Panthers-Bucs aftermath: Cheap shot by Talib? (Updated x2)

One of the bigger stories following the Bucs' 31-16 home win against the Carolina Panthers involved the Bucs' goal line stand, where the defense stopped Panthers QB Jimmy Clausen on an attempted QB sneak from the one yard line on fourth down.

On the play, Panther wideout Steve Smith was flagged for unnecessary roughness, hitting the pile late to peel off Bucs CB Aqib Talib.

Smith defending himself regarding the play:

"Jimmy was over the top, and 25 and 26 (Talib and Bucs safety Sean Jones) went head-first into Jimmy, and I followed. So that wasn't frustration. Despite what people think, I actually am a team player. I'd do it again, I'd do it 10 out of 10 times, 100 out of 100 times. Guys going in there, he's going head-first in there, I'm going to follow.

"That's not frustration. That's the fight in me. I'm not going to quit, I'm not going to let whoever it is come in there and cheap-shot my guy.
(Charlotte Observer)

The play did not look like a cheap shot by Talib when I first viewed it.  Then again, I'm a Bucs fan so I may be biased.  So I went to the tape to double check.

It seems possible that Talib's helmet contacted Clausen's.  Sometimes that's enough to generate a fine from the league office.  I do not expect much of a fine if any, however.  Why?  Because the video playing shows that Talib led with his arms, not with his head.  Talib jumped into the pile looking to push Clausen back, and was able to get his hands on Clausen's shoulders as the two collided.  The helmet contact was incidental.

Might as well look for Sean Jones on the play

Jones' hit looks much the same.  He jumps into the pile looking to push Clausen back with his hands and may (I can't tell from the video) have helmet-to-helmet contact with Clausen on the play.

The video from the opposite side of the field helps confirm that any helmet-to-helmet contact was minimal.  Clausen's head and shoulders are visible throughout the play from that angle, and his head never bobs out of position in relation to his shoulder pads.

I don't doubt that Smith believed to at least some extent that he was defending his quarterback from a cheap shot.  But the video evidence makes it look like his judgment was off.

Officials aren't the only ones who do that, apparently.  And in this case the officials made the right call by citing Smith for unnecessary roughness.  But only just barely.  Smith's hit on Talib wasn't particularly vicious.

If Smith wants an example of a cheap shot he can go here.  No doubt about that one.

Update:

I found an interesting take on the Clausen story from Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times:

Carolina's Clausen was injured when he was stuffed short of the goal line on a fourth-down keeper against Tampa Bay. Replays showed Buccaneers Aqib Talib and Sean Jones diving at the quarterback, and the helmets of Talib and Clausen colliding. After the play, Panthers receiver Steve Smith received a 15-yard penalty for shoving Talib.

The helmets collide.


Smith shoves Talib.


Interesting choice of verbs.

Note the airborne Smith "shoving" Talib.  Shoving him with the shoulder pad, that is, and leaping (how else?) head first.  Talib is the guy with Smith's shoulder pad in his ribs.


I doubt Farmer had available to him any view of the play showing clear helmet-to-helmet contact, let alone something that would justify describing the helmets as "colliding."


Update 2:

Via the St. Petersburg Times:

TAMPA — Likely to the dismay of Panthers coach John Fox, Bucs CB Aqib Talib was not fined or otherwise disciplined by the NFL for a hit the Panthers say likely left QB Jimmy Clausen with a concussion.

The story goes on to quote Panthers coach John Fox to the effect that Clausen was involved in a number of plays that might have caused his concussion.  Thanks for a local blackout of the game I'll have to trust Fox on that assessment--but it's entirely what I expected.