Former All-Pro Eagle, @WIPMorningShow co-host, and current NFL VP of policy and rules @BIGJDR went at @AngeloCataldi today over the Clowney hit.
"I don't try to sugarcoat anything. I try to shoot everybody straight and turn off all of the emotions."https://t.co/OfDzxHqBFy
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) January 16, 2020
Jon Runyan went on 94.1 WIP and backed up the NFL and his decision that the Jadeveon Clowney hit didn’t warrant a fine. Many would think he’d be the proper person to make that assumption since it is his job to enforce the rules and dole out fines to players. Runyan is the NFL’s Vice President of Policy and Rules Administration, taking over in 2016. Runyan went ahead and listed off the reasons for Clowney not getting fired, transcribed from NBCSports:
• “He’s not a defenseless player because he’s not catching a pass and he’s a runner so he doesn’t have the roughing the passer protection.”
• “It wasn’t a leg-whip, it’s not out of bounds, he’s not blocking someone out of bounds, his forward progress had not been stopped, he had not slid feet first. He was not on the ground.”
• “The next one is unnecessary running, diving, throwing your body against a player who was out of the play or should not have reasonably anticipated contact.”
Let’s poke a tole in bullet point one & three.
• “He’s not a defenseless player because he’s not catching a pass and he’s a runner so he doesn’t have the roughing the passer protection.”
When the officials ruled Carson Wentz down on a meaningful 2 point conversion attempt because he technically “gave himself up” which made him a defenseless receiver. This is the problem with the NFL. Nobody knows what the rules really are. Because they change or implement new ones every year or because officiating is so ass backwards in the NFL. Remember when no one could decide what a catch was? The NFL Officiating has been terrible for even longer than that.
Back in Week 2, Carson Wentz dove for the goal line on a two-point attempt and was ruled short because he gave himself up. pic.twitter.com/dR7jDIIgTe
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 6, 2020
Now bullet point three:
• “The next one is unnecessary running, diving, throwing your body against a player who was out of the play or should not have reasonably anticipated contact.”
If you can honestly watch this video and think Jadeveon Clowney didn’t torpedo his helmet into Carson Wentz’s head I have some beachfront property I want to sell you in Iowa.
Here’s the hit from Clowney that knocked Wentz out of the game. Wentz is questionable to return. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Zp4RgGPsoD
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) January 5, 2020
I’ve zapruder’d the film 100x. Once McDougald trips up Carson Wentz he’s going to the ground. Clowney is still on his feet as you can see in the thumbnail on the video.
Clowney’s still standing while his arm is hand is going to the ground. He’ll take one more step before deciding to hit Wentz.
It looks like then he is about to lead with his shoulder to make sure Wentz isn’t able to gain any more yards. McDougald is still wrapped around his ankles on the ground. Clowney still hasn’t planted his dominant foot and has control over his body to make his next move.
As Clowney is going down he turns his head and launches himself at Carson Wentz’s back. Though his shoulder hits Wentz first it’s the finish that smashes Carson’s head into the cold ground.
Imagine a 275 lb man coming in like a torpedo. You’re looking where you made it to the sticks and your head gets smashed like Gallagher cracking open a watermelon with a sledgehammer. I can’t believe the NFL wasn’t able to determine this as a fine. Maybe Jon Runyan who was notoriously one of the dirtiest players in the NFL and was voted second dirtiest player in the NFL in a Sports Illustrated poll isn’t the greatest litmus test for fines.
You can listen to the audio below: