Anatomy of a Helmet-to-Helmet Hit
Patriots Fined, Colts Not .. again
New England's Vince Wilfork was fined $15,000 for allegedly poking New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs in the eye. Yet, there have been no fines for Indianapolis special teamer Darrell Reid's vicious helmet-to-helmet hit on Tennessee's Chris Henry.
During the Patriots-Giants game, there was constant pushing, shoving and yelling from play-to-play (wasn't there supposed to be some kind of new "in-your-face / taunting" penalty this season?). After one play, Patriots linebacker Junior Seau was penalized for delay of game for allegedly holding down a Giants player after the play (that never gets called either -- just this once on the Patriots). During the ensuing pushing and shoving, Wilfork stuck a finger inside Jacobs's facemask.
Wilfork fielded a question about the incident on his website, and said:
After the hit, Reid danced around like Shawne Merriman and pointed at his name on his back. Real classy team player.
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Frame 1: Lining up the hit. -- Colts coverage tackler 6-foot, 2-inch, 288-pound Darrell Reid (95) lines up 5-11, 230-pound Titans kick returner Chris Henry (42). You can see Reid getting in position. |
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Frame 2: Getting low; bracing for impact. -- Reid gets his upper body low. Henry checks up, anticipating the hit. |
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Frame 3: Lowering the head. -- Reid lowers his helmet. Both arms are pinned back, not exactly going for the wrap tackle. |
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Frame 4: Before the hit. -- Reid leads with his helmet. |
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Frame 5: Initial impact. -- Reid's head is in the center of Henry's body. This is not a shoulder hit. This is clearly leading with the helmet, and if Reid is not purposely going helmet-to-helmet, he's beyond the shadow of a doubt spearing. |
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Frame 6: Getting the facemask. -- Note the back of Henry's helmet lifting, exposing his neck and hair. That's from Reid's helmet smashing into Henry's facemask. |
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Frame 7: Head snap. -- Henry's head starts to snap back from the impact of a helmet-to-helmet hit. If Reid hits Henry in the chest with either his head or his shoulder, Henry's head would snap forward. |
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Frame 8: Just a blur. -- Henry's head snaps back at such speed that his head is just a blur. Note: Reid lowered his helmet so low that you can see Reid's name on his jersey above his helmet. Neither shoulder touched Henry. |
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Frame 9: Before the hit. -- Both players are fully off the ground. Reid "launched" himself at Henry. That's illegal too. |