2018 NFL off-season thread: Mr. Alex Smith goes to Washington

That is a disgrace. I truly hope some semblance of reason will return once the regular season begins.

 

Defenses should just lay down, make exaggerated effeminate slapping moves instead of tackles and let there be a TD on every play.

 

On the other hand, this is getting me excited for the season. I've completely lost interest in football over the last couple of seasons, but if the NFL is going to implode I'll be entertained.

 

He pulled his head completely to one side of the QB, avoiding contact. His outstretched right arm reaches across the QB's chest, and he essentially pushes him backward to the turf with one arm... and they call it roughing the passer?

That's just awful.

 

There's bad calls, there's questionable calls, and then there's whatever the hell that was. I've watched that play a dozen times and all it does is make me more outraged and baffled every time I see it. Supposedly the penalty was for driving the QB to the ground, when the rule says you have to sort of "roll off" him once you hit him. This is turning into a farce.

Vikings flagged for new roughing the passer rule on questionable play, freaking everyone out

 

I'm not saying it's a great call - but there was enough there to indicated the quarterback was being driven to the ground. FWIW, the refs should call it both ways and start blowing the whistle dead anytime a QB is touched. You don't get the benefit of protection without giving something up - I'd say as soon as someone has an arm on you and is dictating your movement.
A qb stiff arms a guy? He's fine. Someone has a hold of his jersey or his arm or leg, blow the whistle.

 

That isn't a change they made, which is part of the problem. Also, it would really screw things up for some of the league's top quarterbacks.

 

I cribbed this from Mushnick, what the hell?

 

Great! Now nerds are ruining football!

 

That's a stupid question -- everyone knows Matt Ryan's completed pass's exit velocity was way high.

 

Driven to the ground or tackled? In order for the down to conclude the ball carrier, the qb, in this case, must have a part of his body other than hands or feet touch the ground. He was tackled. He was taken to the ground. That’s the rule. I did not see the QB surrender before being hit. He did not down the ball. He did not willfully fall to the ground And the refs who threw the flag and refused to pick it up violated the rule on concluding a play by tackling.

 

I don't know how anybody can defend that call.