WestCoastJoe wrote:Benevides Post Practice July 8, 2013
Re the hit on Gore in the game vs the Argonauts ...
"It's one of those hits that we are trying to take out of the game. It's a spear. It's a head down. It's dangerous for both sides when you lead with your head that way."
I agree with Benny. Take those hits out of the game. If the league does not stop them, IMO, lawsuits by injured players, after their football careers are over, will stop them.
This statement should be coming from the perp's side. It is too many times and too serious that Argo defensive players are on the giving end of these head shots. If the CFL were serious they'd be demanding responses from the coaching staff of these clubs as to ensure that they are teaching and coaching the right way.
Last year when an Alouette player did something - IMMEDIATELY it was denounced by Als' Coach Marc Trestman. We seem (unless I am missing the news) to never hear absolutely anything from the Argo HC or his DC other than to protest their guy's innocence over and over.
I guess if it was Ricky Ray or one of their top guys getting taken out of a game like that, they'd be just as silent as they are when their players take other team's players out of the game. The good thing is that the rest of the CFL doesn't seem to have that headhunting intent that the Argos have shown for the past two years under Milanovich. The question has to be asked: Why is it always an Argo doing this? Their favourite target last year was Buck Pierce and to me that stuff bordered on the criminal.
Phil Jackson in Sacred Hoops made the case eloquently for respect for yourself and your team as well as respect for the game itself and respect for your opponent. Is that missing in some Argos? Then that is a coaching issue. Even if not said, players know the limits and don't need to be told.
Yes, football has lots of holding and crap going on in the line play and cheap shots at times but head shots should be gone - pure and simple. The irony is that other than taking out a QB or top receiver penalties are not a helpful part of football.
It is almost like there are too many Neanderthals still in football not quite unlike toothless pro hockey execs and coaches who want to keep the barbarism in their game yet the NHL expands into the USA where many fans can't get used to toothless millionaires fighting all the time until a game breaks out as that is how many see the game based on limited experience.