_2.gif "Time.com 50 Best Websites 2008")
Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin was taken from the field on a stretcher in the final minute of a game that Arizona was trailing by 21 points.
There’s no immediate word on Boldin’s condition.
Though we’re not suggesting that players should ease up when trailing by three scores during garbage time, it’s extremely unfortunate when anyone is injured at a point when a game is no longer in question. That said, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt surely will be criticized for not emptying the bench and protecting his starters.
Meanwhile, Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner threw for 472 yards, but generated a whopping seven turnovers. Coupled with three interceptions were four lost fumbles.
It was the fourth 400-yard passing game of Warner’s career. His single-game high of 484 yards occurred last season in a 37-31 loss to the 49ers.
September 28th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
It was a blatant helmet-to-helmet hit in which the defensive player wasn’t even looking for the ball. I think that hit’s going to warrant a suspension, and in this case it’s probably justified.
I really hope it’s not as bad as it looked.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 28th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Smith needs to be heavily fined and suspended.
One of the dirtiest hits I’ve seen in a long time. He led with his helmet and launched himself into Boldin’s head.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 28th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Hope you can find out how he is and let us know when you know, Mike. We’re worried.
I hope the Cards have Kevin Everett’s doctor on speed dial.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 28th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I was watching the end of the game and Whisenhunt is completely to blame for this. Even after one of his star receivers leaves in an ambulance with 27 second left in a blowout, he then called a crossing pattern over the middle to Fitzgerald. Absurd.
The hit was ugly. The hit to the back of Boldin’s neck and the second hit to the front of his left 1 second later looked like a career ender. Here’s hoping it wasn’t.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 28th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
And Tom Coughlin was “surely criticized” for not resting his starters when they had “nothing to play for” in their last regular season game against the Patriots.
I’m not saying the situations are similar; what I am saying is that, seeing the way teams like the Colts and the Cowboys have struggled in the postseason recently after playing sluggishly in the last few games of the season, it’s not as cut-and-dry as saying “Rest your starters if you have nothing to play for”. Coaches probably have a better grasp of their team’s mentality than we do, and if Ken Whisenhunt decides that his team needs to play til the clock hits 0:00, I don’t think most of us are qualified to say that it was a bad decision. Hindsight’s 20/20. Here’s hoping that Boldin makes a swift recovery.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 28th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I don’t think the hit was dirty as it was just plain STUPID. I hope they fine AND suspend Eric Smith for his stupidity, and I’m a die hard Jets fan! This B.S. has to stop…
I seriously hope that Boldin is ok, and that the hit just looked worse than it really was.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
September 28th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Warner had 3 lost fumbles… not 4.
It was a bad day for Warner… No need to make it any worse than it actually was.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 28th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
NFL.com says it was four.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 28th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
The hit was a classic spear. The NFL has been cracking down on horse collars, low hits, etc that you just don’t expect to see a spear anymore. Fine and suspension is in order. Cardinals totally classless when they ran 2 more plays after the injury. Jets fans were booing and rightfully so.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 28th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
If you watch the replay, had Boldin not been hit from behind, Smith’s hit would have hit him square in the chest. It was a terrible injury, but lets not make this into Eric Smith trying to injure the poor guy. If I were a Cards fan I’d be more pissed at Warner completely leaving him out to dry in the middle of the field like that.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 29th, 2008 at 2:11 am
That hit was probably the dirtiest play I’ve ever seen. The NFL claims it wants to crack down on illegal plays that have a serious chance to injure and yet this play was not flagged.
Plays in the NFL happen extremely fast and I’m not suggesting Eric Smith’s “intent” was to injure. However, any time you ELEVATE in order to strike a receiver in the head you are committing a blatantly illegal play that has a very good chance to injure.
Eric Smith should be fined and suspended. The entire officiating crew should be suspended. If these plays are not penalized during games they will not stop.
Jets fans continue to show they are the most classless fans in the NFL. One play after a Jets player commits one of the ugliest, most blatantly illegal hits in NFL history, the fans boo the Cardinals for continuing to play the game. Absolutely disgusting.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
September 29th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Dude- You are an idiot. They were booing the coaches decision to not just take a knee. What is to be gained by continuing that game with 27 seconds left? The Jets could not lose, why would the fans be booing anything other than the coaches? And what do they do? Have Warner throw over the middle to Fitzgerald. Morons.
Watch the replay. He didn’t “elevate in order to strike the receiver in the head.” Smith went to make the hit and then Boldin was hit from behind causing him to go down and it was only then that their helmets met. If Smith were the only player to touch Boldin he would have hit him in the chest.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 29th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Doesn’t matter whether or not he “elevated”. He went in with his helmet at Boldin’s head, not with his shoulder. Plain and simple. The video evidence is right there. That scumbag should be fined and suspended for at least 6 games. That hit was Jack Tatum-dirty.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 29th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Dirtiest hit you’ve ever seen? Yeah right.
Receiver going high over the middle in the endzone. What do you want him to do? Allow him to land safely for the TD? Slap him 5 when it’s over?
Gimme a break. It’s a safety’s job to punish those who go over the middle.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated