ICYMI – NFL WEEK 2
By: Howard Fendrich
Associated Press
It is not the case that an NFL player is suspended or deactivated because of – or kept around despite – a pending criminal case each and every day. Just seems that way lately. And the futures of some players, most notably 2012 MVP Adrian Peterson, are going to be a big deal this week.
Minnesota’s star running back was inactive for what became a 30-7 loss to New England on Sunday, two days after being indicted; he was charged with child abuse for striking his 4-year-old son with a tree branch.
Carolina defensive end Greg Hardy, meanwhile, was deactivated for Sunday’s 24-7 victory over Detroit after playing in Week 1 despite being convicted in July of assaulting a woman. Panthers coach Ron Rivera explained the switch from one week to the next by saying the “climate has changed” in the NFL.
Then there’s Ray McDonald, the 49ers’ defensive lineman who has been active for both regular-season games since his Aug. 31 arrest on suspicion of domestic violence.
So among the key questions in the coming days: Will Peterson be allowed to play next Sunday against New Orleans? Will he ever play again for the Vikings? What will happen to Hardy in Week 3, when Carolina hosts Pittsburgh? And will Ray Rice, whose case put the spotlight on domestic violence in the NFL, appeal the league’s increase of his punishment from a two-game suspension to an indefinite ban?
In case you missed it, here are other top topics after the NFL season’s second Sunday:
‘WHO CALLED TIMEOUT?’: That’s what Rex Ryan wanted to know after a sequence that will go down in Jets lore alongside the “butt fumble” and the fake spike. Trailing by a touchdown with about 5 minutes left, Geno Smith appeared to throw a 37-yard TD pass Jeremy Kerley on fourth down – until it was negated by a timeout the Jets themselves had apparently asked for. Except Ryan hadn’t: He could be seen telling the officials, “Who called timeout? I didn’t call timeout.”
PLENTY OF PAIN: Some of the NFL’s most dynamic players on offence left games with injuries, and their status will be monitored closely in the coming days: Robert Griffin III (ankle) and DeSean Jackson (shoulder) of the Redskins, A.J. Green (foot) of the Bengals, Jamaal Charles (ankle) of the Chiefs, Tavon Austin (knee) of the Rams, Knowshon Moreno (elbow) of the Dolphins, Vernon Davis (ankle) of the 49ers, and Ryan Mathews (knee) of the Chargers. RG3, for example, is expected to be out no less than a month – and perhaps the rest of the season.
‘AINTS: The New Orleans Saints and their revamped secondary are 0-2. Doesn’t matter how often Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham connect if their defence can’t stop the likes of Brian Hoyer and the talent-shy Cleveland Browns offence, as happened in Sunday’s 26-24 loss for Sean Payton and Co. At least the Saints get to face the Vikings next.
OFFICIATING ISSUES: It can be something of a bore to watch a game that’s interrupted over and over and over by yellow flags, as happened Sunday night, when there were 26 combined accepted penalties in Chicago’s 28-20 victory over San Francisco. What’s worse, though, is when calls are wrong – or missed altogether. One example from Sunday: Seattle’s Percy Harvin stepped out of bounds during a 51-yard TD run against San Diego, but the league acknowledged later the play was not reviewed – as all scores are supposed to be – and the touchdown should have been erased.
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On that Harvin play there was a ref standing right where Harvin stepped on the white. The Zebra pointed to the spot, then thought better of it and never called it. He never had the guts to call it. I guess the CFL doesn't have the market cornered for incompetent referees.
The CFL has the worst officials of any pro sports league. The difference with the NFL is that when a call is blown they admit it and take corrective action. The CFL never does that. As bad as the Harvin call was how did the CFL miss Sunseri almost getting decapitated yesterday?
So; I guess this is what the CFL should aspire to become? A haven for child and wife beaters with crappy officiating as the icing on the cake.
The article said,"OFFICIATING ISSUES: It can be something of a bore to watch a game that's interrupted over and over and over by yellow flags, as happened Sunday night, when there were 26 combined accepted penalties in Chicago's 28-20 victory over San Francisco. What's worse, though, is when calls are wrong – or missed altogether." Such a rare thing in the NFL – yet so common in the CFL. I guess the difference here is that we accept poor officiating as being part of our CFL system, whereas down in the US it is something of a rare occurrence. Kel… Read more »
To Curt Dittmer, I absolutely agree with regard to the NFL taking action to correct, but the CFL refs will never admit being wrong. It would have been nice if a few weeks ago when John Chick was called for offside after an Offensive Tackle clearly moved out of his stance, then Chick did what any defensive player would do (in any league including children's football), Chick jumped over and tagged the guilty man that made him move. The incompetent CFL ref somehow called Chick offside, it was disgusting to say the least. I have always put up with the… Read more »
NFL = Natural Felon's Legion