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."
You can always count on at least one idiot Philly basher to post a moronic comment on this site.— vipers19- I know the ultimate goal is player safety, but I don't get the whole 'when in doubt, throw the flag.' Not only does it put laundry all over the field half of which isn't warranted, but in this case it went from being a legal hit and a fumble recovery, to a 15-yard penalty and eventual Colts score. Huge momentum changer just because the refs 'erred on the side of caution' and threw a flag just because the hit appeared violent. It's still football. Barely
- its football, you get paid to take that risk. soldiers risk their lives for less, so stop all the whining. even desean says its a part of the game... as for the play, heres the right call, catch, fumble, legal hit, eagles ball. refs tried their best to give game to mr. manning and the colts— TheKeeper
- If the NFL is serious about cutting down on injuries, it needs to get serious about the rampant use of steroids, HGH and other PEDs in the league. Pretty soon 400lb linemen will be the norm. This is insane.— p-diddy
Just like "political correctness" which overcompensated for perceived "wrongdoings and inadequacies", and resulted in the demise of common sense, the league officials are now overcompensating in frivolous contact calls. The attraction of football is contact! Protect the players, but don't ruin the sport!— dogman5- What really happened? Collie came down with possession and took 2 steps before being hit by Mikell with a legal hit which dislodged the ball and thus a fumble. Since Collie had put his head down, the resulting helmet collision with Coleman. The referee was then very late in stopping the play for an incomplete pass since he saw that Collie was down and needed medical attention, he decided to stop the play which would mean that he knew he had to change his call from a fumble (since the Eagles were running the ball back) which would have further delayed the medical attention to an incomplete pass. And, since Collie had put his head down as any fullback would do there wasn't anyway that Coleman could avoid the helmet contact so there shouldn't have been a penalty on that play (backed up by all of the Fox announcers). Two mistakes by the same ref on the same play. And as for that light tap on Manning's helmet, Trent Cole was being held on that play prior to the helmet tap. Where was the holding call against the Colt's and where was the penalty on the hit on Vick after he was out of bounds. Nothing! The Colt's are the NFL's darling club and will do anything to make sure they get to the Super Bowl for TV ratings.— steve69
- The guy caught it, took three steps., lowered his shoulder, clean hits, fumble......WTF !!!!!!— mmmike22
- Brian Dawkins wouldn't have been Brian Dawkins if he would have had to play his whole career under today's rules.— SteveS11
There should be a fine on that play-the official who called the pass incomplete in the first place. The league's statement is in error, that play was NOT properly officiated. On a side note, I was hoping Wade Phillips would get a long term contract.— OldNavySteamer- Can we borrow the Cowgirls punter? He seems pretty good and he has been practicing!— NYPHILLYPHAN
- Football is a contact sport. Go play golf if you dont like it.— 420-24-7
- Good call...we knew it when it happened.
The ref's overreacted trying to protect anyone who gets hit hard. Is this the WFL? Pleeez— SFGIANTSSUCK - anyone ever hear of incidental contact? These Ref's were clearly against giving Philly any of the calls. I think it's a conspiracy and the Ref's are in on it with the Bookies this is bigger than you think.— SFGIANTSSUCK
