The NFL has said that the Buccaneers’ decision to treat the kneel-down play that ended Sunday’s game against the Giants like it was fourth and goal in the Ice Bowl violates no rules. But the Giants’ reaction may have.
Lost in the threats/promises from guys like guard Chris Snee to retaliate against the Bucs in the future is the fact that the Giants already have retaliated.
When the Bucs lined up and fired off the ball, catching the Giants by surprise, Giants players started hitting and pulling and otherwise assaulting Bucs players after the play.
Zapruder-quality film of the incident shows center David Baas throwing a forearm to the head of linebacker Quincy Black after the play. Even worse, guard Kevin Boothe rolls defensive end Adrian Clayborn over and drops a knee into his chest.
Last week, Texans defensive end Antonio Smith was fined $21,000 for kicking the head of Dolphins guard Richie Incognito, whom Smith believed was doing something dirty to his leg. This week, the league office could be taking some money away from the team that believes (mistakenly) that it was victimized by the Bucs.
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