Does it seem like everyone wants to blow RG3 up and put the highlight reel hit on him?

[DaGoonie55]

I agree. I posted a little later to clarify, but i was referring to attempts such as Pollards attempt and Rodgers-Cromartie. They are clearly going for headshots, leading with their helmet, and launching themselves.

I get what you're saying, but there's nothing in the rule book against trying to hurt someone. There is no flag for attempted unsportsmanlike conduct. Only after the hit is made, do they throw the flag. It's hard to prove intent during a video replay, let alone during a bang bang play. The bad thing is that it's too late when the flag comes out. The damage could already be done. It sucks to say, but I'd try and bust the QB up if I were out there too.

[BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93]

Also a QB is way more likely to fumble so of course you want to knock the **** out of him

[RocCitySkins]

Weatherspoons hit... Head hunt


Ryan Clarks hit… apparently the refs seem to think this was ok, HEAD HUNT, clearly #10 was a defenseless receiver. It's these types of hits that get me going, all these players have been taught from pee wee through H.S. how to make a proper tackle, and it's unnecessary.

Unfortunately there's probably no way to stop it, it's the nature of these pro athletes these days.

[MustangSteve]

vick isn't playing. nick foles look good against TB

Hope your right there too.

[GoDeep81]

Every defense wants to crush an elite qb (or their biggest threat in general) from opposing teams.. And their fans want to see it as well.. (Every time I watched Philly or Pittsburgh or New England I just can't wait to see someone lay the wood to their QB..) Our guy just needs to minimize their opportunities by getting rid of the ball quicker and/or sliding sooner.. He'll still get hit, but that's were the 15 yard PF's will start adding up and make them think twice, hopefully..

[stevemcqueen1]

There has been more than one Sunday when we've been playing a running QB, especially when he takes off when I'm sitting there yelling hit him, hit him, hit him.

I have no doubt that in NFL defensive meeting rooms they talk about having to hit RGIII. Not so much in the context of hurting him (though I'm sure there is a sub-text that it wouldn't be a bad thing), but in terms of making him "pay" and making him "scared" so he will be a little slower and a little more hesistant.

I'm also sure that message is as old as football itself and is true for other running QBs out there and is not specific to RGIII.

I agree.

And it's not just for running QBs. But great QBs and great players in general. If you can't beat em, hurt em.

The same thing happens at all levels of football. If you're a great and active LBer, flying around making all kinds of tackles and plays, you better believe they are going to try and block you harder to beat you up and make you want to slow down. Being great and dangerous makes you a target.

[zskins]

We are so focused on RG3 being the savior and franchise QB that any hit on him we cry foul. I don't think their is a 'RG3 bounty".

Maybe. Maybe not. But when he got hit where his helmet came off. Look at what Ngata does. He rolls over to his right and on to RG3's leg to get up. He could have rolled to his left instead.

We are protector of RG3 and we will see things that no other can see.

[Bacon]

Forgive me if it's already been asked, but why would you want to take it easy on an opposing QB?

[devil421]

We're hypersensitive to it. Watched a Sean Taylor highlight video lately? He absolutely blew players up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvE3I0A0fek

ST would have been fined and kicked out of the game with most of his biggest hits that were legal until only a few years ago. The hits Robert is taking are strong but they're almost all that's left of the hitting. In context of a few years ago they're pretty tame.

[PortisBetts]

I get what you're saying, but there's nothing in the rule book against trying to hurt someone. There is no flag for attempted unsportsmanlike conduct. Only after the hit is made, do they throw the flag. It's hard to prove intent during a video replay, let alone during a bang bang play. The bad thing is that it's too late when the flag comes out. The damage could already be done. It sucks to say, but I'd try and bust the QB up if I were out there too.

I agree. I am still going to be angry at it though. Obviously i would expect that from our defense. Defend your own ya know?

[pjfootballer]

Which makes drafting a COMPETENT RT very important this offseason. We need to do a better overall job of protecting him so he doesn't have to run out of the pocket as often. If anyone saw the Patriots against JJ Watt and the Texans last night, they will know what I'm talking about.

Yes, we definately need to shore up the right side. We get Watt in 2014-15 season.

---------- Post added December-12th-2012 at 09:05 AM ----------

As a boy, it gave me pleasure to hate some world-class villains: Adolf Hitler of Germany, Hideki Tojo of Japan, Benito Mussolini of Italy, and Ed Sprinkle of the Chicago Bears.

There's a Sammy Baugh story that was stolen by Hollywood and used in the film, The Longest Yard, with Burt Reynolds in the role of a quarterback. The NFL Channel recently ran an old film clip of Sammy telling the story himself.

[Remember, this takes place before the invention of face masks and at a time when maiming an opponent's quarterback enough to get him out of the game was an acceptable strategy]
Baugh was being hammered hard and repeatedly by a defensive end. "I can't stop him" a lineman told his quarterback in shame. "Well, just step aside and let him through then," Baugh said. The lineman did as instructed. The defensive end came charging. Slingin' Sammy hit him in the face with a football-bullet. According to Baugh, the player went to the ground, then left the game woozy and with a broken nose. "Didn't stop him, though," Sammy added. "He returned to the game and just kept coming."

In that NFL clip, Baugh doesn't identify the evil opponent, but when I first heard the story, probably in 1946, my brother identified the player as Ed Sprinkle of the Chicago Bears. The Bears were a dirty football team (the Chicago Mob had a better reputation) and Ed Sprinkle, their defensive end, was their notorious ringleader.

Players have been going after QBs for a LONG time. Here's an excerpt from Oldfan describing a game he saw in 1945 with Sammy Baugh getting clobbered. Sammy "was" the Washington Redskins at that time and the other teams wanted to get him off the field.