“The League Is Messing Up The Game”
November 20th, 2014
Do the Bucs have Roger Goodell to thank for their fast start Sunday?
Lost in the Danny Lansanah interception to open the Bucs’ beating of Washington was a missed sack, a very heinous play — by blitzing Lavonte David.
Watching that, you’d never believe David is All-Pro material.
Speaking tonight on Hawk Radio (aka the Dashon “Hawk” Goldson show on the Buccaneers Radio Network) Hawk explained how David took a lot of grief on the sidelines for that screwup. And, per Hawk, David said he pulled up because he thought Robert Griffin, III, might have thrown the ball and he was afraid to be penalized.
That take from David frustrated Hawk, who often has been penalized in past years by the NFL for illegal hits. “The league is messing up the game,” he said.
Joe agrees with Hawk, but a look at the video (click above) shows David really had no excuse or reason to be fearful. He just lost focus.
But it was a good thing. The rare David choke job help turn the game in the Bucs favor in a matter of seconds.
Thanks, Roger Goodell!
November 20th, 2014 at 8:58 pm
JOE, If you had to take a guess do you think Lavonte suits up this sunday? I swear today was his first practice he’s ever missed as a buccaneer. We need him on the field against the Bears. Arguably our best player on the team, though GMC has a good argument for him self being the best player. I know its a hamstring injury, PLEASE FOOTBALL GODS LET LAVONTES HAMMY HEAL
November 20th, 2014 at 9:02 pm
he is correct…the league (Godell) has DESTROYED the game and it is only going to get worse…if it was not for gambling and fantasy football (same thing) more people would watch a Seinfeld rerun
November 20th, 2014 at 9:05 pm
I completely disagree. Does not look like he lost focus. Looks exactly like what he said that he thought RG3 threw the ball and pulled up. That lost focus bit is pure nonsensical conjecture.
November 20th, 2014 at 9:11 pm
How about the fact that ever since david was penalized for pushing Geno smith out of bounds game one last season, I’ve seen guys TACKLING QB’s and runners while they were going out of bounds and no flags….NONE!!!!!! The league is destroying the integrity of the sport. There is absolutely ZERO consistency to the officiating and it has for sure taken a LOT of interest and emotion out of the league for me personally. Of coarse I still watch but now it’s gotten so out of hand that it’s not even surprising to see bad calls 5-7-9 times a game. Unfortunately it is a trickle down effect from lawsuits and lawyers etc…Just like Doctors. They are always getting sued so they charge more and take action where they can. The league has to be worried about being sued for someone getting they’re head cracked so they create all these rules to make it seem as if they are doing everything in they’re power to make the game safer. When all they are really doing is covering they’re asses. Hockey has become one of my new favorite sports to watch being the officiating is pretty fair and realistic for the most part. The human element is always there but the NFL has taken it way to far. But do they really have a choice???
November 20th, 2014 at 9:21 pm
Not only is Roger Goddell the worst commisioner in the history of the NFL, he is the worst commissioner in the history of any sport (at least since I’ve been alive). A lot of people like to argue that point with citing how the league is more popular than ever. However, the truth of the matter is the league is more popular than ever despite him being the commissioner. Unless he invented fantasy football, gambling, and social media, he hasn’t done anything. Everything he does is a PR move – just a way for him to save face. He hands down punishments without all the evidence. He has implemented the most ridiculous set of rules, basically trying to make a contact sport into a sport old ladies can play. He has essentially eliminated defense from the game, and made defenders scared to hit offensive players for fear of a ridiculous fine and/or suspension. Add that to the Ray Rice scandal and his obvious lack of genuine concern over domestic abuse, and you have a terrible excuse for a commissioner. It’s gotten to the point now where he’s just a joke, and I laugh at him trying to save face and suspending Adrian Peterson (while only initially giving Rice 2 games). The game will be much better off once he’s gone.
November 20th, 2014 at 9:23 pm
The reason the officiating sucks is because there are so many damn ridiculous rules implemented by the Warden. Not to mention the fact that NFL officials aren’t even full time workers (what an absolute joke). I yell and scream at them each week, but in reality, they aren’t to blame. It’s no coincidence that officiating was so much better before all these insane rules were put into place.
November 20th, 2014 at 9:39 pm
NFL Network asked Richard Sherman if he could play WR.
His answer : Of course I can, I mean we can’t even barely touch receivers these days…he said with a chuckle.
November 20th, 2014 at 9:41 pm
I love it when they boo Goodell during the NFL draft every time he walks to the podium. That just speaks volumes.
November 20th, 2014 at 10:29 pm
Why do people think Goodell is changing the game? He’s not. The thousands of former players suing the NFL are changing the NFL.
It’s called a corporation covering it’s azz against future lawsuits.
November 20th, 2014 at 10:39 pm
I’d prefer that he show caution versus his mental meltdown at the end of that jets game last year
November 20th, 2014 at 10:54 pm
“Messing up the game” is right. More like RUINING the game. Goodell is absolutely the worst commish ever. So many games are now decided by the officials and their “judgement” calls its ridiculous. So SICK of seeing great hits – LEGAL hits being penalized – even when there is no helmet contact at all. WTF?? Wish there was some type of recourse the fans of NFL had to keep this from happening. Nobody likes these new pansy-ass rules. Fans don’t – players don’t – coaches don’t… But Goodell doesn’t care that he is ruining the game. Who the hell put this asshat in charge with King-like powers over America’s favorite game?
November 20th, 2014 at 11:15 pm
Nice to know at least ONE other person here knows whats really going on…
November 20th, 2014 at 11:20 pm
I disagree that he had no reason to be fearful. The reason he was fearful has a lot to do with the bogus penalty that Mark Barron received a couple of years ago on the same QB, who was actually running on said play. It was flagged as unnecessary roughness although he had tucked the ball and began to run. While still a QB rather than a ball carrier, David was likely scared of similar repercussions.
November 21st, 2014 at 12:07 am
While I think it’s dumb to think lavonte David actually flaked backed to a penalty from two years ago, I do think goodell destroying the league, if they were being fair at all on both sides of the ball then Griffen would have been flagged for launching at a player after he the the interception and gotten fines look that would have been the most awesome pile on to his horrible week
November 21st, 2014 at 5:25 am
I wasn’t aware that the owners handed over the ‘rules’ to the commish. It has always been, and I believe still is, in the hands of the competition committee to decide if new rules are needed or old ones done away with. The competition committee was always made up of owners/GMs. IIRC, Rich McKay was the head of that committee for many years.
As far as the officials being part-time, if you knew how many hours, per week, that officials were away from their families (flights/games/game-tape/game notes/meetings/conference calls/etc), it might not look like a part-time job. If the league were to ‘force’ officials to be exclusive, they would lose a lot of the better officials.
I’m not saying it’s perfect, by any stretch, but it is still the best way to go.
November 21st, 2014 at 7:35 am
Celly, there are three of us here who really understand what is going on but Snook said it first and said it best.
The NFL was a gladiator sport. The new rules are simply prolonging it’s ultimate demise.
November 21st, 2014 at 8:06 am
I agree Goddell is messing up the game.
November 21st, 2014 at 9:30 am
First off, yes I thought the same thing when David pulled off the sack. But he should know, as I do, that if the QB is an active participant in a play such as this, he is within the rules of the game to tackle him.
But what a bunch of moronic comments follow.
W the reason Barron got flagged was because he “pile drove” RG into the ground by lifting him up and driving him into the ground. This is illegal to do to any ball carrier. I knew it when I saw it sitting in the stands watching the game.
Now if I know it is illegal and I am just a fan, why is it that a professional playing the game doesn’t.
The answer is simple. Because he is either ignorant or stupid.
Now don’t you feel the same way. Probably not.
The reason it is illegal is because it is an action that is designed to permanently injure or disable a player with malicious intent. Once in the air on such a play, the player is unable to protect or defend themselves from harm.
Hawk, thank you for your intelligent post which unfortunately will never change the minds of most of the morons out here who would also like to bring back the clothesline and horse collar tackle.
As I have suggested before to those who feel the game isn’t violent enough to suit their tastes, try bull fighting.
November 21st, 2014 at 9:35 am
A new football league with the old rules could take off now…..someone make it happen.
November 21st, 2014 at 9:48 am
LOL, I thought I was done until I read what Biff Barker said which in essence, really identifies what type of people those of you are by comparing yourselves to the heartless, senseless Romans who enjoyed watching gladiators permanently injure or kill each other in front of merciless blood thirsty inhumane spoiled idiots.
Even the class distinctions are apparent between the fans and the players. The large majority of the (gladiators) players come from poor socieo economic backgrounds while the large majority of the fans (roman citizens) come from a higher economic background.
The only difference is after a couple of years the players become much better off than the fans which I am sure angers the lot of you despite the fact you believe in capitalism, the American way, mom and apple pie.
Thank you for coming out of the closet Biff and identifying your group as to who you really are.
November 21st, 2014 at 4:58 pm
The league is messing up the game but it’s not only Goodell that is responsible for the current state of the NFL. Those that are blaming former players for suing the NFL because they suffered life altering injuries are missing the real issue. The players aren’t suing because they suffered injuries that have lowered the quality of life it’s that the league lied to them about the potential of playing football after suffering concussions and then actively discredited studies that indeed showed that there are indeed long term ramifications to multiple concussions.