe I am e=wrong, but my guess is Welker or Moss is next if the Pats keep winning.

He's got a point, although I think it's clear from the replay that Pollard was trying to hit Brady and got his helmet blocked into Brady's knee. Yeah, same situation as last year w/ the Bills; maybe Wilfork pays a price for his heftiness?

well it's official now what I have thought for a long time. All of NFL is very biased against the Patriots including most of those fools on ESPN. The hit on Brady by the KC should of been flagged and he should be at least fined if not more. I didnt see the game but I have seen several replays of the hit and he (the KC player) was knocked down and he crawled back towards Brady and he did in fact lunge towards Tom's leg and grab it. I fine this utterly irresponsible of the NFL to not do something about it. And as for the KC player saying he appologized to Tom, I would like to know when he did it. I obviously didnt see the whole thing but from the replay I seen after he hit Brady he just got up and ran off.

Wilfork has every right to be upset by this. The league must show consistency in dealing with hits to the quarterback below the knees.

In that regard, Pollard's hit was no different than Vince's on Losman. There should have been a penalty on the play and a fine for Pollard without question. There's no way that was a legal hit.

It's shocking that there was no penalty or fine. It reeks of bias against the Patriots.

There is absolutely nothing that anyone can say or a replay that anyone can show me that could convince me that Pollard ramming his helmet into Brady's knee was not 100% intentional.

This situation and the glee / extreme lack of class and/or intelligence shown by fans of other teams is completely sickening.

The NFL must fine Pollard to maintain credibility and consistency if nothing else.

All that said, the only organization that could overcome a loss like this is the Pats. We'll see what happens.

GO PATS!

I didn't think it was intentional or dirty, but Vince makes a good point...it was similar to the play he made last year, but he got flagged then dragged through the mud for it.

The NFL has to be consistent with these calls. It can't be subjective where some refs think it's worthy of a flag and some don't.

Vince makes a great point Mike.

Honestly, can you see any difference in the two situations?

Indeed Pollard's hit appears more egregious. Wilfork was pushed or tripped toward the QB and merely extended an arm in a reflexive type motion. Pollard's actions appear to be much more concerted, premeditated, and deliberate. When I say deliberate I don't necessarily mean deliberate in causing the injury but deliberate in causing the hit. What am i missing here?

Assuming his desciption on the reasons given to him last yeara are accurate then Wilfork has a point. At this point I feel the NFL and national media continue take an anti-Pats stance on any opportunity for what they perceive to be Patriot/Belichik arrogance. Watch, next Wilfork and Moss will be fined.

Agreed. Wilfork should be pissed off. He has to wonder why he got his reputation damaged, got a big fine and a penalty when the play yesterday was very similar. If Goodell says they've changed the way the league office hands out fines then let him say it, otherwise it does reek of anti-Patriot bias and makes him appear to be unorganized and scattered.

Or they're being sympathetic to one of the worst teams in the league and punishing those who are good more harshly.

Something is very fishy about the way these 2 incidents have been handled.

I disagree with JB above. After seeing the hit live and on the replays and after hearing his apology, I don't think there was any intention on Pollard's part to injure Brady. Whether he intended to hit him below the knees at all, I'm not sure. He may have just not been thinking, plus he had Sammy Morris hitting him from behind, adding to the momentum.

Wilfork is right, though. Intention to injure change the fact that he did hit Brady below the waist, a play on which the NFL should clearly be consistent with their calls. Wilfork's hit last year appeared mostly to be a result of his feet getting caught up right as he came in. If anything, his hit looked even less intentional, and he still got fined. Hitting low is obviously pretty dangerous so I'm OK with the Wilfork fine, but I'm now wondering how they rationalized letting Pollard go.

Let this be a lesson to anyone who thinks the NFL is fair and even-handed.

I'm beyond words for what is happening. You can see in the still shot Pollard's helmet ramming Brady's knee at close range. I would believe the whole "tangled up" theory if he just came down with a fully extended arm in to Tom's leg, but he is going in to him with his helmet!
This is a case of the rest of the NFL world secretly grinning, they are tired of the Pat's dominance and don't like Billicheck. They are hoping to see B.B. go down with Brady out, and thus "exposing" Bill. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!

There will be a double standard for years to come. I think the NFL is still very pee'd off about the embarassment of spygate last season. Don't expect breaks or anything to go our way when it comes to league matters or disciplne.

In my mind, Pollard should face a suspension and a fine... He went below the belt and tried to knock the QB after failing in his defensive move. It was what you would call a "cheap shot"

Pollard led with his helmet on his hit vs. Wilfork with his forearm. Pollard was not pushed into Brady by Sammy Morris- which it was reported was part of the NFL's finding. He dove into him. Why didn't he try to wrap his arms around Brady's leg(s) instead of diving headfirst into the knee. Why did he get up and immediately start celebrating the hit - even though he acknowledged hearing Brady screaming in agony - obviously injured. The double-standard employed by the league is indefensible. The MVP of the NFL just got knocked out for the season. Brady's ankle injury last winter cost the team the Super Bowl. Teams have figured out that the only way to stop Brady is to hit him low and hard. It's a shame for the sake of Brady and for the fans that the league chooses to wash its hands of this tactic.

Does Wilfork wants some cheese with that whine.

I'm with Wilfork on this one

Jeff...the question isn't whether Pollard "intended" to injure Brady. I don't think it was his "intent " to injure Tom. But the Polian Rules Committee passed a rule against hitting QBs intentionally below the waist...not hitting them with intent to injure.

As Vince Wilfolk correctly points out, he was flagged for what in my view was a far less flagrant hit...as he was knocked off balance by an offensive lineman into JP Losman's legs. The Pollard hit is much more akin to the Kimo von Oelhoffen hit on Carson Palmer...which was the imputus for the "no hitting a QB below the waist" rule. Like Kimo did to Palmer, Pollard purposely and intentionally dove into Tom Brady's legs.

Folks, our good Commissioner Roger "Jets" Goodell was quick to act against the Pats' Wilfolk in the aftermath of spygate. Yet now, the Pollard hit is called legal?? Either enforce the rule or get rid of it., Roger!! Apparently, theres' a double standard at play here. Can you imagine what would have happened if the QB injured was "Broadway" Brett...or the sainted Peyton Manning??

Once again, "Jets" Goodell, by his inaction, has shown Bob Kraft that he is no friend to the Patriots. Kraft should do everything in his power to unseat this Gotham lackey.

Geez, I thought this was football, not tennis!

Forget the whining - these guys get paid millions to expose their bodies to injury. Stuff happens.

How long before Ms. Bunchen leaves the leaking ship? About as fast as Belichickster cheated on his wife.

Stop the whining PATheticS!

Tom Hartmann - Great post!

Let me throw another back at you of the same caliber: Nuh uh.

OMG! talk about selective memory!!!

Wilfolk was "tripped" over 3 yards from Losman. He "fell" forward with his right forearm and elbow extended (not HANDS) where he made contact just below Losmans patella! Losman did NOT have the ball.

Pollard was lunging at Brady from the gound....he did have Brady's legs wrapped up and get this....Brady HAD the BALL!

You whinny, homer, "we only see it our way" NE fans have got to get a freakin clue!

That is damn funny, Wilfolk taking "exception". He tried taking out 3 QB's last year alone by going for their knees. All of you tried saying he was "too fat" to stop himself...get a clue. Of course the Giants just ground his nose into the turf when he tried going low on Manning......heh heh heh.

Well good luck boys....Karma is a Mother F*cker ... and you are getting a Sh*tload of it back in spades. Good luck .....

The reason I feel so strongly that it was intentional is that he lunged forward and made helmet to knee contact (check the shot in the Globe photo gallery) when he could have tried to reach out and trip Brady up.

I'm actually not calling Pollard a dirty player overall, but it looks like in the heat of the moment he saw an opportunity to take out the quarterback's leg and went for it.

Regardless, Pollard should be fined.

Does Wilfork wants some cheese with that whine.
Posted by Tom Hartmann September 8, 08 07:05

Nice comment Mary Hartmann....don't make a point or anything, just demonstrate what a pillow biting pickle nibbler you are. Wilfork's hit was almost identical to the Pollard hit, so Wilfork has a right to wonder why Pollard was neither flagged nor fined as Wilfork was. And you're there typing stupid whine/cheese cliche's. What a waste of oxygen you are. Dope.

OMG! y'all obviously havent seen the Wilfok Losman replay. Losman was "STANDING" there....he had already thrown the ball....he was watching it for a good second almost two! Then Wilfok comes in with his elbo right into his knee.

These hits are COMPLETELY different. Pollard was within and arms reach of Brady and he HAD THE BALL. Wilford had to travel 3 yards to get to Losman to make the hit.

Coffee here ... get your coffee here.....smell the coffee....wake up...outta dream land.

perhaps the snobby patriot fan nation should calm down and not take this thing so personal. it's the game of football....people get hurt. from an outsiders perspective, i would blame the patriots offensive line not the KC player, why? well .....since last years super bowl brady has had his "GQ magazine" butt kicked.

and to the idiot who wrote the following......"It's about time someone in the organization stepped up to defend some of the double standard of officating against the Patriots... the players and the organization have been silent for a long time and the Boston "reporters" surely haven't done anything to defend this team. What about phantom Pass Interference calls in playoff games, overzealous league punishment for rule infractions, or completely false accusations printed and quoted (even by the Globe) for almost all of last year and the entire off-season?

We just lost the greatest player in the history of the organization on a hit at the knee by a no name player... and Brady might never be the same. Are the Patriot reporters ashamed that they completely failed to support him or this team for what might be the last year of his career"

blah blah blah blah...calm down he's 31 years old, he doen't sit in front of his computer and blame other people like you. he's a pro football player.. why don't YOU support the guy?

Meh....
Clean hit...its your job to stop the qaurter back! These guys are paid big bucks to do a job...Sure last year is unfortunate but why should everyone have to pay for a Bad decision made to fine someone last year. maybe everyone should look at it that way...maybe the mistake was fineing someone last year and going forward let them play the game as it is...Prety simple...Stop the opposing team!

Wilfork should take the NFL to court. This is different than just questioning a penalty. He has a legitimate complaint in that he was docked a substantial amount of money for doing, at the very least, the same thing. Last year just seemed to be piling onto the Patriots. It's unfair and this is why there is a court system. The NFL loves to think itself above the law.

You guys are sick, Wilfork is the most flagrant, ridiculous head and knee hunter in the NFL. He has been fined and flagged hits and some of them were criminal.

But guess what, there is a new sheriff in town and they are the BUFFALO BILLS.

We WILL win the AFCE and you guys will fight with the Jets for a wildcard.

Karma is a b%#$@, especially when your cheaters.

WHAAA!!

This is a complete joke! Wilfork's hit on Losman was deliberate and there is no gray area. Yes, he was tripped, but he while stumbling, he dove at Losman's knee and through a VERY deliberate elbow. It was as diry as it gets without hitting a man in the groin. The hit on Brady involved Pollard diving with a player on his back. There did not appear to be any negative attempt. I am sure that Wilfork will probably react on the field by trying to injure someone else. He is a real class act. As for thinkng that the NFL has a bias against the Pat, get a grip on reality. EVERY team's fans feel like they are getting screwed. Most NFL fans outside of New England actually feel that the Pats get preferential treatment.

Like I said on another blog... if the rule says you can't hit a QB below the knees (waist?) and you hit the QB below the knees, it's a dirty hit. A player who lunges at a standing QB from the ground, should get a flag, 15 yards, automatic 1st and a fine.

Buffaloin08,
We'll see. One good game from the Bills does not make a season. Repost in week 15 but, I doubt you will be so confident.

By the way, "especially when your cheaters" doesn't make sense. I understand the educational system out there isn't very good. Just so you know, it's "you're."

I have a few things for you Buffaloin08...

Remember the Music City Miracle?

How about Super Bowl's 25-28?

Scott Norwood anyone?

If losing were an art form you guys would be the poster boys. If karma is such a B*t©h why have you guys stunk up the NFL for most of the last 14 years?

Bills fans should be the last idiots to pipe up in any case.

Eat it butt head.

Wilfork does a point, however NFL won't change. And for all you classless New York fans...eat a bug. I only hope someone ends Pollard's season this week.

Hey Biffaloin08 how does losing 4 Superbowls feel...oh yeah and your best player ever is a killer....go home if you got one.

Hey Biffaloin08 how does losing 4 Superbowls feel...oh yeah and your best player ever is a killer....go home if you got one.

To Any Dumb A**

Wilfork was tripped while Losman had the ball, it took the same length of time for him to come down as it did for JP to get rid of the ball. Wilfork put his arm out to stop himself with the ground.....but it doesn't matter, below the waist is below the waist and both should be punished the same......end of story.

I watched the play over and over again on youtube. He clearly intended to hit Brady below the waist.

When I watched the play yesterday, I thought Morris pushed him into Brady. On the youtube video, however, Pollard is on all fours and Morris is behind him. He crawls forward and lunges at Brady. Maybe he didn't intend to spear his helmet into Brady's knee (one penalty) but he clearly intended to hit him low (another penaly).

I have seen the the reports that Pollard went back to his coach claiming he didn't mean to do it. I believe that he didn't intend to seriously injured Brady and end his season. But, he was totally reckless and deserves to be fined.

There is clearly something at work here. I'm sure the Chiefs plead there case to the league claiming that he didn't intend to do it and they shouldn't taint this kid with a fine. All I know is that JETS "fans" cheered when they found out Brady was hurt. I have never, in my entire life, wanted a team to lose as badly as I do this weekend.

Buffalo bills??? what the &%%$^

every other teams out there are simply jealous...jealous of our success, of our QB (hes the best of NFL history), of our coach ;) even of our cheerleaders lol.
For me it was and still is a dirty play...In my opinion.. that pollard can get what he truly deserve...I couldnt care less for him. hes a jerk

Brady is strong mentally and yes physically.....hell be back once hes ready..and then hell kick all of your %$%%.....

GO PATS !!!

Buffaloin08.....every year, I swear, every single year I hear the same thinng: This is going to be Buffalo's year, goin make a run, going to be in the mix, a contender. Guess what!!! It never happens. You guys....wait for it.....suck.

So, instead of beating your team by 21 points, the Pats will just have to settle for beating them by 10. When it happens, please make sure you check back into this website so I can say "told you so."

Know what I love? I love how other teams' fans feel the need to come to the Pat's board on a BOSTON-centric web site and GLOAT about someone getting injured and needing surgery...some people need lives, or at least something else to do with the other six days of their weeks.

Name another incident where WIlfork hit a QB below the waist? You are simply wrong here. There have been other fines but not for hitting a QB below the waist. Wilfork never denys anything here but is not happy with the mixed message sent out. Hitting below the waist is illegal. They both deserve a fine.

I agree with the big guy. NFL just wants to fine the Patriots.

Tired of the NFL's inconsistencies with the rulings. They ignored the Jets taping, other teams communication scouting and they pretend no one sees this.

Wilfork is 350 lbs an was pushed, losing his balance. Pollard knew where he was and initiated movement into Brady.

A joke.

No consistency. I'd like to see the Pats organization more vocal with their displeasure with the witch hunt.

I won't say this was an intentional blow at the knee, but it was pretty poor control as no effort was made to tackle in a way that was not directed right at the knee.

Whether it is more or less objectionable than what Vince Wilfork did is an issue that goes to the amount of the fine, not whether or not a fine should be imposed.

The NFL failed to send a message that taking out quarterbacks at the knees is bad for the NFL. That is the mistake here.

Although I don't think Pollard had in mind intentionally hurting Brady, it is obvious the hit was intentional, in the respect he led with his helmet, lunging at Tom Brady. That is not an accident, and Sammy Morris had nothing to do with the KC player throwing himself at Brady. The rule is "supposed" to be you cannot hit a QB on the knees, or below.

That he was on the ground, that should have no bearing on interpretation of the rule. It was blatantly violated. Pollard should be fined and suspended.

To the New York idiots who wrote their comments on this post enjoying Tom Brady getting hurt, you people are sick and pathetic. If the only way you can win is by our star player being hurt, then any victory you get is hollow, because it took a cheap hit to level the playing field for you, but that still won't be enough for you to win the division.

WILFORK is not even close, he is wrong. If Sammy Morris hadn't been riding Pollard piggy back while holding Pollard's face mask the play changes. The momentum of the piggy back ride coupled with the release of the face mask propelled Pollard forward. It is nothing like the Wilfork hit. JB look at the replay not some Boston Globe still shot, get a grip. Nobody wants to see a guy get hurt. nobody. Unfortunate play in the game of football, nothing more, nothing less

I agree 100% with Vince!
I do not think that the play on Brady was dirty and I do not think that the play with Vince last year was either. That being said, Vince got flagged and fined but Pollard did not get either? I am not crying over spilled milk here but I can surely see how this is a double standard! Beside all of that crap...Did we call Drew yet?!?!?!

Haters need to get a life and a conscience. Injuries, especially serious ones like Brady sustained are no laughing matter. So you losers can j@ck off to the replay all you want, that's all you're good for anyway. I won't be surprised if we don't win the SB but most of you airheads will waste the entire season hoping for a championship, only to see your team eliminated near the end. It stings way more then, let me tell you. Keep telling yourselves we cheated, Jew York, no body but your hater friends care. And by the way going 18-0 while breaking multiple records is way better than a fluke victory in the last game of the season.

stop crying...did snookums hurt his wittle leg? It's football....let's see.....video taping didn't work, got busted...QB hurt...boy, Belicheat is loving life now!!!! I love it!!!! GO GIANTS!!!!!! PERFECTUS DENIEDUS!!!!!!!

"All of NFL is very biased against the Patriots"? Please pass me the barf bag.

Why didn't the Pats just call in Walt Coleman? He could have said that the play never even happened. Wiped it out, and viola. Then the game and the season could have continued - just like it in the playoffs.

Wilfork's hit was as dirty as they come and Pollard's was clearly unintentional, but if the rule states that you can't hit the quarterback below the knee, then Pollard should be fined for it.

The NFL only has themself to blame for this. If they didn't put these stupid rules into effect to protect the QB's they wouldn't have to worry about it. It's football, play it the way it's supposed to be played.

I still think Pollard hit the knee on purpose. He also led with his helmet - also illegal. I don't understand the NFL's ruling, and I see no support for it in the rules. In fact, as some other fan here pointed out yesterday, the league has in the past issued a clarification of the roughing rule, saying defensive players must try to avoid hitting the QB at the knee or below. This will just feed my suspicion that the NFL is tired of the Patriots throwing a wrench into their goal of parity. The NFL appears like it's trying to destroy the Patriots

All of these comments just prove that fan bias affects what you see as the "facts" of the case. You want to talk about poor calls? How about the non-call of PI on the last play where the d-back was pulling the receviers arm down? The hit was a mistake in a game that moves faster than you can imagine. Having played in the NFL if only on special teams in the preseason it is insanely fast out there. Dont let your support of your favorite teams skew the fact that this was an accident and there is no comspiracy against your team.

As a Patriots fan, this is a terrible thing to see happen, but there is no way that I could blame Pollard. He was blocked down to the ground and then trying to get back up to get to Brady, who still had the football, he was hit again pushing him off balance into Brady's knee...You might as well say that Morris caused the hit on Brady. Sure Pollard's arms are out. He's a football player trying to make a tackle. What else is he going to do? The QB still had the ball!

Wilfork's hit is not even close in relation to this accident. Wilfork was still rushing Losman as Losman released the ball. Sure Wilfork was tripped up, but the football was already half way down the field and Wilfork saw this - he is a pro football player. On his way to the ground his forearm is pointed out in the direction of Losman's knee. If you watch the replays it sure seems like he steers his right arm towards Losman's knee.

The two huge differences with Wilfork and Pollard in my mind, and probably the NFL's, are that Brady had the ball, while it was clear to Wilfork that Losman did not. The second difference is that instead of Wilfork falling to the ground naturally with his arms out to brace his fall, as is the case with most people, he seemed to have a problem with his right arm and elbow aimed at Losman's knee, while Pollard had Morris riding him into the ground and Pollard's head and shoulders were pushed into Brady.

Sorry Wilfork, my stock in you has dropped again because of your crying in this situation. See it for what it was, intentional (or certainly appeared to be) on your part and an accident on Pollard's part.

Look at the Wilfork hit on YouTube....He drove his ELBOW right into the QB's knee. Looks to me like an intent to injure by Wilfork....not Pollard BTW

Hey..The Truth Sets You Free...as I said, STOP CRYING.....Can't take The Truth?? In recent years, all anybody has heard is cocky, arrogant, "were better than anybody" statements from Pats fans, well guess what, GO PROVE IT!!! All anybody has heard is the "Patriot Way"...well now you have a chance to practice what you loudmouth players and fans preach....HUMBLE PIE 2007...PERFECT SHIRT FOR BELICHEAT AND THE PATS....GIANTS EXPOSED THE PATS, NOW THE REST OF THE LEAGUE WILL FOLLOW...RELAX HOMER, IT'S EASY TO BE A FAN WHEN THINGS ARE GOING GREAT, STOP CRYING!!!!!

GO GIANTS SB 2007!!!!!!!!!

Vince makes a great point Mike.

Honestly, can you see any difference in the two situations?

Indeed Pollard's hit appears more egregious. Wilfork was pushed or tripped toward the QB and merely extended an arm in a reflexive type motion. Pollard's actions appear to be much more concerted, premeditated, and deliberate. When I say deliberate I don't necessarily mean deliberate in causing the injury but deliberate in causing the hit. What am i missing here?

How is not fining Pollard giving the NFL parity? Whether pollard is suspended or not, the hit is over and theres nothing anyone can do about it now. I'm sure we all agree that Wilfork's hit was intentional...you'd have to be complete idiot to not see that, but Pollard's appears to be questionable. Sure, a fine may be appropriate, but that does nothing to help you conspiracy fools that think the NFL would like to have the patriots lose. Dumbest idea i've ever heard

Man, there must be a run on diapers up there in New England. What a bunch of crybabies. You really think the NFL has it in for the Patriots? God you people are pathetic.
Oh, and by the way, welcome to the end of the tainted Patriots era. It's not like you guys have won anything in 4 years anyway, and you weren't gonna go to the Super Bowl this year, even with Brady. Now that big sissy Moss will quit on your team, and old paranoid Bill is gonna show how lame a coach he is.
Enjoy your early round 2009 draft pick, Pats fans. Maybe you can use it to draft a QB that isn't damaged goods.

On Wilfork's hit the ball was already thrown before the hit.

Brady still had the football when he was hit by Pollard.

If you cant hit the QB, how can you tackle him? Of course, you don't need to tackle him when he doesn't have the football anymore.

Putting any obvious intent on Wilfork aside, that is where I see the major difference is between the two.

Brady leaned into the hit.

I hereby draw your attention to www.nfl.com/rulebook/protectionofpasser which, in part, states the following:

"No defensive player who has an unrestricted path to the quarterback may hit him flagrantly in the area of the knee(s) or below when approaching in any direction."

Key word there: ...unrestricted...

The blame lays on the running back who couldn't keep that "no-name" player -- who in fact goes by the formal name of Bernard Pollard (with the nickname of "Bonecrusher) -- from moving toward Brady.