Raiders went after Newton..like we didn't notice it.

The OL got pretty aggressive as well. I didn't have a problem with anything the Raiders did on that play or Cam kicking back.

 

Yep but you know the media is gonna blow it all out of proportion. Just like Cam bumping the ref. Just watched a clip of that and it looked accidental to me. He jumped up and the ref had moved in between him and the Oakland guy. Cam was obviously pissed and saying something to the ref but the bump wasn't Cam "going after the ref". Not even close to something like the Orlando Brown deal a few years ago. Not to mention the shit Brady gets away with... whiny ass bitch. Put him in that same play/situation and he would have reacted similarly and probably not gotten a flag.

 

It wasn't accidental at all. Remember that Cam also said something to that ref that was so offensive that he felt compelled to apologize in his press conference.

 

Oh no doubt he said something... My dad and I were laughing saying we wish we could hear what he said to the ref. It was on the other end of the field from us and we couldn't even tell that he had bumped him.

 

Going after Cam when the defense hurt Palmer is like pimching your mother if you piss me off. Hardy hit was legit in my opinion and I've heard a lot of sports folk say the same - the side of his helmet pushed against Palmers back as it went past but didn't hit his head or into his side - Hardy's shoulder was what contacted Palmer's side. So the only person who "hurt their team" was Hardy. I know the thinking is you take our QB, we'll get yours but again, you're revenge is misguided, aside from wrong by the league.

 

You sure? It looked to me like the helmet was the first thing to hit.

 

Well it looked on replays to me that he dove at him (while Palmer still had the ball), his shoulder hit Palmer low on his actually arm below shoulder and Hardy's helmet may have grazed as he hit, but it actually was behind Palmer's back. I'm sure the blow jerked Palmer's neck pretty radically to the side and then when he hit ground it would have snapped sideways again, but while I wasn't right on it, they replayed it a lot in the stadium and that's what we saw including the Raider fans behind us. Probably very close/fine line between leading with the helmet, but a good hit.

When we got home we asked my husband what he'd heard during and post game about it (and other ticky tack calls) and while I don't know what commentation he quoted, but they said it was close but still a good clean tackle. Of course there are probably as many with the opposite opinion, but that was my take and the three Raider fans behind me initially said foul but after watching replays said it looked ok to them too.

 

And having looked at the photos from the game, in the still shot, it does look like leading with the helmet for sure. Of course live action can be subjective. But still shots can also be misleading. When Hardy hit, Palmer was in throwing action, so he could have been in the process of stepping back on his back foot to throw which would have made him step or lean back into the helmet.

But yeah, at the game it looked like a good hit, the still makes it look like a penalty.

Oh, and good for Cam apologising to the ref - maybe someone told him to do it, but I think we're seeing some positive growth.

Have to laugh - a 5' 9" enforcer! (Smitty)!!!!

 

Um he was a Raider too.

 

I was more focused on the hit from hitting Palmers head since the league really looks for that but he did lead with his head so as pussy as it is the flag was justified by the rules.