Wilbon Advocates Intentionally Injuring Brady (1 Viewer)

[tombonneau]

As much as I hate to throw fuel on the fire, I would hate for Wilbon's comments in a recent chat to get buried.

What he says about advocating injuring Brady is deplorable for a sports journalist. Where art thou, **** Schapp?

It's one thing for internet message board poster to say take out Brady's knees, because by and large our opinions don't matter.

But when one of the most visible sports writers in the nation says this, it is a travesty of journalistic integrity.

Here is the link and here are the excerpts: [my bolding]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...ml?hpid=topnews

Tom Brady's Knee: I can understand Bill Belichick's desire to crush every team in the NFL, but why keep your franchise QB in there to do it? One cheap shot helmet to the knee and it's goodbye Super Bowl unless Cassell suddenly gets good.

Michael Wilbon: You're absolutely right. And if I was on the opposing team, I'd hit Tom Brady with everything I had as late as I could and take the penalty and join the fight that would surely follow. Football is a violent game and there's got to be somebody out there sharpening his fans for the Patriots Golden Boy in the 4th quarter one of these weeks.

Stevensville, Md.: What are your thoughts about running up the score? In my opinion it's a teams job to put up points, not save their opponent from embarrassment. The Redskins' players are cashing million dollar paychecks just like the Patriots', so they have no one to blame but themselves for the blowout.

Michael Wilbon: Your thought is my thought. You want somebody not to run it up...don't let 'em. On the other hand, Belichick is a cheat and during games behaves with little class...If I was on the other side my goal would have been for Brady to be helped off the field, by whatever means necessary.

Then I think after realizing what he has said, he sort of kind of tries to back track, but not very convincingly:

Arlington, Va.: Let me get this straight - you're suggesting blatantly trying to injure a player on the opposing team for no good reason other than you can't compete head-to-head. What kind of message are you trying to send?

Michael Wilbon: I'm saying football is a violent game and I believe in an eye for an eye. You think Sam Huff wouldn't have taken out Brady yesterday? And when I say "take out" I don't mean go for his knees; I mean a clean shot with every once of force one can summon...right in the strike zone. You think Butkus and LT and Bednarik would have stood for that stuff? No way. No chance.

Now the point of this thread is not whether or not you think someone should go after Brady. I'm sure this thread will quickly devolve in that direction, but I really wanted to point out the reprehensible comments of a national sports writer/TV personality.Even Easterbrook, who hates the Patriots with an inhuman passion, has yet to advocate intentionally injuring someone.

I understand your precious Skins got waxed, but just ... wow.

 

[Jason Wood]

Wilbon is, and has been for some time, a "journalist" in the loosest sense.

 

[rascal]

I think he is right. He isn't advocating it, he is simply stating the truth. Eventually somebody is going to get pissed at that crap and lay a huge blow on him. And he is right about Huff, Butkus, etc. They wouldn't have tolerated it.

But he still probably shouldn't have said it. But then Brady shouldn't have been out there and going for it on fourth down twice in the fourth quarter.

 

[CrossEyed]

Wilbon is, and has been for some time, a "journalist" in the loosest sense.

But he's right that back in the 60s or 70s if a team was running up the score like NE has been with starters still in the game there's a good chance their QB would have been helped off the field.

 

[plymkr]

FWIW, I think he's a Bears fan, not a skins fan. Chicago boy and Cubs fan. I would assume he is a hometown fan.

 

[AnonymousBob]

Is it cool to take a cheap shot at the opposing qb? Not at all. Is it cool to run up the score? Nope.

The Patriots should feel free to score as much as they want-but they shouldn't be surprised when people start playing with as little class as they've shown thus far.

 

[faux_bear]

a) I don't think it's that big of a deal.

b) Wilbon is paid in these types of forums, whether it's PTI or these internet chats, not to provide "journalistic" information, but essentially to be a talking head and generally spew at the mouth about whatever he's thinking. So generally, to suggest that these comments are lacking in "journalistic integrity" is a little mistaken in my opinion, because little of what he does can truly be considered journalism.

EDIT: I see that Jason Wood beat me to point b.

 

[dornado]

What an outrage!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[parrot]

I think he is right. He isn't advocating it, he is simply stating the truth.

Uh, yeah, actually he is advocating it.

I'd hit Tom Brady with everything I had as late as I could and take the penalty and join the fight that would surely follow.

Stay Classy Mike, and everyone else advocating this approach to enforcing "class" in the league.

 

[mad sweeney]

While I don't advocate intentionally taking out anyone;s knee, even a scumbag like Roy Williams, the Pats have made a habit of pushing the rules as far as possible and taking every advantage possible even if it's illegal. And if an opposing team wants to push the envelope themselves and take some shots at him when it's questionable to do so, the Pats have fostered the environment of pushing things to the limit.

Wilbon is wrong to suggest publicly that it should happen intentionally, the Pats are creating an environment that fosters exactly that. But he's speaking the truth. A defender is going to make that their goal, to see Brady carried off the field.

 

[Sabertooth]

I bet the hit that ends Brady's season looks eerily similar to the cheap shot that ended Palmer's a few years ago against Pittsburgh.

 

[Koya]

Sounds like he is being honest. He is not advocating but stating what he would do.

A lot of us would not exactly shed a tear.

 

[AnonymousBob]

I have a question for all of you: Does anyone have a problem with somebody taking a cheap shot to one of the Patriots? Whether you believe the Patriots should run up the score, that's a different matter. The Patriots can/should run up the score, who cares. Do you take issue with someone taking a cheap shot if it looks as though the Patriots are running up the score?

 

[conan2]

Is it cool to take a cheap shot at the opposing qb? Not at all. Is it cool to run up the score? Nope. The Patriots should feel free to score as much as they want-but they shouldn't be surprised when people start playing with as little class as they've shown thus far.

As far as I know, there isn't a penalty for scoring too many points. There is one for unsportsmanlike conduct. "Running up the score" does not justify hooliganism.

 

[Statorama]

In a weird way I think among all football players there's an unwritten thing about intentionally trying to injure someone. Each and every guy on the field knows that his livelihood could get taken away from them in a matter of seconds.

But then I remember Albert Haynesworth kicking a guy in the head while the guy was laying on the ground.

 

[Capella]

Wilbon is, and has been for some time, a "journalist" in the loosest sense.

But he's right that back in the 60s or 70s if a team was running up the score like NE has been with starters still in the game there's a good chance their QB would have been helped off the field.

Definitely.

 

[The Man Who Met Andy Griffith]

Michael Wilbon: I'm saying football is a violent game and I believe in an eye for an eye. You think Sam Huff wouldn't have taken out Brady yesterday? And when I say "take out" I don't mean go for his knees; I mean a clean shot with every once of force one can summon...right in the strike zone. You think Butkus and LT and Bednarik would have stood for that stuff? No way. No chance.

I think if Sam Huff, Butkus, LT or Bednarik were out there, they wouldn't have given up 45 points on defense.

 

[Darth Cheney]

I have a question for all of you: Does anyone have a problem with somebody taking a cheap shot to one of the Patriots? Whether you believe the Patriots should run up the score, that's a different matter. The Patriots can/should run up the score, who cares. Do you take issue with someone taking a cheap shot if it looks as though the Patriots are running up the score?

A legitimate, career threatening cheap shot. No... that's not right. Working within the confines of the game to sent BB a message... I have no problem with.

 

[rascal]

I have a question for all of you: Does anyone have a problem with somebody taking a cheap shot to one of the Patriots? Whether you believe the Patriots should run up the score, that's a different matter. The Patriots can/should run up the score, who cares. Do you take issue with someone taking a cheap shot if it looks as though the Patriots are running up the score?

Yes I do. But when you are getting embarrassed and the opposing is obviously running up the score, emotions run high and players can make bad decisions. Besides, do you honestly think that there isn't a player out there who could care less about his well being? Or do I need to mention Haynesworth?

 

[tombonneau]

In a weird way I think among all football players there's an unwritten thing about intentionally trying to injure someone. Each and every guy on the field knows that his livelihood could get taken away from them in a matter of seconds.But then I remember Albert Haynesworth kicking a guy in the head while the guy was laying on the ground.

Funny, he's the guy I thought of as well. Pats/Titans had a chippy "meaningless" game end of last year so there is some moderately bad blood between the teams.I just hope the Titans don't make a trip to Foxboro in January ...

 

[conan2]

Michael Wilbon: I'm saying football is a violent game and I believe in an eye for an eye. You think Sam Huff wouldn't have taken out Brady yesterday? And when I say "take out" I don't mean go for his knees; I mean a clean shot with every once of force one can summon...right in the strike zone. You think Butkus and LT and Bednarik would have stood for that stuff? No way. No chance.

I think if Sam Huff, Butkus, LT or Bednarik were out there, they wouldn't have given up 45 points on defense.

If you don't want them to run up the score....then don't let them score 52 frigging points!

 

[AnonymousBob]

Tom Brady's Knee: I can understand Bill Belichick's desire to crush every team in the NFL, but why keep your franchise QB in there to do it? One cheap shot helmet to the knee and it's goodbye Super Bowl unless Cassell suddenly gets good.

Michael Wilbon: You're absolutely right. And if I was on the opposing team, I'd hit Tom Brady with everything I had as late as I could and take the penalty and join the fight that would surely follow. Football is a violent game and there's got to be somebody out there sharpening his fans for the Patriots Golden Boy in the 4th quarter one of these weeks.

Stevensville, Md.: What are your thoughts about running up the score? In my opinion it's a teams job to put up points, not save their opponent from embarrassment. The Redskins' players are cashing million dollar paychecks just like the Patriots', so they have no one to blame but themselves for the blowout.

Michael Wilbon: Your thought is my thought. You want somebody not to run it up...don't let 'em. On the other hand, Belichick is a cheat and during games behaves with little class...If I was on the other side my goal would have been for Brady to be helped off the field, by whatever means necessary.

Arlington, Va.: Let me get this straight - you're suggesting blatantly trying to injure a player on the opposing team for no good reason other than you can't compete head-to-head. What kind of message are you trying to send?

Michael Wilbon: I'm saying football is a violent game and I believe in an eye for an eye. You think Sam Huff wouldn't have taken out Brady yesterday? And when I say "take out" I don't mean go for his knees; I mean a clean shot with every once of force one can summon...right in the strike zone. You think Butkus and LT and Bednarik would have stood for that stuff? No way. No chance.

I have no problem with anything he said. Going for the knees or trying to deliver a hit that could end his career? Short of that, if they're running up the score on you I have no problem with someone delivering some nasty blows.

 

[mad sweeney]

I have a question for all of you: Does anyone have a problem with somebody taking a cheap shot to one of the Patriots? Whether you believe the Patriots should run up the score, that's a different matter. The Patriots can/should run up the score, who cares. Do you take issue with someone taking a cheap shot if it looks as though the Patriots are running up the score?

Absolutely. The player should be fined and/or suspended appropriate to the situation. It could be something like in the Chargers game after a pick with a helmet driven into the QB's chin or it could be something disgustingly cheap. And hopefully it doesn't happen. But if Brady gets knocked out for some time when he should have been on the sidelines it will devalue all of the "genius" of BB. Because telling the press "We're just trying to win" when you had a 38 point lead with 10 minutes left in the 4th is BS when you lose the next game because your star QB is on crutches. Or because Brady has pressure in the backfield because the backup guard or center can't block as well as the starter.

 

[AnonymousBob]

I have a question for all of you: Does anyone have a problem with somebody taking a cheap shot to one of the Patriots? Whether you believe the Patriots should run up the score, that's a different matter. The Patriots can/should run up the score, who cares. Do you take issue with someone taking a cheap shot if it looks as though the Patriots are running up the score?

A legitimate, career threatening cheap shot. No... that's not right. Working within the confines of the game to sent BB a message... I have no problem with.

Agreed. I'm rather surprised we haven't seen anything thus far. Again, taking a shot that could end a career isn't cool. But I'm surprised we haven't seen some vicious hits to Brady and when they start, I'll feel sorry for Tom that his coach put that bullseye on his back.

 

[CrossEyed]

I bet the hit that ends Brady's season looks eerily similar to the cheap shot that ended Palmer's a few years ago against Pittsburgh.

Anyone that knows anything about Kimo knows that wasn't a cheap shot. Let it go.

 

[AnonymousBob]

I have a question for all of you: Does anyone have a problem with somebody taking a cheap shot to one of the Patriots? Whether you believe the Patriots should run up the score, that's a different matter. The Patriots can/should run up the score, who cares. Do you take issue with someone taking a cheap shot if it looks as though the Patriots are running up the score?

Absolutely. The player should be fined and/or suspended appropriate to the situation. It could be something like in the Chargers game after a pick with a helmet driven into the QB's chin or it could be something disgustingly cheap. And hopefully it doesn't happen. But if Brady gets knocked out for some time when he should have been on the sidelines it will devalue all of the "genius" of BB. Because telling the press "We're just trying to win" when you had a 38 point lead with 10 minutes left in the 4th is BS when you lose the next game because your star QB is on crutches. Or because Brady has pressure in the backfield because the backup guard or center can't block as well as the starter.

I'm not sure where your stance is-you do or do not have a problem with cheap shots in those circumstances? Anyone delivering a cheap hit should be fined/punished for the blow but I'm not so sure they shouldn't still take it. We can start thinking in hockey terms if need be...

 

[Koya]

Wilbon is, and has been for some time, a "journalist" in the loosest sense.

But he's right that back in the 60s or 70s if a team was running up the score like NE has been with starters still in the game there's a good chance their QB would have been helped off the field.

Definitely.

Actually, not true. The QB would not have been HELPED off the field. Helped connotes that the QB made some effort too.He would be carried off the field. Probably on a stretcher. Man, what I would pay to see the Deacon come ripping towards Brady. Maybe a hand to the helmet, or possibly a clothesline, maybe something from column A, something from column B.

 

[Joseph]

I have a question for all of you: Does anyone have a problem with somebody taking a cheap shot to one of the Patriots? Whether you believe the Patriots should run up the score, that's a different matter. The Patriots can/should run up the score, who cares. Do you take issue with someone taking a cheap shot if it looks as though the Patriots are running up the score?

If you don't want your quarterback to get hurt have the offensive line protect him. Its a defenders job to stop the opposing offense from scoring, and I'd imagine they'll score a lot less with Brady in a cast.

 

[PantherPower]

if anyone in the NFL deserves to get intentionally injured, its that POS cowboy Roy Williams. All he has done the last several years is TRY and injure players when he tackles them. I would love nothing more than to see Karma break his leg, knee, etc. Let Brady enjoy his amazing season. He's earned it.

 

[rascal]

LOL @ MOP

 

[CrossEyed]

Please get patsfans their own forum for the rest of the season Joe.

 

[Statorama]

LOL @ MOP

Yeah, that was good stuff.I advocate intentionally injuring Wilbon.

 

[Phlash]

I love the Patriots, but to be honest I have no problem with Wilbon doing this. Theres a reason he's not out there playing the game and is instead sitting in a chair in a studio on his fat butt. He doesn't play football, and its his job to be controversial so people like us talk about him.

 

[Lemmiwinks]

All this assumes someone could actually get to Brady and hit him in the first place. Just saying, but not many people have been able to do that.

If I were Moss going over the middle, however (which is rare, I know), I might watch out for a little of the Rodney Harrison treatment from opposing safeties, you know, spearing him in the back with a helmet, or a helmet to helmet collision.

I just don't think you could even touch Brady to hurt him.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

1st one was taken down...maybe the lettering was too big...for those that missed it...

"LOOK AT ME!!! I can live in a town where my team wins the World Series, where my college football team is ranked #2, where my NFL team is 8-0 but I still find things to complain about. Until the Shark Pool bows down on one knee and proclaims the PAtriots as the best team of all time and takes back everything they ever said about Spygate I will not rest."

I don't care that NE runs the score up...but they did run the score up on the SKins when they were ahead by 5+ TD midway thru the 4th quarter and they are still throwing the ball with Brady...fine go ahead...but don't cry when people want to take your precious baby popping Qb out...he seems to be the head of the snake...teams are going to try to get to him in order to win...he has not reached Michael Jordan status as some have whispered about.

 

[twitch]

Amongst other NFL players, there is too much respect for this team. Whether NE is running up the score or not, which at times they are, other guys admire the kindof team this is. Im listening to John Riggins right now on the radio, as big a 'Skins homer as there is, and he's telling these idiot, 'running up the score crybabies' to shut up already. He cant believe he's actually hearing Redskins players crying about it. He thinks that's even more embarassing to the player. His opinion is "shut up and make a stop". This is a former 'Skins player and tough guy with an ego and loyalty talking. Etiquette in professional football???? Youve got to be kidding me. Somebody needed to tell that to the '85 Chicago Bears who beat the Patriots 46-10 in the friggin' Superbowl! Or Joe Montana's Niners that beat Elway's Broncos 55-10. Was Montana or the Niners equally as cheesy?? Ive never once heard that in my life. Ive never once in my life thought about complaining about the score of that Bears/Patriots SB. We got manhandled by a better team. There's no shame in that.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Sending a message once one's butt has been thoroughly kicked seems kind of pointless. Give him a hit or two early, so he has to think about it while the game is still competitive. If the shot is too cheap your team will pay a penalty while the game is meaningful

 

[buster c]

karma = brady being carried off the field on a stretcher

wilbon is simply giving him a warning

 

[mad sweeney]

I have a question for all of you: Does anyone have a problem with somebody taking a cheap shot to one of the Patriots? Whether you believe the Patriots should run up the score, that's a different matter. The Patriots can/should run up the score, who cares. Do you take issue with someone taking a cheap shot if it looks as though the Patriots are running up the score?

Absolutely. The player should be fined and/or suspended appropriate to the situation. It could be something like in the Chargers game after a pick with a helmet driven into the QB's chin or it could be something disgustingly cheap. And hopefully it doesn't happen. But if Brady gets knocked out for some time when he should have been on the sidelines it will devalue all of the "genius" of BB. Because telling the press "We're just trying to win" when you had a 38 point lead with 10 minutes left in the 4th is BS when you lose the next game because your star QB is on crutches. Or because Brady has pressure in the backfield because the backup guard or center can't block as well as the starter.

I'm not sure where your stance is-you do or do not have a problem with cheap shots in those circumstances? Anyone delivering a cheap hit should be fined/punished for the blow but I'm not so sure they shouldn't still take it. We can start thinking in hockey terms if need be...

Do you take issue with someone taking a cheap shot if it looks as though the Patriots are running up the score? Absolutely.Where's the confusion?I'm saying that the Pats are fostering an environemt of doing anything to win and pushing the limits of sportsmanship. And if I am a defender I may play like the Pats do and push the envelope and knock Brady down after I take two steps instead of laying off on him. And if any of their starters get hurt late in a game I won't feel sorry for them whether it's a clean shot or not. But no I have never condoned cheap shots, even when it was a guy on my team. One reason Iwas glad we let Ken Hamlin go. And I was glad when the Chargers let Harrison go, although they seem to have found a few cheap shot guys to make up for it. I was very unhappy with the Chargers D for what happened to Shaub.As for hockey, I don't condone the cheap shots there either. There's plenty of time and ways to get back at a player, there's no reason for a Tie Domi/Owen Nolan style cheap shot at the bench or a Claude Lemieux/Forsberg type of boarding. That's why the instigator rule is bad, the enforcers should be allowed to do their jobs.

 

[Da Guru]

I was listening to WDFN in Detroit and Brady is very popular here due to his Michigan ties, yet they were numerous calls that stated they hope Brady gets blind sided and knocked out, or someone takes his knee out when he is still throwing the ball up by 38 in the fourth..I was shocked listening to the hate calls about Brady.

 

[Dexter Manley]

I don't see any problem with what Wilbon said, and I think the OP is not in touch with reality on this particular matter.

Take MLB, for example. If a guy hits a HR and showboats around the bases, IT'S EXPECTED that he's going to get a 95 mph fastball thrown at his head the next time he comes up to bat. You may not like it, but that's reality. Same thing goes for needlessly running up the score in the NFL.

Quite frankly as a Skins fan, the thing I was most disgusted with outside of Washington's horrendous play during the game, was that not one defender made a genuine effort to knock Brady the #### out. And to be clear, I'm not talking about a potentially career ending cheapshot to his knee. I'm talking a good old fashioned crushing tackle on the qb, and if it's slightly late and/or helmet-to-helmet, so be it.

 

[Statorama]

The first guy that really tears into Brady will be the last, so he better make it worth it. The league will hit the guy with $100K fine or something, which will get the attention of the guys on the line making $320K a year.

 

[awesomeness]

OP, you are taking things out of context here. It seems like you are a patriots fan who isn't liking all the Patriot bashing. Hopefully you don't decide to go into journalism saying stuff like "it is a travesty of journalistic integrity" for something that isn't a big deal whatsoever.

 

[parrot]

teams are going to try to get to him in order to win...

The question is not about winning, it's about attempting to injure him in response to losing.

 

[tombonneau]

1st one was taken down...maybe the lettering was too big...for those that missed it..."LOOK AT ME!!! I can live in a town where my team wins the World Series, where my college football team is ranked #2, where my NFL team is 8-0 but I still find things to complain about. Until the Shark Pool bows down on one knee and proclaims the PAtriots as the best team of all time and takes back everything they ever said about Spygate I will not rest."I don't care that NE runs the score up...but they did run the score up on the SKins when they were ahead by 5+ TD midway thru the 4th quarter and they are still throwing the ball with Brady...fine go ahead...but don't cry when people want to take your precious baby popping Qb out...he seems to be the head of the snake...teams are going to try to get to him in order to win...he has not reached Michael Jordan status as some have whispered about.

Sorry if I thought it was newsworthy that the media has gotten to a point where a prominent TV personality is able to talk about intentionally injuring a star player and it doesn't even register.That was more my point.Not waaaaah they want to hurt Brady.If you look at my original post, it's more a condemnation of what ESPN has done to sports reporting where this sort of attitude is both fostered and accepted.I'm glad **** Schapp is not only not alive to see this, but that he isn't forced to participate in it. There's a reason Mitch Albom pretty much just writes books now.

 

[Joseph]

teams are going to try to get to him in order to win...

The question is not about winning, it's about attempting to injure him in response to losing.

Are the patriots a better team with Brady in the lineup?

 

[twitch]

Ive said it before, Ill say it again.

bad Karma = the 1-7 NY Jets.

You throw your former mentor under the bus after all the guy did for you, basically the only reason youre a head coach, when you could have handled the situation differently, you get what you deserve.

good karma = 8-0 NE Patriots who are winning games like any good team would. Showing no mercy, not looking past you for a second, and shaking your hand after theyve handed your ### to you.

bad karma has absolutely nothing to do with hurt feelings. sorry.

 

[BigJim®]

Wow, a few weeks ago he called Vine Young a 'punk' for not wanting to get involved in the McNabb race quotes, and now advocating injuring a player? This has to be ESPN schtick, right?

 

[Bad_Mo]

FWIW, I think he's a Bears fan, not a skins fan. Chicago boy and Cubs fan. I would assume he is a hometown fan.

That makes sense now. He's bitter because his Cubbies couldn't do once what the Sox have done twice in the last 4 years.

 

[TD Ryan]

hmmm... I thought the opposition WAS trying to get to him by every means possible on every Sunday?

This is the NFL right?

These players equate every Sunday with going to war, they work themselves into snot-bubbling frenzies, approach every play with fearlessness, and have complete disregard for their own bodies regardless of how fast and violent every play is.

Is this news that some defender is now on the other side of the ball thinking, "I'm gonna' kill Brady"?

Unless you're claiming that there's a "Last Boyscout" type play coming, the whole "injure Brady" is a non-story.