Jets' Eric Smith Suspended for Hit on Arizona Cardinals' Anquan Boldin

by cgolden on Sep 30, 2008 6:04 AM MDT in General Arizona Cardinals News

It didn't take long for the league to decide that New York Jets safety Eric Smith should be punished for his vicious hit on the Arizona Cardinals' Anquan Boldin. News came down yesterday evening that the league slapped Smith with a $50,000 fine and a one game suspension. The league said that Boldin was in a "defenseless position" and this offense fell under their new crackdown on "any conduct that unnecessarily risks the safety of other players." For what it's worth, Smith also sustained a concussion on the play.

Boldin was taken to the hospital but he is back home and resting comfortabling, according to Ken Whisenhunt. Players are off today so media access will be pretty limited. It will probably be Wednesday before get an update on his condition and/or his availability for this Sunday. For now, it sounds like Boldin will be back to his old self sooner rather than later and I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's ready to go this Sunday.

Poll

Do you agree with the league's punishment of Smith for his hit on Boldin?

Absolutely, but I'd have been more severe

14 votes

Sounds about right

22 votes

No, it was a hard hit but it was clean

13 votes

49 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

A fine by example

If the other safety weren’t behind Boldin providing opposing force, do you think Eric Smith’s hit would have had the same results? Sure, it would have been a helmet to helmet hit which seems to bring a $5K to $15K fine with it, but I doubt the head trauma each felt would have been as bad. To see a $50K fine and a one game suspension is a bit of a surprise but this is the “new” NFL where fines stem from prevention rather than the subjective elements of a particular situation. So this fine sounds “about right” in Goodell’s NFL.

If it was Adrian Wilson laying the lick on Coles, we’d be in an uproar about this fine.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Sep 30, 2008 7:38 AM MDT reply actions

If it was A-dub, there would have been a penalty on the play as well

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Sep 30, 2008 9:34 AM MDT up reply actions

Difference between AW and that hit...

Is when AW lays out Todd Heap it’s all him and he didn’t even use helmet to heltmet, just a big hit. It was clear Smith was leading with his head and I think that is why everyone is up in arm’s over this.

by boogatt66 on Sep 30, 2008 9:34 AM MDT reply actions