Here’s video and a photo montage of Carolina Panther Dante Wesley’s vicious hit on Tampa Bay Buccaneer Clifton Smith today in Tampa:
(Video after the jump)
Smith suffered a concussion and a throat injury and was unable to speak after the Bucs 28-21 loss to the Panthers. Wesley was ejected from the game and will undoubtedly get fined and hopefully a suspension.
Tampa Bay Safety Sabby Piscitelli had the reaction most of us had. He said, “I was in shock like everyone else. I was trying to keep my cool as a professional and not kill him.”
I say “most of us had”, because Carolina Coach John Fox has a reax that will probably surprise you.
Fox told Tom Balog of the SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE, “I know the kid and I know the kid’s character and I know he would never do anything like that intentionally, anything cheap. It’s unfortunate, but it happens. I’m sure he’ll learn from it.”
The video doesn’t lie. There was no ball and Wesley had a 10-yard run-up, what else do you need to call it a dirty play?
So what Fox is really saying is there’s no such thing as a cheap shot.
7:10 pm on October 18th, 2009
Ever notice football coaches when defending their players sound like sleazy trial lawyers.
7:17 pm on October 18th, 2009
One of the dirtiest hits I’ve seen in 40 years of watching the NFL. Wesley should be suspended for a game.
7:32 pm on October 18th, 2009
all fines should be equal among the player , coaches, and owner. in my opinion they are all responsible. this is not the 70’s when the teams signed dirty players to do exactly what happened.
7:41 pm on October 18th, 2009
awsome hit. guys need to take the skirts off and play ball.
8:06 pm on October 18th, 2009
There’s nothing wrong with being the dirtiest player in the game. WOOOOOO!
9:18 pm on October 18th, 2009
The ball almost lands on them a second later…
Cheap hit. Heavy fine. No suspension. Mike’s a dick.
That’s my take.
9:56 pm on October 18th, 2009
Ever heard of “deliberate intent to injure”? That’s what it was, plain and simple.
“No suspension” my ass — Dante West should get a 4-game ban at least, the remainder of the season possible.
10:05 pm on October 18th, 2009
Suspend his a** - otherwise the Ben Davidson helmet spike is next…..
10:15 pm on October 18th, 2009
Suspend West for 4 games - and fine John Fox for his comments.
10:38 pm on October 18th, 2009
That guy better hope that he doesn’t play the next Tampa/Carolina game.
10:47 pm on October 18th, 2009
If you check the replay, you will see he never called for a fair catch. therefore.. if you’re barreling down a football field at full speed with every intent to level your opponent because that’s what you get paid MILLIONS of dollars to do.. then that’s what you do. I think his timing was off, and yea the hit may have been a little high.. but where do you think he’s gonna catch the ball.. therefore where do you think he’s gonna aim for a fumble? bad timing, nice hit, unfortunate result, and suspended for the rest of the game.. sure why not. but.. ITS TACKLE FOOTBALL.
12:53 am on October 19th, 2009
Hey Numbskull itsfootball you don’t hit a player before he catches the punt and he even did call a fair catch….listen to the ref
2:55 am on October 19th, 2009
I see this entry has unearthed a few folks from the retard crew:
“if you’re barreling down a football field at full speed with every intent to level your opponent because that’s what you get paid MILLIONS of dollars to do.. then that’s what you do.”
“awsome hit. guys need to take the skirts off and play ball.”
Those comments speak for themselves.
3:07 am on October 19th, 2009
only people who’ve never played football at a legit level are asking for anything more than a fine…
fine him and move on, and ha @ dirtiest hit in 40 years of watching the NFL, quit lying, that hit was soft compared to even the 90’s when they actually let you play football and hit people…let alone the 70’s and 80’s..
and do any of you idiots actually watch the NFL? more than highlights? at least 5 more times this season a punt returning will be looking up at the ball and get jacked up before it comes down…the play happens multiple times a year, though wesley added a little extra with it which is where a fine comes in, anything more would be a disgrace to the men who’ve built this sport into what it is today….
8:48 am on October 19th, 2009
@ weak. Well said sir!
10:16 am on October 19th, 2009
Yeah, he shouldn’t have even been fined. That was a completely legit hit. Hell, every special-teamer should inflict neck and throat injuries on every single punt. And this no helmet to helmet crap? Get rid of it. Nothing more than a stain on the league and a dis to all the guys that came before, blazing a trail of blood, broken bones, miserable old age and premature death.
10:47 am on October 19th, 2009
The fact that you’re getting paid millions is a reason to ACT professional, ie. your timing, your spit-second response time, your judgement, etc. Wesley had much MORE time than many other plays in sports to make a good decision. The play is intentionally deliberate (for all the time he had, almost premeditated) and he should be disciplined accordingly.
12:39 pm on October 19th, 2009
Read the rules, people. You can’t touch the receiving player before he touches the ball…PERIOD. Not only did he hit CS, but he deliberately launched himself off the ground into him, shoulder first, right under the helmet. I say a MINIMUM of a four game suspension and heavy fine. It wouldn’t be out of line for him to be suspended for the remainder of the season. Better yet, drop Wesley into the Bucs locker room for 10 minutes after the game. You can keep your fines and suspensions then. Wesley is d*mned lucky he didn’t break Smith’s neck and put him out of football, paralyze him, or even kill him…any of which COULD have happened on a deliberate foul like that.
The shots of Wesley acting all upset on the sidelines after the announcement of him being ejected is laughable. How would he have felt if it was one of HIS teammates and friends laid out on the field, unconscious? Wesley is a moron, an @**hole, or both.
1:44 pm on October 19th, 2009
DMANN….I’m sorry what was that? Everyone should be allowed to inflict neck and throat injuries? What year do you live in? What games are you watching, are you like lined up at the Colosseum to watch guys fight lions and tigers or something? Are we in gladiator times again? Or do you you go out in your bison skin wrap with your club and beat your chest to impress women? Go back to your cave, friggin barbarian.
2:48 pm on October 19th, 2009
LOL at jim being so stupid.
3:37 pm on October 19th, 2009
How long did it take him to leave, 3 hrs? Wesley is prancing around after like he’s making a music video..
4:04 pm on October 19th, 2009
that would only be ok on Tom Brady after his 5th touchdown pass with less than a minute left in the 2nd quarter calling timeouts