08-29-2017, 11:34 AM
Everyone keeps looking at the video and saying that it's a legal hit, when what they really need to be looking at is the exact rules in question that were (supposedly) violated. Where VB's helmet hit the receiver is not the issue. According to the rules regarding hitting a receiver that's not being thrown to, there appears that the league MAY have a case (although even that is a little murky).
The way I understand the new rule is that if a receiver is in the process of running a route, not blocking, they're considered defenseless and cannot be laid out. Period. Doesn't matter where on the field it is, or if it was helmet to helmet or not, it's still an unsportsmanlike penalty. So if this fits that criteria, which it kinda seems to, VB is not being singled out or being picked on or discriminated against. Where he IS being singled out is in the punishment. The 5 games, in my opinion, is definitely due to his history.
The way I understand the new rule is that if a receiver is in the process of running a route, not blocking, they're considered defenseless and cannot be laid out. Period. Doesn't matter where on the field it is, or if it was helmet to helmet or not, it's still an unsportsmanlike penalty. So if this fits that criteria, which it kinda seems to, VB is not being singled out or being picked on or discriminated against. Where he IS being singled out is in the punishment. The 5 games, in my opinion, is definitely due to his history.