Raiders' Heyward-Bey hospitalized after helmet-to-helmet hit
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey has been taken to the hospital with a neck injury after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers safety Ryan Mundy that was not penalized.
Heyward-Bey was running across the end zone early in the fourth quarter Sunday to catch a pass from Carson Palmer when Mundy launched his body and lowered his helmet into Heyward-Bey's facemask. Heyward-Bey's neck jerked violently and his head also crashed into the ground. The pass was incomplete.
The Oakland Coliseum crowd fell silent. Mundy and players from both sides kneeled in prayer. The home fans also started a derogatory chant at the replacement officials.
Heyward-Bey's eyes were shut for the 10 minutes trainers attended to him as he lay motionless. He was strapped to a table and placed on a cart. As the cart started to leave the field, he raised his right hand to roaring cheers.
Heyward-Bey was running across the end zone early in the fourth quarter Sunday to catch a pass from Carson Palmer when Mundy launched his body and lowered his helmet into Heyward-Bey's facemask. Heyward-Bey's neck jerked violently and his head also crashed into the ground. The pass was incomplete.
The Oakland Coliseum crowd fell silent. Mundy and players from both sides kneeled in prayer. The home fans also started a derogatory chant at the replacement officials.
Heyward-Bey's eyes were shut for the 10 minutes trainers attended to him as he lay motionless. He was strapped to a table and placed on a cart. As the cart started to leave the field, he raised his right hand to roaring cheers.
I hear Ken Schram is going to write 50 words on this and call it a boo boo.Â
I'm not sure how these guys avoid some of that contact. Â Bay is up in the air moving and the defender comes in on the ball, hits him in the chest and his helmet makes contact with the jaw of bay. Â With the speed these guys are moving I just don't see how they can avoid some of that contact.
Bey, the least I could have done was spell the man's name correctly.
...so if Tate drew a $21KÂ for his hit, this one has got to be worth at least $50K.
Another injury due to this insane helmet to helmet contact. When are they going to clamp down on this and offer a years suspension to anyone who does it. That and a healthy fine might encourage them to use other means to take down a player besides trying to kill him. The NFL might be committed to player safety, but what are they going to do something besides give it lip service???
Hit deserves a definite penalty and he should be suspended for a game..... He led with the crown of his helmet and connected with the face mask of Heyward-Bey...scary looking hit.
Garbage refs didn't even throw a flag on the play, either.
All anyone needs to know about the NFL's actual commitment to player safety is that they're happy to collect a five figure fine for a hit like that, but suspending players who actually try to deliberately hurt other players, not so much.
I saw this hit and it made me cringe. Thoughts and prayers to Heyward-Bey for a speedy recovery!