Like everyone else in Tampa, I was appalled by the cheap shot on the Bucs’ Clifton Smith that was brutally delivered by the Carolina Panthers’ Dante Wesley last Sunday. Under a full head of steam, Wesley launched himself at Smith and went elbow-and-forearm-first into his throat as he was looking up in anticipation of a punt return. Smith was knocked unconscious, suffered a concussion and later had trouble speaking.
After numerous replays, talk of repercussions, automatic and likely, ensued. Penalty. Ejection. Fine. Suspension. Too bad arrest wasn’t part of that scenario. Wesley’s illegal play was the very definition of the intent to harm.
“Football,” to quote Vince Lombardi, “is not a contact sport. It’s a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport.” True enough. But it’s takes two to collide.
One final thought. Wouldn’t it have been at least some consolation if the Bucs, infuriated and irate enough at the malicious hit to spark a mini-melee before halftime, had then rallied around the assault of one of their own – and won their first game of the season?
Not that kind of season. Not that kind of team.