During ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown, the guys at the desk in Bristol agreed with Mike Vick’s argument that he doesn’t get calls that other quarterbacks get, when it comes to illegal hits. Tom Jackson was particularly indignant, quoting the rule and calling out “video!” for the visual evidence of an illegal hit on Vick that wasn’t flagged.
And then the scene shifted to Dallas, where ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer vehemently disagreed that Vick is being treated differently, showing video of a wicked helmet-to-helmet hit that Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan received last week from Eagles defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins. The hit drew no flag, but Jenkins eventually was fined $15,000.
It’s not just Ryan. Last week, Tom Brady’s knee was nearly caved in by Chargers defensive lineman Antonio Garay. Ben Roethlisberger took a pair of low hits, with only one flag thrown.
Thus, Vick is right when he says he’s not drawing flags for illegal hits. But he’s wrong when he implies that he’s being singled out or treated differently
And ESPN analysts (or any other analysts) who claim that Vick is being treated differently than other quarterbacks is every bit as wrong as Vick.
They’re even more wrong, since it’s not Vick’s job to pay attention to what’s happening to the 31 other teams.