Mike Reiss spoke to a league spokesman who had this to say:
“[McGahee] had completed the catch and was a runner. Helmet-to-helmet contact is legal in that situation as it is for any ball carrier (running back, quarterback, or receiver). Helmet-to-helmet contact is prohibited against defenseless players (defined as a receiver in the process of making a catch or a quarterback in the act of passing).”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGRFqOipcTg]
This incident was a legal hit by definition. This is a great analysis of the way it is laid out in the rule book. Still, Ryan Clark doesn’t sit well with me. The Steelers are one of my favorite teams in the NFL and have been for a decade. That being said, I still cannot seem to root for this guy.
This hit seemed close to the “launching yourself” definition which I don’t even know if it is illegal anymore. I know it was at one point. That was my only problem with it.
If you recall, Clark layed a huge, dirty hit on Wes Welker back in Week 13.
This hit on Sunday was not nearly as dirty but it was just as dumb. Clark put not only McGahee but also himself in danger. Clark, who ended up on his back for several minutes, had just as good a chance of hurting himself as he did McGahee. In my mind, it is pure stupidity on Clark’s behalf.
I would have been hard pressed to feel bad for Clark had he been seriously injured or, better yet, had he ended up having to miss the Super Bowl.
