UPDATED: Danny Trevathan suspension reduced to one game

[RING4CHI]

You obviously know why.

Expect an appeal.

[BearDen]

I think it's fitting, even if the hit was unintentional.

[Wounded Bear]

That game was like a Keystone Cop movie interrupted by an ISIS beheading video. If that was a college game, he would have been kicked out of the game for targeting.

Still not half as bad as Charles Martin on Jimmy Mac.

[BearsFanInMN]

I think it's fitting, even if the hit was unintentional.

I agree, but wouldn't be surprised if it got reduced to 1 after appeal just because I don't remember a two game suspension for a hit like that.

[botfly10]

He should be thankful he got off that easy. I was nervous for the bears that it might be in 4-6 game range.

[RING4CHI]

He should be thankful he got off that easy. I was nervous for the bears that it might be in 4-6 game range.

I was thinking he'd get four games, then it'd be reduced to 2 or 3 after appeal. Now he might get it down to one after appeal since he doesn't have a history of nasty/illegal hits.

Vontaze Burfict had his suspension for his hit in preseason reduced from 5 to 3 games, and this wasn't the first or second time he's been fined/suspended for hits.

I expect Trevathan to have his reduced to one game.

[mmmc_35]

I actually don't think he was targeting. However 2 games seems logical.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

Whether or not he intended to do it. The player was srapped up and not going anywhere. He could have just as easily run up and pushed the pile over. Seems like a lenient ruling.

[Richie]

The player was srapped up and not going anywhere.

Wrapped up by one guy?

Pretty sure Dez Bryant was wrapped by 3 guys last week, and pushed 6 yards for the score.

Adams feet were moving, there was no whistle. You don't just stop, you finish the play.

I'm not saying it's not a flag/fine. For a first time offender though? In a very unclear hit? I don't get this outrage. I really think people were just phased by the image of Adams being loaded onto a stretcher, and it was also on National TV. So everyone around the country saw it and got to react.

[RING4CHI]

The player was srapped up and not going anywhere.

Wrapped up by one guy?

Pretty sure Dez Bryant was wrapped by 3 guys last week, and pushed 6 yards for the score.

Adams feet were moving, there was no whistle. You don't just stop, you finish the play.

I'm not saying it's not a flag/fine. For a first time offender though? In a very unclear hit? I don't get this outrage. I really think people were just phased by the image of Adams being loaded onto a stretcher, and it was also on National TV. So everyone around the country saw it and got to react.

There's no doubt part of it is overreaction. If Adams is able to get up and play the next play, Danny is probably fined for the helmet to helmet hit, but I doubt he'd be suspended.

[Mikefive]

The player was srapped up and not going anywhere.

Wrapped up by one guy?

Pretty sure Dez Bryant was wrapped by 3 guys last week, and pushed 6 yards for the score.

Adams feet were moving, there was no whistle. You don't just stop, you finish the play.

I'm not saying it's not a flag/fine. For a first time offender though? In a very unclear hit? I don't get this outrage. I really think people were just phased by the image of Adams being loaded onto a stretcher, and it was also on National TV. So everyone around the country saw it and got to react.

This is how I see it. Playing differently because you *think* he's not going anywhere is a recipe for failure. I'm sure Marcus Cooper didn't *think* there was anybody in hot pursuit of him either. You play until you hear the whistle. Period.

[Mikefive]

This is a great time to highlight my signature.

When you can lead with your head and hit somebody and it doesn't hurt YOU, then you are going to get much more of that. That's the incentive of having high tech hard helmets. How's legislating out those plays working?

[Boris13c]

He should be thankful he got off that easy. I was nervous for the bears that it might be in 4-6 game range.

I was thinking he'd get four games, then it'd be reduced to 2 or 3 after appeal. Now he might get it down to one after appeal since he doesn't have a history of nasty/illegal hits.

Vontaze Burfict had his suspension for his hit in preseason reduced from 5 to 3 games, and this wasn't the first or second time he's been fined/suspended for hits.

I expect Trevathan to have his reduced to one game.

I also expect it to be reduced by a game on appeal ... but I don't think it should be

he clearly saw his target, and he clearly led the hit with his helmet ... and I was very disappointed it was a member of the Bears delivering the cheap shot

[Funkster]

The way I see it is it was a LB doing what he was taught since day one, clean up the play. Adams wasn't down, he was barely wrapped up by 1 defender, he wasn't a defenseless receiver, he was legally a runner. Trevathan was already in motion for the tackle and there was no whistle. There is no such thing as crowing when you're a runner. Hard ass hit no doubt but 2 game suspension for a 1st time offender? Fine the guy and move on. That would have made a NFL year end highlight videos 10 years ago.

[malk]

Yes to reducing padding, helmets etc. That's the only way this is going to get sorted out, but until then...

I don't think this was a dirty hit. It could have been what with frustration setting in but Trevathan doesn't have the rep and seems to have a healthy regard for the game that means, combined with Adams not being still (was being driven back iirc), I'll give him a pass.

However, I'm also fine with the suspension and even that it was only because Adams was hurt. If it's a de facto rule that a reckless play (or rather anything not freak) that leads to hurting a player results in a suspension... well then that might start players playing a little less recklessly.

I love the game but if it is to continue then injuries, short and long term, need to be addressed. There'll always be some macho bullshit about the smallest change making it non contact but that aside, it'd still be a great game with fewer massive tackles.

[edep12]

That game was like a Keystone Cop movie interrupted by an ISIS beheading video. If that was a college game, he would have been kicked out of the game for targeting.

Still not half as bad as Charles Martin on Jimmy Mac.

Not sure what point you are trying to make with the college rule issue. Yes, he would have been ejected but he also would miss less time

[G08]

I didn't think it was dirty... it was a bang-bang football play. I think he was aiming to put his hat on the ball and force a fumble, and as he went to strike Adams started to go down and unfortunately got hit in the helmet and knocked out cold.

It's football... he wasn't head-hunting IMO.

[Otis Day]

You just do not lead with your head the way he did. PAck guy still moving, take his fucking legs out and that solves that.

[Funkster]

I didn't think it was dirty... it was a bang-bang football play. I think he was aiming to put his hat on the ball and force a fumble, and as he went to strike Adams started to go down and unfortunately got hit in the helmet and knocked out cold.

It's football... he wasn't head-hunting IMO.

Totally agree. You're taught to put your helmet on the ball. Not dirty at all.

[Boris13c]

I didn't think it was dirty... it was a bang-bang football play. I think he was aiming to put his hat on the ball and force a fumble, and as he went to strike Adams started to go down and unfortunately got hit in the helmet and knocked out cold.

It's football... he wasn't head-hunting IMO.

Totally agree. You're taught to put your helmet on the ball. Not dirty at all.

wtf game were you guys watching?

he didn't put his helmet on the ball (which would have been perfectly fine) ... he put his helmet into the face of the ball carrier

maybe he wasn't actually head hunting, but helmet to helmet contact, especially with force, is illegal

[G08]

When you're going full speed in a football game (I only played linebacker in high school), you're picking your target and you're trying to hit him as hard as you can to get the ball out. Once you launch, and THEN the target moves, it's too late too adjust.

[Gaytoe]

I don't believe it was intentional at all. The thing that has bothered me the most is reading posts (my fault, I know) that are claiming Trevathan is a dirty player, should be banned from the league and demonizing him. I get it though, the game was nationally televised and the image of the stretcher is burned into everyone's mind.

Regardless of intent, helmet to helmet like that is going to get you in trouble. I personally don't think Trevathan could have changed his path once once Adams started to go down. Maybe if he had his head up he could have adjusted? But I really doubt it.

The whistle wasn't blown, the play still needed to be cleaned up. Trevathan was trying to cause a fumble and give our team some life. From everything I've seen and read about him, he doesn't seem like a guy that would intentionally try hurt someone. That doesn't mean he's not going to try and lay someone out. Could he have not gone for the big hit? Yeah but it was so quick. There was no way he could have known that would happen.

A 1 game suspension is fine, the NFL has got to do what it has to do. I get it. Everything went just wrong enough for that to happen, just unfortunate. I'm just glad Adams is okay.

[Boris13c]

When you're going full speed in a football game (I only played linebacker in high school), you're picking your target and you're trying to hit him as hard as you can to get the ball out. Once you launch, and THEN the target moves, it's too late too adjust.

that's where maintaining control comes in

if guys were actually using proper tackling technique, this wouldn't be an issue ... but they aren't ... they're looking for the highlight reel slobberknocker ... and to get that, you have to be full speed almost out of control (which is the technique many bad special teams players employ, resulting in them running right past the returner rather than into him)

and yes, there are times the ball carrier creates the mess by bobbing and weaving resulting in a helmet to helmet hit the defender wasn't trying for

in this case, Trevathan was going for the slobberknocker and committed an illegal hit

[Boris13c]

I don't believe it was intentional at all. The thing that has bothered me the most is reading posts (my fault, I know) that are claiming Trevathan is a dirty player, should be banned from the league and demonizing him.

not sure where you're reading that ... and I didn't see those posts here

I don't think Trevathan is a dirty player, but I do believe his shot on Thursday night was a dirty hit ... but unlike some others in the league, Trevathan is not a repeat offender in that category

[Gaytoe]

I don't believe it was intentional at all. The thing that has bothered me the most is reading posts (my fault, I know) that are claiming Trevathan is a dirty player, should be banned from the league and demonizing him.

not sure where you're reading that ... and I didn't see those posts here

I don't think Trevathan is a dirty player, but I do believe his shot on Thursday night was a dirty hit ... but unlike some others in the league, Trevathan is not a repeat offender in that category

It definitely wasn't on here. Mainly reddit and at the bottom of articles mentioning the game or the hit.

[LacertineForest]

When you're going full speed in a football game (I only played linebacker in high school), you're picking your target and you're trying to hit him as hard as you can to get the ball out. Once you launch, and THEN the target moves, it's too late too adjust.

that's where maintaining control comes in

if guys were actually using proper tackling technique, this wouldn't be an issue ... but they aren't ... they're looking for the highlight reel slobberknocker ... and to get that, you have to be full speed almost out of control (which is the technique many bad special teams players employ, resulting in them running right past the returner rather than into him)

and yes, there are times the ball carrier creates the mess by bobbing and weaving resulting in a helmet to helmet hit the defender wasn't trying for

in this case, Trevathan was going for the slobberknocker and committed an illegal hit

Agree completely with what you've said in this thread, Boris.

Trevathan isn't a dirty player, but leading with the crown of your helmet is a dirty play, even if it wasn't intentional. I agree with the suspension, and if he only gets 2 games (or fewer), then I consider him lucky.

[46Blitz]

Is it me, or did it look like it was the only play he had on him from the angle? Think the only way otherwise to make a play would be to run up, stop, and hand tackle him.

This stuff happens way too fast realtime. It won't matter if rules are changed, suspension s are put into place. It's the nature of the game. They fly to make the play. Just prior to hitting him he may have realized what was about to happen, wanted to pull away, and just didn't have time. It is what it is.

I recall playing hockey back in the day, I was chasing a puck into the corner. I was going near full speed and the defenseman had his back to me (we were both chasing). As I followed, I expected him to pull to the left and I kept going straight to stop the puck from going back up the boards. Needless to say, it was too late to change my course (speed, momentum, and time). I totally killed the kid. Felt bad about it, but shit happens.

Basically, he may have just been trying to do his job. Oh well...

[southdakbearfan]

I don't think Danny is a dirty player, but I do think it was at least kind of a dirty hit or shot just due to how he lead with his helmet. I don't think he went in to hurt anyone, but I do think he went in to blow everything up.

I do think the suspension is harsh for a first time offender and that it should have been a healthy fine with a message of a longer suspension if it happened again.

[Wounded Bear]

Is it me, or did it look like it was the only play he had on him from the angle? Think the only way otherwise to make a play would be to run up, stop, and hand tackle him.

This stuff happens way too fast realtime. It won't matter if rules are changed, suspension s are put into place. It's the nature of the game. They fly to make the play. Just prior to hitting him he may have realized what was about to happen, wanted to pull away, and just didn't have time. It is what it is.

That's what they said about hitting the QB at or below the knees as well as hits to the head, yet I would say that those hits have gone down in number considerably since the rule has gone into effect.

I agree, however, that shit happens quick out there. I unintentionally facemasked a shitload of dudes in my day as well as helmet to helmet shots, but in high school, we didn't get fined $10,000 or get suspended for X amount of games, so there wasn't exactly a huge incentive to stop.

[RING4CHI]

Suspension reduced to one game.

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