Can't blame them, that's how they were taught
Two of the three defenders fined by the NFL for illegal hits on quarterbacks last week were graduates of FSU.
Detroit rookie linebacker Ernie Sims, defensive tackle Darnell Dockett of Arizona and strong safety Roy Williams of Dallas were each fined $7,500 for excessive contact against quarterbacks in opening-week games, ESPN.com confirmed through league and team officials.
I guess the NFL hasn't heard of that nuanced rule interpretation often cited in Tallahassee called "the echo of the whistle." Were they even contrite about their actions? Sha-right!
[NFL senior vice president of football operations Ray] Anderson noted that, while Detroit defensive lineman Cory Redding leaped to avoid contact with the Seattle quarterback, Sims "drove his helmet into the quarterback." The contact by Sims elicited a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness.
Sims said that, while he will be more careful when encountering sliding quarterbacks in the future, he will not permit the incident to reduce his zeal on the field.
"I've got to be a smart ballplayer," Sims said. "But at the same time, I can't let [something like this] take away from my game."
The play by Dockett, who dove at the legs of Alex Smith after the San Francisco quarterback had thrown an incomplete pass and was out of bounds, also drew considerable scrutiny from the league. San Francisco officials complained after the game about the play, but Dockett countered that his play was simply an aggressive one and that he did not regret it.
Mickey Andrews must be so proud.