Big hit resonates in New England

"defined as a receiver in the process of making a catch or a quarterback in the act of passing"

Are you trying to suggest that Wes Welker who didn't even have the ball in his hands was defenseless? What about Tom Brady who was hit in the knee? Goodell needs to go. If players think they can get away with this type of play then it is not going to bode well.

It is long past time for the NFL to ban helmet-to-helmet hits by players. At a minimum, a player who uses his helmet to tackle a player, and thus as a weapon, should get a fifteen-yard roughing penalty. Ejection would be even better. Only really foolish fans love to watch a game in which the sound of helmets crashing against one another siganls yet another chance for a concussion or spinal injury. How many Patriots were lost to injury this year, many of them because of helmet/weapon hits? Fans need to demand that the league do something to stop this..

The hit was intended to INJURE the player from what I saw, I can't see how he tried to tackle the player, you don't tackle with your helmet and shoulder, how is that not dirty?? The guy was carted off the field and Welker could have been injured, and you think Goodell cares, he's a douchebag. If it was Rodney Harrison delivering such a hit, he would have been fined.

I have two words "Darryl Stingley"

This would have been an entirely different story had it been a Patriot that made that hit.
That hit cannot possibly be legal. Clark put McGahee's life in jeopardy for god's sake! That is NOT a part of fricken football. And "Space Bandito" is correct, Welker didn't even have the damn ball and was knocked out by Clark. This is just another reason that solidifies that the NFL is screwed up.

The league needs to address tackling without your hands in front of you. You shouldn't be allowed to launch yourself head, or shoulders first. Hands should have to be out there in front trying to make a legitimate tackle. I guess the league doesn't care because they feel big hits = big viewership, and since they don't take very good care of the players on the back-end (retirement), it's not an issue. There's been way too much launching at backs and recievers instead of trying to make a clean, open-field tackle.

For those of you who are concerned about the violent nature of the hit, and the brutal contact that is football ... Dancing with the Stars re-runs are on the entertainment channel.

Or you ladies could have a good time watching Oprah.

This was not as blatant as the hit he laid welker out with!However he launched himself Helmet first to make contact with only helmet!! Pollards hit on Brady's knee was intentional and came from his HC saying the only way to beat Brady was too injure him!! And that's exactly what happened...Message to Pioli fire Herm Edwards or remove your personal memories of being involved with the Patriots because by keeping the scum who ordered the hit you become what you condone.It's called guilt by association!! If you keep him send your SB rings back!!

We can complain or discuss it all we want, but the NFL will continue to be inconsistent and will never have to justify themselves when one play mimics another, but there are different rulings on both.

Defy the fine, in 2009!

Mike, I'm e-mailing you to let you know how much I appreciate your blog / articles. I very much appreciate your timely and germain notes, facts and updates. You have become my every day check in source for all things patriots. THANK YOU

Can anyone explain why the McGahee play was considered a completed catch while the Santonio Holmes play earlier in the game, where he caught it, took steps and dove for the end zone was called incomplete?
I disagree with the lack of punishment because I don't think McGahee had completed the process of a catch yet, in which case it would be considered a helmet to helmet hit on a receiver (and punishable).

I wonder if helmet-to-knee resulting in a season ending injury could result in a fine? Hmmmm, way to go Goodell you (*$#($*#($**(**&^@^!!!!!!!!@#!$^!#$)&^!@*$&!#*($&#!*($&!#(*$&#!()*$&#!(*$&!#($&#!(*$&!#)(*$&!#)(*$&!(#&$#!()*$&!#&*$^!)*(@$&_!@(#$&@!$

It's just a matter of time before a catastrophic injury or death results from allowing helmet to helmet hits. The culture of the NFL allowed this to happen to Darryl Stingley. I wonder if those who chastize and ridicule people who abhor the unnecessary attempts to injure, would feel differently if it was their relative lying on the field.

steelers dfan, I'm one too and have rooted for them since the early 1950s, but your comment brands you as an idiot. That isn't football and that was a dirty hit, intended to injure. It maybe has a place in dog-fightng, but its not football in any civilized sense of the word.

Good point Will
I know you can't listen to the people in the booth explain it. There still trying to say face guarding is a foul.I guess its the same way Sweeds tackle in the endzone on the should have been INT by the ravens safety wasn't offensive pass interference.

If everybody watches the replay again, you'll see that Clark led with his SHOULDER. The helmet-to-helmet contact was secondary. There was no spearing. Rodney hits like that. Bob Sanders hits like that. All big hitters do. Clean, textbook hit: shoulder to chest. Brutal, yes. But clean.

You can't compare this hit to the one on Wes. The ball Cassel threw was 5 feet over his head, and Clark still left his feet and blasted him. Completely unnecessary.

Ban helmet to helmet hits under any circumstance or ban helmets.

This is so arbitrary it is ridiculous. How many seasons did the Steelers ruin? These comments about football players needing to be tough is a load of crap. Tough guys don't tee up on players that are basically defenseless or looking the other way. Roger Goodell has no credibility in my book.

complaining about these kinds of hits is futile. as a fan of football, I fear for clark's safety as much as those he hits. Chris and Lew are right on, these kinds of hits are great for nfl films presentations, but with each one the player is taking more than his own career in to his hands. I just hope he smartens up before he ends up paralyzed.

The hit on Welker, followed by a fine on him for his snow angel reveal much to this wary, long-time observer. The NFL trades on, "did you hear that crash?" "listen to that crack!" "if you don't think they hit hard, listen to this..."
Only tragedy will force them to revise the rules.

They should ban helmet contact, where possible. These guys are having depression and cognitive difficulties after leaving the league. Known byproducts of repeated concussions. Not to speak of the other injuries.

this the new nfl. wes welker gets fined for making a snow angel. clark doesnt get fined for obvious intentions to cripple players. a bit one sided.. id watch out if i were the cardinals.. watch out for the refs and the steelers truly disgusting players.

I'd like to see Clark carted off the field in the Super Bowl, the same way he likes to send his opponents. He's the dirtiest player in the league right now, and frigging Godell let's him of the hook.

Oh, just wait until someone nails Ward in the knee as payback for all of this "Jacked Up" highlight hits and the Steeler fans will sing something different.

The Steelers have always been a team of cheap shot artists.

Just look at their record just since 2002 (let alone earlier). Lee Flowers intentionally rolling into Brady's ankle in the AFC Championship game in Jan 2002. Kimo VanO taking out Carlson Palmer. Clark going headhunting this season. It goes on and on and on. I only hope that what comes around goes around and someone tears Roethlisberger's leg off at the knee. Then maybe that'll teach Tomlin (and Cowher, should he return to coaching) a lesson.

Instead of the NFL getting Clark under control before he kills or paralyzes somebody they enable him by condoning his cheap-shot head-hunting. So much for the NFL's concern for player safety.

When the tragedy happens I hope Goodell will be able to look the player's family in the eyes and explain his despicable non-action.

The league does need to ban these type of hits and put some money into designing helmets that protect the players. As a scientist that studies neurodegenerative diseases I know it only takes two major concussions to dramatically increase the chances of developing Alzheimers. I love pro football and believe Commissioner Goodell and the owners have an obligation to the players. I hate to see anymore players suffer like Ted Johnson is.

As a life long Patriot fan going back to the 60s I witnessed the hit on Daryl Stingley by Jack Tatum. I remember the chills going through my body when the doctor administered the reflex test on Stingley lying motionless on the field. Ryan Clark will paralyze someone or get paralyzed himself if this is allowed to continue.

I wonder how the NFL jives the following: When a punt returner catches the ball, he gets a yard or two, a "halo," if you will.

Yet, MaGahee is NOT defenseless after he takes one or two steps, after catching a pass in which he had to be facing 180 degrees away from where the danger was coming from, and gets hit in his head by someone else who used their head as a weapon. That's NOT illegal?????

That DB launched himself, head first, right at another guy's head who couldn't get out of the way, in the fourth quarter of a game with less than 4:00 left when they had a double-digit lead.

Just get the guy to the ground and let the clock run. But he goes for the homerun, and gets it, and everyone thinks it's okay? No penalty, no fine?

Someone's going to die on National TV, and then we'll have Congressional hearings, and the game won't be the same.

All because these geniuses can't police themselves.

Eventually the person Ryan Clark may hurt the most may be himself. It's not only leading with the head, but it is launching your body toward someone else that can really do damage to your neck and spine. I saw John Lynch do a lot of this later in this career. Brian Dawkins has been guilty of this as well. Sometimes you go for that knockout hit, and you end up knocking yourself out of football. It will not really be stopped by the league, but maybe the players themselves when they see enough of their fellow players with serious neck injuries.

Steelers Rule - I guess you must watch a lot of Dancing With the Stars reruns since you knew what channel it was on.

Come on, this was not an intentional helmet to helmet hit, as most of them aren't. It happens. it's a fast game and players can not stop in mid air when moving in on another player. My guess woould be that in the play of the offensive and defensive lines, helmet to helmet contact is made on almost every play.

In fact, I believe the penalty for helmet to helmet contact against a quarterback should be revokded. 99% of those that occur are unintential, and they just happen in the course of a defensive player attempting to make a tackle. Most, if not all of them are unitnentional and should not be called penalties.

The first contact was helmet to helmet, then shoulder to helmet. Obviously, Ryan Clark is a punk headhunter who will continue to blast players in the head as long as ESPN and everyone else keeps playing the replay. I guess he will have to kill or paralyze someone before the league wakes up and starts ejecting on intent to injure plays. . And then to give ThePittsberg the ball on the play--the definition of adding insult to injury!!!!

If Clark were playing against ThePittsberg, ole Heinz Ward would cut block him and put him out for a year or career. Nice Team yah got there you yellow hanking waving bottomlickers.

Steelers Rule x 6, I agree with your point. I don't have a problem with hard hits, and I don't have a problem with Clark because what he's done is within the rules and I don't think his hits are personal, they're just football. But the rules of football MUST try to minimize the number of nervous system injuries, because they DO NOT HEAL. Clark should not be fined but the NFL should look into this and consider changing the rules a bit.

The use of helmets to hit opposing players is almost as dangerous to the player making the hit as it is to the player who gets hit. The NFL certainly has the authority to do something about this, even if the first step is only to ask an independent body like the American Medical Association to report on the effects of the current use of helmets on player health and safety, with recommendations for changes to reduce the risks of injury. If the NFL doesn't take action out of concern for the game and the people who play it, then the NFLPA should demand action, because helmet-caused injuries are a major cause of shortened careers and post-career medical problems.

Guys, the hit WAS NOT intended to injure the guy. The hit WAS intended to separate the guy from the football. And he was successful. Vicious, yes, but that is football.

Y'all can start a touch football league and see how much attendance you get. In fact, none of you would watch that either.

I think most commentators here are getting a bit emotional because of the Welker incident and are comparing apples to oranges. The two Clark hits were very different in their nature, and I fail to see why we are even comparing the two. The hit on Welker was clearly a hit on a defenseless receiver, and should have merited a high fine, perhaps a suspension. However, the hit on McGahee was clean, Clark clearly lead with his shoulder, but sometime it is hard to get the head out of the way.

To those suggesting you shouldn't be able to hit with your shoulder, what have you been smoking? Hitting with the shoulder is a fundamental aspect of football. You cannot take it out without completely altering the nature of the game, and I have to think pretty much everyone on this forum enjoys the game the way it is.

Mike, this quote from the official: "Helmet-to-helmet contact is legal in that situation as it is for any ball carrier (running back, quarterback, or receiver). " , does not jive with the NFL's OFFICIAL RULES! Look at this:
Per Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8(g) of the 2008 NFL rules, the concept of unnecessary roughness includes “using any part of a player’s helmet . . . or facemask to butt, spear, or ram an opponent violently or unnecessarily; although such violent or unnecessary use of the helmet and 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 throwing a pass, a receiver 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).”

That rule clearly states that using the helmet is IMPERMISSABLE against ANY OPPONENT, and only that special attention will be given to those in a defeneseless possition. Can you please address this further with this official, who clearly got the rule wrong?

The hit on McGahee was legal, the hit on Welker was late and should have been fined. I think Thomas's late block on Indy was fined $5k, and that was just a downfield block, with no intent to injure. Oh well, trying to figure out what the NFL is trying to accomplish with obscure fines for fun (celebrations) and intermittent fines for chop blocks, leading with the helmet, and hits at the knees... is impossible. They should put more money into a fund to take care of players after they retire, unfortunately the NFL is dragging their feet on that one.

There are a number of safeties who would not be starting in the NFL (and getting the corresponding $$$) if they were not willing to launch themselves at opposing players. They are the NFL equivalent of prostitutes. They risk their own life and the lives of opposing players to get rosters spots and $$$.

Why is the NFL sitting on its hands with regard to the modification of helmets? A layer of foam can easily be added to the exterior of helmets and the only reason not to do it is the aesthetic issue. That's pathetic. The league is waiting for another serious injury or death to address what it should address right now.

I think the problem most of us have is the inconsistancy in fines, suspensions etc. for these hits among other rules broken. I am in the camp that believes this was not comparable to the hit on Welker. If the reason they gave for not punishing Clark for this hit is true then he should have been absolutely fined for the hit on Welker . Of course the fine given to Wes for a snow angel was justifiable given the dangerous nature of it. I also recall Wilfork having to meet with Goodell because of the "disturbing trend of his behavior" and given a hefty fine several times, yet no need for a meeting with this scum bag or other steelers for that matter.

"Clearly led with his shoulder?" WTF where you watching? He CLEARLY had his head down and led with his helmet, which is 100% against the rules and yet no foul was called and no fine imposed. Get your act together NFL! When you can't even get the facts straight in a prepared statement the day after the game, something is seriously, seriously wrong. It's a damn good thing Mike Pereira is retiring because he has clearly lost control of the officiating of these games.

desreveR,

Who's suggesting you shouldn't be able to hit with your shoulder? And you're accusing people of smoking stuff?

The hit was helmet-to-helmet AND shoulder to shoulder at the same time. McGahee is lucky to be ok. I don't think Clark was intending to be dirty, unlike the Welker play where he lines up a defenseless Welker with the ball nowhere near him.

I agree that the NFL should definitely reconsider allowing defenders to lead with their helmets. It should be a suspension if you put you spear with your helmet....especially to the head....no question.

And to the moron that suggests that you couldn't outlaw helmet to helmet because of what goes on on the line.....are you kidding me? Those guys aren't running at anyone and then spearing them. There might be some face mask to face mask contact....but that's not nearly the same as spearing with the top of your helmet.

There was a play late in that same game that Troy Polamalu, an amazingly talented player, had a receiver lined up who he could have really hurt, but instead he hit him hard and legal with no head but a regular arm and body tackle. While Polamalu is a credit to football, Ryan Clark is a disgrace. I think Clark will be getting some interceptions thrown his way in blow outs next year, and he may end up stretched out on the field after one of them. If the Commisioner won't protect the receivers, the players are going to have to do it themselves.

Wow, how come no one mentions McGahee LOWERING HIS HEAD right into Clark at the same time? Are you all blind about that? Clark never left his feet, and his shoulders were lowered. Now I understand all the Pats fans who root for a coach who has been caught cheating, but it is not possible to eliminate helmet to helmet conatc. How come Bart Scott is not being fined for a much clearer helment to helmet hit on Willie Parker from earlier in the game. Or Ray Lewis for a spear in the 2nd qurter? Or when Big Ben was clearly hit in the back after a throw and now has a hurt back? You ahve to complain about those as well.

Ryan Clark should have been suspended from Football when he hit Welker. This guy trys to hurt other players and this collision with MaGahee would not have happen if Clark was suspended and fined..

Roger Goodell is rapidly becoming the Bud Selig of professional football. Anything goes if it appeals to the mob or it's somnambulant cousin, Steelers fans, and makes the league money.

At some point Clark will hurt or paralyze someone or himself and everybody will be crying. This guy is the modern Jack Tatum a habitual offender. You can blow a guy up by hiting him in the mid section or lower but constant high head hits will eventually cause some type of damage. People bitch about Harrison but to my knowlege he has not crippled any one. Since we do not see all the Steelers games we do not know what this thug has done to other players. I feel any time a player is put out the player who inflicts the damge should miss the same amount of time as the injured player.I am hoping that the Cards will wipe the floor with the Steelers. I am sure they will try to intimidate them but I think the Cards are destined to win just like the 2001 Pats. The Cards can thank The Pats for putting them on the right track just like the Giants from last year. I was at Glendale 20 rows up last year when "get Paid" missed the interception that would have saved the game and when he was out of position when Tyree made the catch on the next play. He sucks but at least he plays clean.

The real villain is clearly Tomlin. I'm certain that jerk encourages an atmosphere of dirty football. just look at the way he whooped it up with Clark when he came off the field after the Welker cheap shot.
Ryan Clark is a piece of trash, but he wouldn't get away with it if Tomlin wasn't equally filthy. You can only hope, as Quantum Mechanic said, that someone takes an equally egregious shot at Roerkljrhpaowghpwrioughpawlisberger's head sometime soon. That turkey is one more concussion away from Troy Aikmanville, and the Steeler fans deserve it more than any other fan base in the league.

Being in the medical profession I will say the differences or the lines being drawn by the NFL as to what constitutes a legal helmet to helmet versus an illegal helmet to helmet hit are rediculous. They all should be banned before someone is seriously injured or killed. Some professional boxers during their matches don't take the punishment to the the head one (1) of these hits can deliver.

Of course if a Patriot had done the same...he would have been fined and suspended...but not the stealers...they are just tuff...B.S. i say..his day will come...what goes around comes around....Go Cards

Someone find Clark and end him.

Having played, I would never condone the malicious attack on someone's health and well-being, but Ryan Clark has lost all of my respect altogether.

The league is making excuses for him at this point. There's no doubt in my mind that the hit was malicious - he stayed down himself so he'd get sympathy for the dirtbag move he pulled.

The McGahee hit was completely legal. McGahee had caught the ball and was turning upfield. That is a good, clean, football hit. Clark on Welker was not. Welker didn't even see it coming and it was a clear attempt to injure. The McGahee hit may have also been an attempt to injure, but the timing of the hit made it illegal.

I love all the comments that claim Clark's intent was to injure. Maybe you guys should put your psychic powers to a more productive use somewhere. You're really wasting them watching football.

Both of Clark's hits were legal. The hit on Welker was legal because the ball was tipped and still in play. Welker makes a living coming across the middle of the field. Didn't see it coming? That's his fault. Keep your head on a swivel Wes.
The hit on McGahee was also brutal and legal -- not to mention a game-sealing turnover. Well done again Clark.
Of course, I don't want to see anybody get hurt. But it happens and it's one of the reasons football players make so much money. It's a risk/reward decision that isn't yours to make.
BTW - Pats fans accusing the Steelers of being dirty cheaters is a bit rich (see Rodney Harrison and Bill Belichick). Sounds like sour grapes to me.

@Roger Mudd: Clark gave McGahee a concussion and could have killed him. "Legal"? Only if you go by "whatever Goodell says". Goodell's notions of punishment tend to be less interested in the letter of the rules and more interested in what he thinks public opinion is.
From the NFL rules: any tackle where the player leads with the head is a penalty. Also, any tackle where "a player conducts himself in a manner that can cause injury to another player or himself" is a personal foul.
@JackDup: it doesn't matter what his "intent" was. What matters is what he did. It was reckless and could have killed McGahee.

It's a tough balance between enforcing rules and maintaining the essence of the game (contact).

I saw a dirty hit, but I have bias.

I know that the rules in high school were exactly what Bob Lyman said:
"Using your helmet as a weapon."

I don't have enough information to say it was a dirty hit. I don't think it was a coincidence, though. I'd like to think that Clark actually did suffer collateral damage instead of staying down to garner sympathy.