APRavens safety Matt Elam tackled Packers receiver Randall Cobb by delivering a hit with the shoulder into Cobb’s knee on Sunday, and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wasn’t happy about it.
As the game was paused while the Packers’ medical staff attended to Cobb, Rodgers walked over to the Ravens’ side of the field to confront Elam. After the game, Rodgers said he thought Elam should have aimed his tackle at Cobb’s midsection.
“I just felt like [Elam] had enough time to make a hit in the legal hitting zone,” Rodgers said, via ESPNWisconsin.com.
Here’s the problem with Rodgers’ complaint: Elam’s hit was in the legal hitting zone. Defensive players are allowed to tackle ball carriers by hitting them in the knees. If Rodgers doesn’t like that, he should take it up with the NFL’s owners, who determine the league rules, not with Elam.
Rodgers did acknowledge that Ravens safety James Ihedigbo told him on the field that defensive players have been instructed not to hit offensive players high, so it’s only natural that they’re going to hit low.
“[Ihedigbo] came over and made actually a very knowledgeable point – which I appreciated a little intelligent banter back and forth – about some of the issues defensive players have to deal with with the target area,” Rodgers said. “I totally understand that and get that. I just felt like, from my vantage point, [Elam] had plenty of time to not take out a guy’s legs in that situation. I think he could have hit in the proper hitting zone, and that’s what I told him.”
Rodgers should tell it to Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy, who has a voice in changing what the NFL considers “the proper hitting zone.” Until Murphy and the NFL’s 31 other owners vote to change it, no one should blame Elam for doing his job.
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What’s the over/under on the league becoming the NFFL (the extra F standing for Flag, of course)? 5 years?
I’d like to see Rodgers play defense once in his life, then he can talk about ‘vantage points’
Shut up Rodgers, your whiny voice is giving me a headache.
Rodgers should send his complaints to Roger Goodell. Each time a defender gets a fine for a perfectly good ht, they will start hitting guys at the knees.
MDS: “Rodgers should tell it to Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy, who has a voice in changing what the NFL considers “the proper hitting zone.” Until Murphy and the NFL’s 31 other owners vote to change it, no one should blame Elam for doing his job.”
I disagree, and agree with Rodgers.
In football, baseball (and life) – there are written rules and there are unwritten rules.
If you see an old lady struggling to carry her groceries – there’s no obligation to step up and help her out, but it’s clearly the right thing to do.
There are bazillions of similar situations – where one may not be bound by law/rules to do or not do this or that — but there is a clear understanding amongst intelligent/reasonable minds to do the right thing.
NFL players get this too – watch them talk/act/fight when someone flies in to carve up their wheels. I find it amazing when guys who’ve never played and spent their whole life in a chair sipping coffee – start telling Aaron Rodgers he doesn’t “get it.”
My vantage point is from the couch or the terrace level! I got no idea whats going on!
Rodgers should stop throwing hospital passes. Dude has all the physical tools but is lacking big time in the mental game…
this guy should just be lucky he got the win.
only NFC team to beat me in baltimore. ever.
ill give proper congrats & hope to see you again in Feb.
MDS -
You’re so off on this one. Elam had all day to size Cobb up. It wasn’t a split second decision where you can’t blame a guy for just reacting.
You know how large the area is from above a guys knee to his shoulders? That’s most of his body. Elam could’ve easily hit Cobb in the thigh, the stomach, the chest, the shoulder. He went way too low and it’s obvious by watching the play. I would rather have a player go high than a player go low and I’m sure that’s what everyone was pissed about.
Hiding behind the rules doesnt change the fact that Elam could have made a better tackle that wouldnt have risked Cobb’s legs.
When did tackling go from wrapping up and bringing a guy down – to launching your shoulder into a guy and hoping he doesn’t bounce off?
Meanwhile, Rodgers’ offensive linemen, like every other offensive line in the league, dive at player’s knees on nearly every snap.
Hey Rah-juhs – How about ya’ cry a little less, and score touchdowns in the red zone a little more. Thanks.
He has a point. Dude had time and aimed his helmet right as hid knee. I clearly remember all the outraged vikings fans when Al Harris injured Peterson with an identical tackle. I’m sure they are all rushing to their keyboards as we speak to support Rodgers viewpoint.
2 things-
if rodgers doesn’t want his best WR killed maybe he should throw better passes that don’t require Cobb to jump up in the air and thus expose himself to this kind of hit
why should elam aim for the midsection? so that cobb can duck his head down (like every WR is doing now) and still get a penalty?
its always the defenders fault, so they move the strike zone to the legs an area that no WR can duck into and this is what happens
orivar says: Oct 14, 2013 12:59 PM
I’d like to see Rodgers play defense once in his life, then he can talk about ‘vantage points’
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NFCCG 2010. Tackled Urlacher.
Proper tackling is dead. If defenders aren’t trying to be highlighted on “jacked up” they are throwing their shoulders into knees/lower extremeties.
Although Rogers can be very whiney, I agree with his point. He had plenty of time to eye up Cobb and wrap tackle him just like he was taught in peewee. Defenders are just as whiney as the high profile offensive players.
bajagopher says:
Oct 14, 2013 1:00 PM
Shut up Rodgers, your whiny voice is giving me a headache.
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Personally I am very happy to see that the QB is not happy when a defensive player is going after the knees of one of his receivers. He didn’t get into a fight and he even admitted that the other safety had a point. What exactly is the point of your post?
I get why he’s pissed, but what’s a defender suppose to do?
YOU BETTER “DOUBLE CHECK THAT RODGERS”
Sounds like a desparate QB—no more weapons—no more wins!!!
So when other #1 receivers like Fitzgerald, A. Johnson. C. Johnson, Marshall, etc go down, all of you people who want to criticize Rodgers will be crying too. I understand how difficult it is for defenders now days, but some of you just feel the need to comment because of your dislike for Rodgers. He’s just defending his receiver. Quit hating.
It is a proper tackle. If Cobb doesn’t get hurt, nobody cares…
Plenty of players get hit low and do not suffer an injury. Don’t see a lot of QBs complaining about those hits.
Cry me a river. . . there was nothing wrong with the hit. It’s football, not futball.
Can’t really blame Rodgers for being upset that he lost Cobb, but I’m not sure it’s totally Elam’s fault. The dude is a rookie, and he was trying really hard to not hit the guy in the head. That’s what the NFL wants folks.
I think everyone would have been happier if he had hit him in the chest, and maybe even jarred the ball lose. No one wants to see anyone get hurt.
The best way to avoid hitting someone in the head is to go low, that’s what these guys are thinking about. That 20k$ fine puts a big dent in a rookie contract if he goes to the head of a defenseless reciever. How many times have we seen a reciever catch the ball and then drop his head right away. Then your shoulder to the chest ends up being a shoulder to the head and you’re going to give up 15 yards from the end of the play as well as a big chunk of your paycheck.
This picture is whats wrong with the NFL now. He is on his hands and knees putting his hard helmet right into the most vulnerable part of the players body. The NFL should take out helmet and pads and play the game like they used to, like rugby. Wear a scrumcap at most, these kind of injuries and alot of others are being caused by the helmet. It would be a lot safer, tackling would be a lot better and it would be a lot tougher.
so much whining in these comments. its football. now anytime a player gets hurt you all cry about it. hit was legal. deal with it.
Eric Reid > Matt Elam
When the NFL flags every tackle at the waist up, what is Elam to do? Sorry. It’s how the game is.
The league needs to step up and require form tackling in practice for an alotted amount of time.
This is just a joke. If I see one more idiot fly in low, head down, shoulder out and just hoping the carrier falls down I’m going to puke.
I’ve been a huge advocate for being fair when the play is very bang bang but this is not the case here nor is it when some dope LB turns into a head down missle in the hole and bounces off a RB that gets another 3-4 yards and only falls cuz 3 head down dopes hit him hard enough that time.
What happened to tackling?!
If he goes for the midsection at the same time Cobb drops his head and makes contact…wheeeep (whistle) 15 yd penalty.
Pro football is dead. The attorney who represents the class of knee injured players will make a fortune
this guy should just be lucky he got the win.
only NFC team to beat me in baltimore. ever.
ill give proper congrats & hope to see you again in Feb.
11 24
Report comment. He wasn’t lucky…at least not 4th and 29 lucky.
Rodgers point is well taken and you will see when it happens to one of yours…..the outrage you will display….typical raven rules.
Rodgers does not look good this year.
Somehow Matt Cassel has more touchdowns in his past 2 games than Rodgers has in his last 3.
Now with his 2 best recievers hurt, look for the Packers to begin a losing streak. Looks like Chicago and Detroit will battle it out for the NFC North
YOU BETTER “DOUBLE CHECK THAT RODGERS”
Sounds like a desparate QB—no more weapons—no more wins!!!
================================
But they won… Thus not sure of your point.
Rodgers and the Packers are the biggest whiners in the game. It was a perfectly legal hit and when you’re playing defense you’re job is to bring the ball carrier down legally which Elam did. Quit whining Rodgers!
A Rodge is becoming the biggest diva in the entire league, he always is complaining about something.
And it looks like your brain has left your head because of stupidity
Another round crucify Rodgers is played, the guy is emotional and frustrated about what happened to one of his teammates.
I use the wrong word here and their and come off not as I meant to sound quite a bit, when talking about something that means a lot to me.
It was a legal hit, but I believe Rodgers meant he could have made a cleaner hit. I think it was excessive, and uncalled for.
I also understand that its a super fast game, and the Defensive players are going to react and commit to wear they are going to hit a WR probably before they even have the ball.
Cobb a good player and person. Hopefully he can recover quick.
maraneso says:
Oct 14, 2013 1:09 PM
orivar says: Oct 14, 2013 12:59 PM
I’d like to see Rodgers play defense once in his life, then he can talk about ‘vantage points’
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NFCCG 2010. Tackled Urlacher.
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Good point…and where did he tackle him? above the knees. (Urlacher’s knee even twisted just before he went down) Oh and he had plenty of time to tackle him in the “legal hitting zone”.
“Meanwhile, Rodgers’ offensive linemen, like every other offensive line in the league, dive at player’s knees on nearly every snap.”
This is so true. GB OL is always cut blocking. It’s part of the game-plan. Someone needs to ask Rodgers about this — a national reporter, not a local yokal. — Rodgers always gets a free pass in his own back yard.
This picture is whats wrong with the NFL now. He is on his hands and knees putting his hard helmet right into the most vulnerable part of the players body. The NFL should take out helmet and pads and play the game like they used to, like rugby. Wear a scrumcap at most, these kind of injuries and alot of others are being caused by the helmet. It would be a lot safer, tackling would be a lot better and it would be a lot tougher.
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Completely agree. Only thing I’d say is have players wear some form of eye protection since hands go flying towards faces all the time. Otherwise though, head injuries and most injuries in general will go down. Many players don’t wear leg pads anymore, so when players like Elam hit them full force with shoulder pads, they get hurt. Get rid of the equipment that has been turned into weapons and the injuries will go down. The NFL won’t do it though, because as much as they and the media deem it “unacceptable” it’s only because they are being sued and would care less about the barbaric play otherwise.
“Rodgers should tell it to Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy…”
I think you’re missing the point, bud. It’s not about whether it was a legal hit. If it was, Rodgers woulda been gripin’ to the official about the lack of a flag, instead of jawing at Elam, wouldn’t he?
But that’s okay. You go ahead and try to twist this into something different from what it actually is. You guys are good at that, especially when it comes to creating something out of nothing.
Which reminds me, isn’t it time for another blog entry telling me how I’m supposed to be so passionately upset a team nickname?
At least Rodgers was upgraded to grill class.
Rodgers is just proving he has his team in mind with his comments!
Rip on Rodgers? SB MVP and MVP, How is your QB doing!!
Legal hit, unfortunate result. That’s the NFL these days. Deal with it or stop watching. I’m slowly moving to the stop watching category.
Elam really only hurt his team with that tackle. Look at the picture and notice how loose the ball is at the point of impact. If he hits him in his midsection, it’s an imcomplete pass and Packers don’t convert that 3rd down play.
If it had been Suh, it would have been a dirty hit.
Ask Rodgers if he is willing to eliminate offensive players taking out the knees of defensive players. Shut up Rodgers. It was a legal hit.
The guy just injured Rodger’s “go to” receiver, of course he was upset. I think everyone who reasonably looks at this (including Rodgers) doesn’t blame Elam for the injury, but he got caught up in the moment and I’m sure he still felt passionately about it after the game. I’ll bet if they ask him today he will have a different answer.
Packers WIN a HUGE game and all the psycho frustrated JEALOUS Packer Haters come out of the woodwork. Ravens played dirty because Harbaugh was trying to help his brother and maim the Packers skill players. Peter King said today on the Dan Patrick Show that NY Giants WR Hakeem Nicks is available for a 5th round pick. I already put in a call to Ted Thompson this morning and told him what Peter King said. Imagine the Packers with a healthy WR corps AND Hakeem Nicks. PLUS A REAL RUNNING GAME ? LETHAL ! GO PACK GO !
orivar says: Oct 14, 2013 12:59 PM
I’d like to see Rodgers play defense once in his life, then he can talk about ‘vantage points’
____
NFCCG 2010. Tackled Urlacher.
____
NFCCG 2010. Trips up Urlacher but touche.
Basically, the tackle could have been easily clean and without injury if he would have hit a bit higher… I get the issue that a defender is limited to were he can hit, but he could have hit Cobb without drawing a flag… and without injuring Cobb… It all happens so fast, the hit was legal, however legal or not, the hit was obviously intended for his knees which is the problem that Rodgers had.
Amazing the vitriol from fans whose knees and brains are planted safely on the couch whenever a player or coach (or commissioner) makes a comment about player safety. Personally, I find Rodgers’ perspective interesting and thats that. It seems to me hard enough for defenders these days to make legal hits during a high speed game but well, he knows more about football than I do so I’d just leave it at that.
On a separate note, I want to say that the stadium and the fans in Baltimore were just great. I had my Packer gear on and the fans were friendly, knowledgable and gracious. Some back and forth ribbing during the game was ongoing but the place rocks. Thank you Baltimore! IT’S THIRD DOWN!!!
I WILL, I WILL…
What, you want him to hit him high? Why not just broadcast 7 on 7 drills or just offensive practice? That’s basically what the NFL is becoming.
ok, idiots, and David u too, rodgers is not saying that hitting the knees is not legal, he is saying if u have the choice why not him in the middle, it’s called common sense and not to try and injure. just because the 12 wants to pick up for his guy, some idiots blow it out of proportion, what’s new, jealousy and envy, go pack
justintuckrule says: Oct 14, 2013 1:22 PM
If he goes for the midsection at the same time Cobb drops his head and makes contact…wheeeep (whistle) 15 yd penalty.
Pro football is dead. The attorney who represents the class of knee injured players will make a fortune
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The attorney certainly will. Especially since the NFL has virtually ordered players to go for knees, because they don’t have long term consequences (false, chronic back, leg, pelvic pain is the fate for many people with horrible knee injuries, but let’s ignore that). The NFL will be on the hook when the next lawsuit arises from former players suing over doctor bills and other issues related to their knees being blown out due to these stupid rules. I am tired of guys — not even talking about this Elam hit anymore — who make perfect tackles and the officials wait until the yahoos on the sideline throw up their play sheets, flail their towels and jump up and down begging for a call on an otherwise perfectly legal hit, but only flagging it because it was a big hit and the guy stays down. It is embarrassing to watch what has happened to this league in my 30 years of watching it.
allday28mvpmvp says:
Oct 14, 2013 1:22 PM
Rodgers does not look good this year.
Somehow Matt Cassel has more touchdowns in his past 2 games than Rodgers has in his last 3.
Now with his 2 best recievers hurt, look for the Packers to begin a losing streak. Looks like Chicago and Detroit will battle it out for the NFC North
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Um….Look at GBs opponents vs. MNs opponents over the last two games….
The new rules have made it tough on everyone.
Receivers now have their knees at risk more, DB’s now have there bank accounts at risk more.
Blame the competition committee.
Leave Rodgers alone! He suffered too much smoke inhalation from riding in Grill Class.
Maybe I am getting really old now. But, when I was younger, every coach taught to tackle low. You may bounce off the upper body or mid-section, but the ball carrier can’t go anywhere without his legs. Wrap up the legs and hold on. That is what was considered a good form tackle for decades.
This is exactly why the players need to be protected from themselves with all of the rules. Many players have come out and said they would rather take the head hit and concussion than the knee hit because “it will cost them money”. They don’t care if they will be vegetables in 20 years and committing suicide and leaving their many kids fatherless. They want the money now. To hell with their brains later.
Why so many Vikings fans on here posting sarcastic comments ?? Oh Yeah, they don’t have a pro team in Minnesota anymore ! lol.
Go post your crap on Vikings news articles. You keep grabbing free agent Packers thinking you’ll get better, but it doesn’t happen man ! Chew on that.
emperorzero says: Oct 14, 2013 1:11 PM
I get why he’s pissed, but what’s a defender suppose to do?
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Keep his head up so he can see what he’s hitting, wrap up and drive through the torso of the ball carrier.
Was that a trick question?
Matt Elam lied to Aaron’s face. He said he wouldn’t go low on Randall before the game. Poor Aaron Rodgers.
baltimoresnativeson says: Oct 14, 2013 2:02 PM
The new rules have made it tough on everyone.
Receivers now have their knees at risk more, DB’s now have there bank accounts at risk more.
Blame the competition committee.
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Packers fan here, You are right on the money !
Maybe Elam could have gone higher but he’s paid to tackle and the knee area is legal straight on. What’s a guy supposed to do. Yeah Rodgers was pissed but probably more so because he just lost one of his “go to” guys. It happened and it will happen over and over until there is so many knee injuries caused in this manner the rules committee has to do something about it. As of right now, they are thinking it’s not as bad an injury to Cobb as it could have been.
Rodgers should perform the dicount double check everytime before he opens his mouth. He is one of the biggest whiners in the league. It’s a contact sport Aaron. Sometimes people get hurt.
Stop whining. The hit was legal. If you saw the replay it was a shoulder not his head. The defensive players are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Were it not for two very bad rookie coaching mistakes AR would be complaining about losing. Harbs and Caldwell handed GB the game
xxsweepthelegxx says:
Oct 14, 2013 1:09 PM
Proper tackling is dead. If defenders aren’t trying to be highlighted on “jacked up” they are throwing their shoulders into knees/lower extremeties.
Although Rogers can be very whiney, I agree with his point. He had plenty of time to eye up Cobb and wrap tackle him just like he was taught in peewee. Defenders are just as whiney as the high profile offensive players
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jacked up was discontinued in 2006 and since then the NFL has done everything they possible could to take away big hits from the game, even clean ones. So this is exactly what they’re going to get, blown out ACL’s instead of concussions, they gotta pick their poison.
…says Clay Matthews’ teammate?
I’d like to understand why it wasn’t a fumble. Cobb released the ball way before he hit the ground.
Go to WR?… WHERE? the packers go to WR is in Minnesota. Cobb and James are STILL roll players and Nelson makes a decent #2 WR. Rodgers problem is his O-line. He’s going to get killed
For the idiots talking about cut blocks. The target area is the thigh not the knees. The line movement is at a much slower speed than when a receiver is running a route. Compare apples to apples.
taosravenfan says:
Oct 14, 2013 2:35 PM
Stop whining. The hit was legal. If you saw the replay it was a shoulder not his head. The defensive players are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Were it not for two very bad rookie coaching mistakes AR would be complaining about losing. Harbs and Caldwell handed GB the game
0 0
Report comment. Can’t wait wait for your Vintage wine(sic) when it happens to one of yours and it’s bound to. I don’t wish it on any player, but wish player injuries could be beamed to morons like you. Your tune and Vintage would be very sour.
Ok, clearly Rodgers is getting emotional here. He has lost two of his top Wrs. He is upset.
Why don’t defensive players hit in the mid section? If I were playing defense I’d rather hit the mid section instead of their knees. I think aiming at the knees could sometimes back fire; like getting hit in the head.
For all the people saying he had plenty of space to him, how many times have you seen a guy get hit a guy legally and still get a flag. Defensive players in this era of the NFL are damned if they do damned if they don’t The only way to make this completely fair which is a ridiculous idea is no more running after the catch, but that is just stupid I just don’t know how with all the “safety issues” they are working around how defensive players are supposed to hit someone.
Hey Mr Rogers remember that cheap shot that Al Harris took at Petersons knee ???
tonyc920 says: Oct 14, 2013 2:25 PM
baltimoresnativeson says: Oct 14, 2013 2:02 PM
The new rules have made it tough on everyone.
Receivers now have their knees at risk more, DB’s now have there bank accounts at risk more.
Blame the competition committee.
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Packers fan here, You are right on the money !
Maybe Elam could have gone higher but he’s paid to tackle and the knee area is legal straight on. What’s a guy supposed to do. Yeah Rodgers was pissed but probably more so because he just lost one of his “go to” guys. It happened and it will happen over and over until there is so many knee injuries caused in this manner the rules committee has to do something about it. As of right now, they are thinking it’s not as bad an injury to Cobb as it could have been.
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Much was talked about his morning about Rodgers’ comment and the hit on Milwaukee and GB radio.
It’s just frustration on Aaron’s part.
Packers broadcaster Wayne Larivee even said there was nothing wrong with it whatsoever….and when you add the fact that virtually anything above the belt is getting flagged, I can’t blame anyone for going low these days. You watch a game and wonder why this doesn’t happen more often and why guys don’t go after knees more. And those of you talking about cut blocks….they will be gone within the next 5 years.
The Ravens oline handed Green Bay the game. Try run blocking even a little. AJ Hawk with 3 sacks? I think he doubled his career total in one game. There are bigger issues in Baltimore than Harbs and Caldwell.
Rodgers doesn’t know much about tackling. He sure does like to give his unsolicited advice though.
Matt Kneelam was just issuing payback for someone taking out Jacoby Jones knee in wk 1. Someone should have reminded him it was his own teammate.
Too often the defensive player will try to tackle the midsection and the receiver instinctively lowers themselves at the same times leading to a helmet hit and a penalty.
I do not like seeing players get hit in the knees, but understand while defenders are going lower.
linemanguy74 says: Oct 14, 2013 3:01 PM
Hey Mr Rogers remember that cheap shot that Al Harris took at Petersons knee ???
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Cheap shot? No more so than this play.
Take your lard a$$ out on the field (after you lose a solid 80 to 100 pounds) and go try to tackle Adrian Peterson…go high on him and tell me how that works out for you. Funny how when anyone goes low, it’s dirty…anyone near the head…it’s dirty. John Randle was one of the dirtiest players in history, but you conveniently forgot about that…shocking.
Back to your coffee and 3rd donut….and you were a lineman like 23 years and 3 shirt sizes ago, number 74.
And quit trolling Packerhreads if you’re gonna whine about anyone on a Viking thread too.
The “Proper hitting zone” is anywhere below the shoulders. And there is no such thing as “going too low”.
Outside of a few intelligent comments the rest of you are just vindictive punks.
As for the hit, are we to the point where players should be flagged/fined for asking for a penalty? How many times on Sunday did a receiver get up after a incomplete pass and look for a or ask for a flag? Like the flop rule in Basketball or diving in Soccer, players acting to get flags and calls is borderline out of control.
While I understand Rodger’s frustration the league has made it so difficult for def players that you can’t blame Elam for what happened…..and thats coming from a Packer fan.
I like seeing a QB stand up for his guys, and we were all upset to see Cobb get hurt. But the tackle in no way looked bad to me. Just something that happens in a very violent collision sport, like the Raven who took a knee to the side of his head from Kuhn.
On the other hand, the ref giving Lang a penalty for pushing Elam away from Rodgers was wrong.
People need to understand that Aaron Rodgers is a big whiny baby. Once that is understood everything will make sense.
Its a shame he went down. Dirty, I don’t know. But expect to continue seeing this kind of thing. The league is forcing defenders to go lower and lower.
You know what is so funny, is that all of you loser zero haters would KILL to have Aaron Rodgers as your teams QB. LMAO ! GO PACK GO ! Rodgers doesn’t have to put up Peyton Manning numbers any more . Packers have a running game and are beginning to balance the offense.
Does Elam’s sister have a Twitter account? If not, maybe Greg Jenning’s sister could tweet harsh remarks for Rodgers on her behalf,
Sorry the guy got hurt, but this is football. This kind of stuff happens. And I certainly hope Elam’s intentions weren’t to hurt the guy, just stop him.
or he sould take it up with goodell. his rules changes has actually increased the number of lower body injuries.
Now that the concussion law suit has been settled, and with the effects of concussions well documented, this is a rule that really needs to change. You play football understanding the risks every time you take the field.
Having played football for over half my life, as both a running back and linebacker I’ve experienced a few concussions, and a bad knee injury.
I can tell you I’ll take a concussion any day. A week of headaches is a lot better that surgery and rehab. You can call that stupid, or disagree if you’d like, but I can guarantee that 90% of those who have played the game for any length of time would share my opinion.
I’d also put my money that cobb, (as well as any other player who suffered a serious knee injury in the nfl) would rather have taken a hit to the head.
You are paid a lot of money to play in the NFL that’s true, but you don’t have a very long time to make it. You can come back from a concussion, even a serious one in a few weeks no problem.
A knee injury is another story. You may never be the same player again, and that can be the difference between a multi million dollar contract extension, or insurance sales after your 4th year in the league.
I still thing egregious head hunting should be penalized and flagged, but you tackle with your shoulders, and your shoulders are pretty damn close to your head, so helmet to helmet hits are nearly unavoidable especially at NFL speeds. thats why they wear helmets and face-masks.
This rule needs to change….
How is this any different than cut blocks? Those are legal too.
I don’t like the hit as well but that’s what the league wants now, if you hit up top you get fined, the NFL wants the defenders to take out knees now, NFL no fun league, 10 yrs it will be flag football, Goodell is a disgrace to the league
Elam had to make the tackle to stop Cobb from getting a 1st down. He did his job. And, it was a legal hit. End of story.
@titansbro
It’s a lot different than a cut block. With a cut block you hit low with much less power, speed and momentum.
It’s the difference of hitting someone who is less than a foot away from you in under a second VS getting a running start and and hitting with much more force.
Force = Mass x Acceleration. More speed equals more force and a much greater chance for injury.
Like another article said, it is “darned if you do, darned if you don’t.” This is a very fast game, and as long as you aren’t intentionally going for a guy’s head or chop blocking him when he’s engaged with another player, or some other cheap shot, I don’t think you can fault a defender for making a tackle. With good form, you make contact with your shoulder pads, wrap with your arms, and and drive through. The lower you go, the more likely that is to be effective. With a running back, you better take him out at the knees because if you try doing a waist tackle or a thigh tackle, he is going to keep his legs moving and still gain yards.
With all the calls for helmet to helmet, players are going to start to go low. Even you think you hit the guy with proper technique, if your helmet just gets close to his, and his head jerks, it will be a flag. I have seen that too many times. Recievers duck when they are being hit, which makes it even harder to hit your zone. Even the announcers started saying that we will be seeing more knee injuries because of all of the fines and penalties from the higher hits.
I just read that Goodell and company have amended the tackling rule as follows:
NFL (Faux) Amended Tackling Rule 2.1.02(a):
” Beginning with all games played after October 13, 2013, When a defender tackles an opposing teams player in the open field while he is carrying the football (“the ball carrier”), the defender is only permitted to strike the ball carrier with the top-most portion of the defender’s shoulder pad at a location on the ball carrier’s body between a point even with or above the lowest hanging portion of the ball carrier’s scrotum (“the nut sack”) and a point even with or below the ball carrier’s umbilicus (“the belly button” or “navel”). This area shall be designated as the hit zone. The penalty for violation of this rule is 15 yards for a first offense and $50,000 for all subsequent offenses.Notwthstanding the aforegoing, any defender who otherwise strikes the ball carrier at a location within the hit zone but in that “special” location that makes all tv viewers wince when you see it on America’s Funniest Home Videos, is also in violation of the rule.”
Come on man, this is freakin’ football. When it gets to the point where you can’t tackle a guy head on by hitting him in his legs, football will be done.
NFL fines players for hitting high – I would too if I was a DB. NFL would rather guys have no legs than sue them for head injuries.
I guess I would rather lose my knees than my head.
The whole thing that Rodgers is talking about is that Elam intentionally took a cheap shot on Cobb. Nothing more, nothing less. Elam could have used proper tenique in his tackling, instead Elam aimed for Cobb’s knee.
Proper technique? I’m a Packers fan and even I am calling horse hockey on that one. Proper technique means going low, using your shoulder pads, wrapping up, and driving through. This is football: injuries are going to happen.
jacktheraven says:
Oct 14, 2013 4:23 PM
Elam had to make the tackle to stop Cobb from getting a 1st down. He did his job. And, it was a legal hit. End of story.
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Until it happens to your team and then the Mondavi’s will have a competitor in wine production…. Typical raven homer response.
Waaaaa
Rogers wasn’t upset when Dirty-one took out AP’s knee….funny how the tables are turned…..RAAHGERS!
bajagopher: Your post has spawned the most amazing scores I have ever seen on this site. As I write this, the “ups” are 484 and the “downs” are 486. I have never seen such a large, not to mention close response from fans since I have been a viewer here…Very interesting.
oldhuskerfan says:
Oct 14, 2013 1:43 PM
If it had been Suh, it would have been a dirty hit.
Dam right he would have been fined. Probably suspended a few games this time!lol I have no love for the Pack or Rodgers, but I like what he did here, he thought it was a low hit and his player was injured because of it, so he told Elam how he felt about the situation. I would expect nothin less in that situation. But anyone who watches football regularly, knows perfectly well why Elam went so low. He is rookie, in a close competitive game, trying to make a play. But because of these new rules being implemented, and the on and off field penalties for players looking guilty of possibly breaking them, the players are changing the way they play the game to avoid the unfair punishments. Not only will you get a 15 yard add on for an illegal hit, but they will hit you with a fat fine too, just to prove their point. To make the game safer by making this a top priority , and to fine players for football plays that are sometimes unavoidable, just to make themselves look better to the concussion litigators. How is it that they can punish players twice for the same offense? Especially an on the field penalty, being punished agin off the field. This does not seem fair by any stretch of the imagination. Defense is supposed to play hard and physical and impose their will on the offense, so they don’t get into a rhythm and get comfortable. That’s how I was taught to play defense. That has been the mentality of all the great defenses in NFL history. The Nfl is being changed, slowly but surely, into something that will have very little in common with the NFL we have grown up watching. Players are not going to risk an illegal hit, so they are beginning to play slower, less aggressive, and unsure of whether or not to trust their reflexes and football instincts, because at any time they can be penalized and punished even if the refs “think ” that a hit was illegal. The way the sport was designed, was a very dangerous, brutal thing to watch. They realized this rather quickly and began to change certain aspects to make it less barbaric. They added pads and helmets and things like that. Very small amounts of protection, but they managed with these for quite some time. They have been working on safety and how to make the sport less dangerous ever since. The big push that we are seeing now, is the Nfl tryin to cover itself and look good for the families involved , by implementing new rules and consequences to the league. If The rules are broken or if the refs even think that they may have seen an illegal hit, they can and are told to call it even if it is only suspected. They are trying to give the impression of a top priority , safety first agenda. In order to convey the seriousness of this new rule to players, they not only penalize them during the game , but they are also fined ,and made out to be dirty players. If a player is penalized twice in his career, he is automatically classified as a repeat offender. If there is any questionable play involving the repeat offender, he will be assumed guilty and not be given any benefit of doubt. This is slowly but surely being turned into an entity that will bear no resemblance to the nfl we have grown accustomed to. These new regulations are just the beginning of the changes that will ultimately turn the game into the opposite of what made it such a popular american pastime. The players will eventually lose their passion for the game and begin to play for personal accomplishments such as money, awards, and fame. The team concept will become irrelevant, and the unity and sportsmanship that were so important will be forgotten. The fans will not stay loyal for very long, and will lose interest. They will remember the qualitys that made the nfl so great, perseverance, unity, and hope. If we continue to let these nfl dictators make rules and punishments based on opinions and judgement calls, football as we know it is doomed. The game is changing, and I don’t think we are going to like the outcome.
This is going to be an ongoing thing. Defensive players can’t hit WR’s in the head right after a catch. Quite often a WR will drop their head, naturally, to protect themselves so even if you are aiming at the chest/mid area you could still get dinged. I’ve seen it happen.
So now there are more shots to the knees, which often result in “worse” injuries in terms of time missed and career length. But the NFL is more worried about head injuries that can lead to shortened lives of players and lawsuits. Leg injuries won’t lead to that later.
I kind of feel where Rodgers is coming from though. When All Day’s knee got jacked up a couple years back it was annoying to me because AP was stood up and a player came in from the side and went low. He could have just as easily blown him up high, or went for a strip.
But you can’t blame a defensive player for doing it really. It is more of a rules change that you can debate. Or you can call them “dirty” but I doubt the dude will lose sleep over it.
orivar says:
Oct 14, 2013 12:59 PM
“I’d like to see Rodgers play defense once in his life, then he can talk about ‘vantage points’”
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I’d like to see an internet tough guy play QB once in his life with guys like Suggs/Suh/Peppers/Allen chasing you….
Rodgers is just lucky he doesn’t have to play against Hines Ward, the all-time dirtiest-cheap- shot player to ever put on an NFL jersey.
Is there anything this guy doesn’t feel entitled to remark on? Ravens defenders? McCarthy’s playcalling? Mark Sanchez photoshoots? Pro Bowl performance? baseball player drug tests? Can someone shut this spoiled baby up already?