No fine for Coleman hit
The NFL is reviewing Kurt Coleman's hit on Austin Collie Sunday. Coleman said the referees made a good call.
No fine for Coleman hit
Jonathan Tamari
UPDATE:
The NFL will not fine Eagles safety Kurt Coleman for his hit on Austin Collie that knocked the Colts receiver out of Sunday's game, according to a league spokesman.
"Because the helmet-to-helmet contact was a result of Collie being driven toward Coleman by Mikell's legal hit, there will be no fine for this action," a statement read. "Though there will be no fine issues for this instance, the play was properly officiated. Officials have been instructed to err on the side of the player safety, and when in doubt, will penalize in situations such as this for unnecessary roughness."
FROM EARLIER:
The NFL is reviewing Kurt Coleman's hit on wide receiver Austin Collie Sunday, the league said.
Coleman, a rookie seventh-round draft pick, said the referees made a "good call," but said he has not yet heard from the league about the hit.
"They have a harder time out there than anybody," Coleman said for the referees. "I think the refs made the right call and that’s for the league to decide whether or not they’re going to fine me or whatever."
Coleman and fellow safety Quintin Mikell both hit Collie has he tried to bring in a pass, with Coleman drawing a penalty for hitting a defenseless receiver in the head. Coleman led with his shoulder and appeared to hit Collie's shoulder first. His helmet hit Collie's as he followed through. But the referees said they saw Coleman hit Collie in the head with his shoulder. They considered Collie a defenseless receiver because the pass was incomplete -- receivers are afforded that protection until they complete a catch and become a runner, the referees explained after the game. (There was some debate as to whether Collie had, in fact, caught the ball by the time of the hit, but the referees immediately ruled incomplete).
"I could see how the refs went through the play, because they were going by the rule," Coleman said. "It was just a freak accident the way it all went down."
Coleman said he prayed for Collie as the receiver lay on the ground. As a freshman at Ohio State, Coleman made a routine practice tackle that left a teammate paralyzed after the receiver hit his head on the ground. Coleman said he thought back to that moment, and prayed, as medical personnel examined Collie.
"I prayed for him. ... I said several prayers," Coleman said. "I kind of had a little bit of a flashback to my freshman year in college, but I didn’t want to think that negatively."
Earlier, head coach Andy Reid seemed to see both sides of the issue, defending his player, but saying the NFL was doing the right thing in trying to cut down on dangerous hits.
"I don't see what else he could have done differently," Reid said of Coleman.
"I’m behind what the league’s trying to do," Reid said. He later added, "In the heat of the battle, I can’t sit here and tell you that I’m the calmest guy in the world when I see those things. But when you step back and you look at it, I understand the big picture things."
Thanks Phil, fortunateson, crawl back into the test tibet hat you were born in!— phillynupe4- I watched both plays, this hit and the one the Ref called on Trent Cole to keep the Colts drive alive. I am one for clean play, but I have to say that these penalty calls were questionable. Ever since the strike a couple years ago, the officiating has been dubious.— junethe4th
- madaboutit, that's obviously what unfortunateson is upset about. Her cowgirls have completely imploded and fired their joke of a coach...sad.— TheCaptain18
- It aggrivated me to see the Eeagles defenders shying away from hitting the recievers after that call was made. They need to keep trying to seperate the ball from the reciever on contact, or they will lose a lot of pass plays that they could have potentially broken up. It looked like they shored that up in the second half though...— smithazz
- Absolutely not! If the NFL levies a fine for that play, it is time for flag football.— billtfla
- heard all week that the refs were being watched, well then they should get the wade phillips memo today also. national fraud league, wow thats kinda catchy— Onlineps2beast
- Even the announcers pointed out that the player made the catch then started to make a "football move" which by definition is not defenseless. Plus Collie was turning and was pushed into the path by a tackle. It was BS and the refs tried very hard to give the game to the Colts.— WCPhan
- I'm pretty steamed at that moronic submission by fortunateson....but calming down after reading that well reasoned very articulate response by Mckeevs 243. And lest we forget here: CONGRATULATIONS to everybody on the Iggles for that teriffic win yesterday. Between the refs and everybody on defense trying to make up for the lack of Peyton's "weapons" by continually extending drives with idiotic penalties.....well done!— TBear
- What a bunch of B.S. How can you have a legal, illegal hit? You can't have it both ways. No fine, then it was a legal hit. Which makes it a fumble and the Eagles ball. OH, almost forgot, the league office never says a referee made a mistake. AND what about the B.S. call on Trent Cole? Why do we have to beat the referee's and the other team every week? Both of those calls resulted in Colt T.D.'s.— craig123
Comment removed.- That was a legal hit. And I think that is a BS answer from the league on saying that it should have been a penalty. If you can't defend the middle of the field, guys like Manning will throw for 600 yards a game.— realzeel
- That was a legal hit. And I think that is a BS answer from the league on saying that it should have been a penalty. If you can't defend the middle of the field, guys like Manning will throw for 600 yards a game.— realzeel
- just dont get it, mikells legal hit causes collie to strike coleman, not the other way around. this is botchilism. They got this wrong in every way. the refs didnt get it right. its a fumble that the squad mighta ran back. cant wait to see the refs scumbag the bengals tonite vs pitt— Onlineps2beast
- Fortunateson is dumber than John McCain or Sarah Palin and that's saying something.........— boasocal
- It wasn't the right call. It was a freaking catch. If this wasn't a catch what is. Catch 2 steps, tuck, another step. Hit from Mikell, Hit from Coleman, then the ball is free. Collie then hits the ground.
If it was a personal foul they should have given them 15 yards from spot of the catch. Dont get me started on the Trent Cole penalty or even the one on Indys Brackens. New interpretation of the rules and the officials are clueless to call correctly. They better get this figured out before the playoffs.
The NFL, 5 BILLION a year in revenues and still use part time officials.— pking222
