Anyone catch Favre's cheap shot?

[Denver_Bronco]

I didn't see it live, but it sure is dirty.



Aug 31, 2009 11:53 pm EDT

Brett Favre throws a dirty block at Eugene Wilson's knees
By MJD

If you didn't see it for yourself on ESPN, take a look at this filthy little crackback block that Brett Favre(notes) threw at the knees of Texans safety Eugene Wilson(notes) in the third quarter of the Monday Night preseason game.


Yeah, he's like a little kid out there. Specifically, that little girl Esther in "Orphan."

Mike Tirico's right, that wasn't cool. It was dirty, is what it was, not to mention illegal. My kudos and thanks go to Tirico and Ron Jaworski for pointing it out and not using the kid gloves on the usually sacred Favre.

It's not the worst thing any of us have ever seen, but I cringe any time I see an NFL player do something that is both unnecessary and puts someone else in such danger. I know that it's a dangerous game, and physical plays have to be made, but this, in my view, doesn't fall into that category.

Favre didn't have to go that low. Favre didn't have to put Eugene Wilson's knees in jeopardy. Like Jaws said, that's a potential career-ender.

That said, though, even though I've made no secret of my disapproval of Favre's nonsense over the past couple of years, if this were someone else, I'd probably be way more upset about it. I'm not saying that it's okay, of course, but Favre's been a quarterback in the NFL for 83 years and I can't recall a single other incident of dirty play.

So I won't label him a dirty player. The man's history earns him the benefit of the doubt. Make no mistake, though, the play itself was dirty. Here's what the NFL rulebook says about the crackback block:

An offensive player who lines up more than two yards outside his own tackle or a player who, at the snap, is in a backfield position and subsequently takes a position more than two yards outside a tackle may not clip an opponent anywhere nor may he contact an opponent below the waist if the blocker is moving toward the ball and if contact is made within an area five yards on either side of the line. (crackback)

It was correctly called by the officials and resulted in a 15-yard penalty. Wilson limped off with a knee injury, the severity of which is unknown.



With video:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Brett-Favre-throws-a-dirty-block-at-Eugene-Wilso?urn=nfl,186324

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Let's see if the Commish has the balls to fine and/or suspend Farve for this. 

I'll bet that if it was John Madden calling the game, he would've praised Farve for putting his body on the line.   

[Brian Fein]

I thought the NFL instituted a "no diving a tthe QB's legs" rule this season.  But its OK for QB's to dive at other people's legs?  How about hitting a defenseless player?  This is the kind of thing defensive players get tagged for every week.

I expect Favre to get a hefty fine for this, especially if Wilson ends up injured long-term (his knee bent sideways, if he's not on IR, I'll be surprised).  Let's see if Goodell has the balls.

Favre should retire now if he wants to keep both of his legs.

[Dolphin-UK]

Bad Decision - Definately
Malicious - Probably Not
Cheap Shot - Probably Not
Blown out of Proportion because it's Favre - Almost Certainly

Not condoing the block, but I think if it was a no name QB on a no name player this wouldn't be gettign the same coverage.

Someone needs to coach Wilson to keep his head on a swivel, he didn't even see the block coming, regardless of how high it was.

[Phishfan]

^^^ I think you have to define Cheap Shot if you don't think it was one. It was clearly an illegal hit, so that makes it a cheap shot in my opinion.

[Brian Fein]

^^Respectfully disagree, UK.  He could have put a shoulder into Wilson's chest and laid him out and been just as effective, and not put his knees at risk.  Problem is, Favre doesn't want to sacrifice his shoulder.  If you don't wanna get hit you don't need to be blocking.  

I don't think he did it on purpose but I do think he should know better than to dive at anyone's knees.

[Sunstroke]

It was a cheap block...but one that happens in just about every football game. Not just from QBs, but smaller WRs do this a lot as well. He was caught doing it, fine him and punish him like you would any other player/position that gets caught doing it and move on.

Not sure which of the following statements is more accurate...

"People enjoy talking about Brett Favre"
or
"People enjoy talking about how they hate to talk about Brett Favre."

[Dolphin-UK]

Well, quite simply I define a cheap shot as deliberately trying to take something out on a player, whether thats trying to injure them or just trying to set up a big hit, but he just got it wrong.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

it was a cheap shot.  but it may very well have been due to farve not knowing how to block correctly (not exactly something QBs work on a lot) than him intending to injure. 

[fyo]

his knee bent sideways, if he's not on IR, I'll be surprised

Wilson thinks his knee is OK. "A bit sore, but OK" is what I've read him quoted as. The Texans have him listed as day-to-day.

The one thing that makes me think he's NOT seriously injured is that nobody's talking about an MRI.

[Defense54]

I just don't get this guy. 2 years ago he could have, should have retired and people around him would think he walked on water and turned blood into wine.  He was a GOD in Greenbay. He has so many records AND a ring.  Is he purposely trying to make people hate him ? Its almost like a fucking WWF script.  Crowd favorite Farve goes bad or something. 

[Dave Gray]

It was an illegal hit, for sure, but I don't think there was malicious intent.  It's a guy who's had a really long, clean career making a play that he's not used to making.

I consider a cheap shot as someone intentionally taking an advantage to cause damage.  This hit doesn't even have to be illegal, in my opinion.  I consider it a "cheap shot" to go after a QB that's not involved in the play, post interception.  While illegal now, it wasn't for a while, and you saw big guys take really hard shots on QBs.

[Defense54]

The guy is at the end of a very long succesful storied career. WTF is he even tackling anyone at this point in his career let along cheap shoting lineman? Its like he wants to throw his entire reputation down the shitter. I think he seriously needs a MRI of the Brain.

[Dave Gray]

The guy is at the end of a very long succesful storied career. WTF is he even tackling anyone at this point in his career let along cheap shoting lineman?

Because he's a player on the field, and the play was called.

I think it was a stupid call to make from the sidelines, because it risks Favre's health in a meaningless game.

[Defense54]

Because he's a player on the field, and the play was called.

I think it was a stupid call to make from the sidelines, because it risks Favre's health in a meaningless game.

I see QB's everyweek make blocks without trying to ruin someones career.