Kyle Williams was targeted by Giants due to his concussion history

[bbb]

They are saying that they knew he had four concussions and that they wanted to ding him and get him out.....And, they think a 3rd quarter hard hit dazed him enough to make those later mistakes........Man, this game is so brutal - and then the reward for even it's biggest superstars like T.O. is often bankruptcy and crippling injuries...Not that I don't love the Bills and watching great football, but it makes me question it sometimes:

Kyle Williams targeted

[truth on hold]

Going after opposing team's injured players is as old as the game itself. What's news here?

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Going after opposing team's injured players is as old as the game itself. What's news here?

It's bush league. You can go after a player with the intent to make him fumble without trying to give him another concussion to take him out of the game. It was very disappointing to read those statements. :thumbdown:

[truth on hold]

Situation: defensive back goes out of the game heavily favoring his left leg, looks like it could be a knee injury;

Question: what is first thing offense does when they line up in passing formation and see that DB back in the game in man coverage?

Answer: throw at him, ideally making him push off his left leg.

 

Perfectly legal, totally common, just like what Giants did. Read article again: Giants did nothing illegal.

Edited January 25, 2012 by Joe_the_6_pack

[Zulu Cthulhu]

It's bush league. You can go after a player with the intent to make him fumble without trying to give him another concussion to take him out of the game. It was very disappointing to read those statements. :thumbdown:

It's not bush. It is the type of gamesmanship that goes on in every single game played in every NFL season. It's part of football because it works, case in point.

 

If you're disgusted by it that much (three thumbsdown!) may I suggest the ballet?

[RealityCheck]

It's not bush. It is the type of gamesmanship that goes on in every single game played in every NFL season. It's part of football because it works, case in point.

 

If you're disgusted by it that much (three thumbsdown!) may I suggest the ballet?

:thumbsup:

[Hapless Bills Fan]

It's bush league. You can go after a player with the intent to make him fumble without trying to give him another concussion to take him out of the game. It was very disappointing to read those statements. :thumbdown:

 

No, it's National Football League. It's why players insist they're fine, "100%" or "nearly 100%" even if they aren't - to avoid being targeted.

 

It's also why teams are close-mouthed about the specifics of an injury when they must report it as mandated by the league. A "chest" injury could be anything from a bruise to a "flail chest".

[Never NEVER Give-up]

Situation: defensive back goes out of the game heavily favoring his left leg, looks like it could be a knee injury;

Question: what is first thing offense does when they line up in passing formation and see that DB back in the game in man coverage?

Answer: throw at him, ideally making him push off his left leg.

 

Perfectly legal, totally common, just like what Giants did. Read article again: Giants did nothing illegal.

 

Apples & Oranges.

 

To 'go after' a DB with a bad leg by throwing in his direction is fine, in fact, prudent. But to 'go after' the same DB by diving at his bad leg is beneath bush league.

 

To 'go after' a player with a head injury, by hitting him in the head is also beneath bush league.

 

That said, after the NFL and a SF reporter looked at all the film, they concluded there were no discernable efforts to hit Kyle Williams in the head

[1B4IDie]

This is complete poppy-rooster.

 

Kyle Williams was making bad decisions in the 2nd QTR. His concussion history has nothing to do with him not understanding the role of a punt returner.

 

He dove for a fair catch in the first half with 3 giant defenders around that was nothing but foreshadowing for a big time turnover.

 

I blame the special team coach for not sitting down with him at half time and explaining that's its OK to let the giants down a ball.

 

After the first turnover off the knee that was two strikes and the special team coach should have had someone else back there catching punts.

 

Not to mention that on the fumbled punt return, it appeared that the 9ers had called for a full punt block, meaning Williams had no one in front of him blocking, so even if he got past the first wave of Giants there were more unblocked Giants on the way, if the coach didn't instruct Kyle Williams to fair catch a punt when there was a full punt block called then the special teams coach should be fired.

 

That is just nonsense NJ Giants big talk. They don't get credit for "targeting" Kyle Williams. He was the punt returner what were they supposed to do, two hand touch him?

BS, this is just the Giants trying to take credit for being lucky.

Edited January 25, 2012 by Why So Serious?

[Erik]

I think it's more the fact that Ginn was out so they were targeting Kyle Williams cause he was not the primary punt returner. I think that might make a lot more sense?

[Beerball]

It's bush league. You can go after a player with the intent to make him fumble without trying to give him another concussion to take him out of the game. It was very disappointing to read those statements. :thumbdown:

You are not a very good Barbarian.

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

Situation: defensive back goes out of the game heavily favoring his left leg, looks like it could be a knee injury;

Question: what is first thing offense does when they line up in passing formation and see that DB back in the game in man coverage?

Answer: throw at him, ideally making him push off his left leg.

 

Perfectly legal, totally common, just like what Giants did. Read article again: Giants did nothing illegal.

 

It's simple. Repeated knee injuries shorten careers, repeated head injuries shorten lives. There's legal, then there's right.

[All_Pro_Bills]

This is complete poppy-rooster.

 

Kyle Williams was making bad decisions in the 2nd QTR. His concussion history has nothing to do with him not understanding the role of a punt returner.

 

He dove for a fair catch in the first half with 3 giant defenders around that was nothing but foreshadowing for a big time turnover.

 

I blame the special team coach for not sitting down with him at half time and explaining that's its OK to let the giants down a ball.

 

After the first turnover off the knee that was two strikes and the special team coach should have had someone else back there catching punts.

 

That is just nonsense NJ Giants big talk. They don't get credit for "targeting" Kyle Williams. He was the punt returner what were they supposed to do, two hand touch him? BS

My view too. The coaching staff needs to 'man up' and admit they made the mistake by leaving a backup punt returner, who may not been mentally prepared to handle the pressure of the NFC championship game, out on the field after making some critical mistakes prior to fumbling the ball during overtime.

[DC Tom]

It's simple. Repeated knee injuries shorten careers, repeated head injuries shorten lives. There's legal, then there's right.

 

Or, to put it better: the league already has issues with player concussions it's trying to address, in part via outlawing hits to the head.

 

Then they get a couple of knuckleheads that admit to purposely trying to concuss a player?

 

And THEN the league says "Oh, okay, that's fine."

 

 

 

That's seriously !@#$ed up.

[Zulu Cthulhu]

It's simple. Repeated knee injuries shorten careers, repeated head injuries shorten lives. There's legal, then there's right.

 

Sure, if the Giants really wanted to headhunt this guy, one of them could have lined up and crowned Williams in the facemask. That certainly would've rattled him. But they would also have eaten a big penalty and may have lost the defender for the Super Bowl. That would've been wrong. But they didn't do that and I don't think the postgame comments implied that was their aim.

 

To me, the comments just suggested they wanted to hit KW early and often so Williams might begin to worry about his past head injuries (or injuries in general) and lose focus - which he did, at least on the first flubbed punt. Mission accomplished.

 

Nothing wrong with that strategy. Should teams now brief their defenses before every game about the players on the opposing team with concussion history and tell them to be extra careful when hitting them? Of course not. If a guy has multiple concussion syndrome he shouldn't be in the game in the first place.

 

EDIT: Devin Thomas only said, "We wanted to put a big hit on the guy..." What has everyone in a huff is Thomas preceded that comment with, "He has a history of concussions." Big deal. No where in Thomas' quoted comments did he suggest they were told headhunt or hit KW in the head. And there's no evidence any Giant attempted to do so during the game. Aiello reviewed the game and said as much.

Edited January 25, 2012 by Zulu Cthulhu

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

Sure, if the Giants really wanted to headhunt this guy, one of them could have lined up and crowned Williams in the facemask. That certainly would've rattled him. But they would also have eaten a big penalty and may have lost the defender for the Super Bowl. That would've been wrong. But they didn't do that and I don't think the postgame comments implied that was their aim.

 

To me, the comments just suggested they wanted to hit KW early and often so Williams might begin to worry about his past head injuries (or injuries in general) and lose focus - which he did, at least on the first flubbed punt. Mission accomplished.

 

Nothing wrong with that strategy. Should teams now brief their defenses before every game about the players on the opposing team with concussion history and tell them to be extra careful when hitting them? Of course not. If a guy has multiple concussion syndrome he shouldn't be in the game in the first place.

 

Exactly. It's difficult to view such a lucrative/popular career with much foresight, but when Mr. Williams is a 50 year old man with the brain of a 90 year old he'll wish that he stepped away.

[Zulu Cthulhu]

Exactly. It's difficult to view such a lucrative/popular career with much foresight, but when Mr. Williams is a 50 year old man with the brain of a 90 year old he'll wish that he stepped away.

 

Absolutely. Of course that is on him though, not on any of his opponents.

[Rob's House]

It's simple. Repeated knee injuries shorten careers, repeated head injuries shorten lives. There's legal, then there's right.

Well said

[Fan in San Diego]

It's not bush. It is the type of gamesmanship that goes on in every single game played in every NFL season. It's part of football because it works, case in point.

 

If you're disgusted by it that much (three thumbsdown!) may I suggest the ballet?

 

Did you see the 'Black Swan' ? Brutal.

[truth on hold]

It's simple. Repeated knee injuries shorten careers, repeated head injuries shorten lives. There's legal, then there's right.

Simpler still: Giants did nothing illegal. Game film confirmed it. Helmet to helmet hits on runners and retuners occur multiple times throughout the game. If a player is concerned about his injury history effecting his long term health, he has the option not to play.

Edited January 25, 2012 by Joe_the_6_pack