Jets' Smith suspended, fined for hit on Boldin

Calling Jets safety Eric Smith's hit on Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin on Sunday "a flagrant violation of player safety rules," the NFL suspended Smith for one game yesterday.

[seeyaalright]

It's hard pulling up on a play like that. Adrenalin takes over some times when you are trying to make a play. Take the fine and move on. Glad both guys are ok.

[Dont Agree]

I don't agree with the ruling. I realize that some hits are dangerous, but I also realize that there are times when it wasn't purposeful and this is one of them. If you look at the video again you can clearly see that smith was intending to hit Boldins body. But when Rhodes hit Bolding from behind it changed Boldins momentum. It made Boldins upper body and head get forced forward and down, and by this time smith was already committed. That is why their helmets collided.

But whatever, I mean I figured the league would be ignorant about it, and they were. Listen, when grown men are flying around the field at full full speed, sometimes you're going to have accidental impacts. Not to say that some players don't try to hurt others, but I think it would have given the league more credibility if they used a little more common sense when reviewing these hits. You can clearly tell when a player intends to hit another player in the head, or even have time to try to avoid it and don't. There is no way Smith could have altered his path to change what happened. Again, without the hit from behind, Smith hits Boldin in the mid section. To fine and suspend him, means he knew that Rhodes would hit him from behind, and the effect it would have on Boldins body, and that knowing this he purposefully aimed at an area that he expected his head to be at. That is simply impossible.

[Jordan]

That same thing happens to Breaston instead of Boldin and there's no suspension and fine.

It's just a case of the league protecting its stars.

[Joe Con40]

When are we going to stop letting the players MOM'S make the rules in pro football this is part of the game ! Very unfortunate for Boldin but nevertheless a down side of pro football and no player should be penelized for doing his JOB!!!