Teams Targeting Palmer's Knee

[HoosierCat]

from good ol' PFT...

TEAMS TARGETING PALMER'S KNEE?

As it turns out, ESPN's NFL Matchup isn't only about breaking down film. It's also breaking some news.

On this weekend's edition, the show featuring Sal Paolantonio, Ron Jaworski, and Merril Hoge contains a surprising revelation.

Film study of last week's game between the Bengals and the Falcons indicate that Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer was instinctively lifting his left foot off of the ground in order to protect his left knee from contact.

And, as Paolantonio candidly observed after Jaws broke down the tape, "It is obvious guys are diving for Carson Palmer's knees. Memo to Park Avenue. The head of officiating, Mike Pereira, needs to look at that tape."

Jaworski then suggested that it has been a common phenomenon this year in every Bengals game: "It's been pretty consistent, you know, when you watch Carson Palmer. I've looked at all the tapes and people are going down low at Carson Palmer."

(Heh. Heh heh. He said "down low.")

In January, a low hit to the left leg from Steelers defensive end Kim von Oelhoffen blew apart Palmer's ACL. Palmer endured a grueling rehab process in order to get ready for the start of the 2007 season, and there were reports in the preseason suggesting that he was not mentally ready to stand in the pocket and expose his lead leg to another injury.

So what next? Can the league penalize players for "psyching out" a guy by diving at his leg and missing? There can be no penalty unless there's contact. If guys are going to dive at Palmer's left leg and force him to lift his left foot in order to protect the knee (and at the same time screw up his throws), what can be done?

Under the current rule book, we're not aware of a penalty for attempted roughing the passer. Look for defensive teams to continue to use this tactic against Palmer, without incident as long as they don't actually hit the leg. And look for the competition committee to take up the question of whether the mere act of diving at a quarterback's knee, even if there's no impact, should draw a penalty.

Yet it's the Bengals who keep getting BS roughing calls.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

from good ol' PFT...

TEAMS TARGETING PALMER'S KNEE?

As it turns out, ESPN's NFL Matchup isn't only about breaking down film. It's also breaking some news.

On this weekend's edition, the show featuring Sal Paolantonio, Ron Jaworski, and Merril Hoge contains a surprising revelation.

Film study of last week's game between the Bengals and the Falcons indicate that Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer was instinctively lifting his left foot off of the ground in order to protect his left knee from contact.

And, as Paolantonio candidly observed after Jaws broke down the tape, "It is obvious guys are diving for Carson Palmer's knees. Memo to Park Avenue. The head of officiating, Mike Pereira, needs to look at that tape."

Jaworski then suggested that it has been a common phenomenon this year in every Bengals game: "It's been pretty consistent, you know, when you watch Carson Palmer. I've looked at all the tapes and people are going down low at Carson Palmer."

(Heh. Heh heh. He said "down low.")

In January, a low hit to the left leg from Steelers defensive end Kim von Oelhoffen blew apart Palmer's ACL. Palmer endured a grueling rehab process in order to get ready for the start of the 2007 season, and there were reports in the preseason suggesting that he was not mentally ready to stand in the pocket and expose his lead leg to another injury.

So what next? Can the league penalize players for "psyching out" a guy by diving at his leg and missing? There can be no penalty unless there's contact. If guys are going to dive at Palmer's left leg and force him to lift his left foot in order to protect the knee (and at the same time screw up his throws), what can be done?

Under the current rule book, we're not aware of a penalty for attempted roughing the passer. Look for defensive teams to continue to use this tactic against Palmer, without incident as long as they don't actually hit the leg. And look for the competition committee to take up the question of whether the mere act of diving at a quarterback's knee, even if there's no impact, should draw a penalty.

Yet it's the Bengals who keep getting BS roughing calls.

To me, the league can't protect Palmer from guys looking funny at his knee. This is where the O-line needs to perform some vigilante justice. They need to let it be known that if some pass rusher flies through and dives at Palmer's knee, that defender is leaving the field on a cart. Remind them that defenders can be pretty vulnerable too.

I bet you, if one D-lineman has his knee blown out by a blocker after messing with Palmer all game long, it won't happen again.

[aaronburr]

To me, the league can't protect Palmer from guys looking funny at his knee. This is where the O-line needs to perform some vigilante justice. They need to let it be known that if some pass rusher flies through and dives at Palmer's knee, that defender is leaving the field on a cart. Remind them that defenders can be pretty vulnerable too.

I bet you, if one D-lineman has his knee blown out by a blocker after messing with Palmer all game long, it won't happen again.

I wouldn't go as far as ending a D-lineman's season/career, but it seems pretty obvious that our offensive linemen aren't bothered by the fact that Carson's taking some questionable shots.

And here I thought Levi was supposed to have a mean streak....

[cincy9275]

On that same show on ESPN, they said Patrick kerney was fined 5 thousand dollar for a low hit on Carson.

[HairOnFire]

On the CBS pregame show Randy Cross, a longtime Bengal attacker, mentioned the Kerney fine, and then added his voice to the growing crowd that claims defenders are targeting Palmers knees. Cross ended his rant by suggesting that the NFL head of officials instruct his crews to send a message to opposing teams by throwing penalty flags.

FWIW....

[alleycat]

I must say that Carson's brought this upon himself by so strangely feeling the need to proclaim over and over in the public at the start of the season that he wasn't over the mental hurdle of that knee.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

To me, the league can't protect Palmer from guys looking funny at his knee. This is where the O-line needs to perform some vigilante justice. They need to let it be known that if some pass rusher flies through and dives at Palmer's knee, that defender is leaving the field on a cart. Remind them that defenders can be pretty vulnerable too.

I bet you, if one D-lineman has his knee blown out by a blocker after messing with Palmer all game long, it won't happen again.

I wouldn't go as far as ending a D-lineman's season/career, but it seems pretty obvious that our offensive linemen aren't bothered by the fact that Carson's taking some questionable shots.

And here I thought Levi was supposed to have a mean streak....

It's been said before, this team could use a little meanness. They've got their share of criminals here and there, but it's not the kind that translates into on the field nastiness. I mean, if you need somebody barfed on, you send in Chris Henry. If you need someone sexually assaulted, you send in Rucker. If you need someone to DUI your boat, you send in Steinbach. But we don't really have that guy you send in to implement a little justice.

I'm not saying it's cool to take a guy out for fun, but if there's some clown intentionally screwing with my QB and his knee, I'll find a way to convince him that it ain't a good idea for his continued health.