ret2ski
10-21-2010, 06:08 AM
Patriots Journal: Meriweather apologizes for hits
08:45 PM EDT on Wednesday, October 20, 2010
By ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer
FOXBORO — One day after Brandon Meriweather was fined $50,000 by the NFL for two helmet-to-helmet hits in Sunday’s victory over Baltimore, the Patriots safety said he was sorry for the hits, especially the one on a defenseless Todd Heap that occurred in the second quarter.
“Once again, I’m going to say I’m sorry for the hit,” said Meriweather. “I understand the league is trying to protect the health of all our players. To be honest, I just want all this to go away. I want to focus, with the rest of my team, on the Chargers and really not let this come up again.”
Heap remained on the ground for several minutes while being attended to by trainers after he got blasted by Meriweather. It was a scary moment but Heap eventually left the field under his own power and returned to the game.
“I’m going to try my best to play within the rules, like my coach had always taught us,” said Meriweather. “I’m going to hit and play the game like my coaches have always taught us. Even in training camp, we have always been taught the proper way to hit. I’m going to just focus on that and try to put it in my game in some way, shape or fashion.
“From here on, I’m focusing on the Chargers. Anything else spoken about this, I will not comment on.”
Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo said that he was “a little bit” surprised that Meriweather got fined $50,000 but added that “those are the rules and we have to take heed to them.”
While Patriots coach Bill Belichick did not want to talk about the subject of helmet-to-helmet hits, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady did.
“It’s a dangerous game, it really is,” said Brady. “I think we all signed up for this game knowing that it’s dangerous … [but] nobody wants to see anybody get hurt. That’s not why we play the game. But we also know the physical nature of this sport is that people do get hurt. We’ve all been hurt. Everybody in this locker room has been hurt. I’ve had four or five surgeries. It’s just part of what you’re signing up for.”
The NFL is looking into suspending players for helmet-to-helmet hits.
“You get trained as a player and everyone’s just trying to go out there and make the play,” said Brady. “Sometimes I guess guys cross the line. Sometimes guys are trying to do it within the rules that are set for us. It’s a very instinctive game out there. They’re going to enforce the rules however they see fit. We show up one week and they say, ‘Well, this is how the rules are now.’ That’s just the way it works for players, and we learn to make adjustments with that. It’s not the first time they’ve changed a rule here during the season. It’s just what they do.”
Down and out
Running back Fred Taylor (toe), receiver Julian Edelman, who left Sunday’s game against Baltimore with a head injury, and safety Jarrad Page, who left Sunday’s game with a calf injury, did not practice on Wednesday.
San Diego coach Norv Turner said that he was going to hold tight end Antonio Gates (toe) and receiver Malcom Floyd (hamstring) out of practice on Wednesday.
08:45 PM EDT on Wednesday, October 20, 2010
By ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer
FOXBORO — One day after Brandon Meriweather was fined $50,000 by the NFL for two helmet-to-helmet hits in Sunday’s victory over Baltimore, the Patriots safety said he was sorry for the hits, especially the one on a defenseless Todd Heap that occurred in the second quarter.
“Once again, I’m going to say I’m sorry for the hit,” said Meriweather. “I understand the league is trying to protect the health of all our players. To be honest, I just want all this to go away. I want to focus, with the rest of my team, on the Chargers and really not let this come up again.”
Heap remained on the ground for several minutes while being attended to by trainers after he got blasted by Meriweather. It was a scary moment but Heap eventually left the field under his own power and returned to the game.
“I’m going to try my best to play within the rules, like my coach had always taught us,” said Meriweather. “I’m going to hit and play the game like my coaches have always taught us. Even in training camp, we have always been taught the proper way to hit. I’m going to just focus on that and try to put it in my game in some way, shape or fashion.
“From here on, I’m focusing on the Chargers. Anything else spoken about this, I will not comment on.”
Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo said that he was “a little bit” surprised that Meriweather got fined $50,000 but added that “those are the rules and we have to take heed to them.”
While Patriots coach Bill Belichick did not want to talk about the subject of helmet-to-helmet hits, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady did.
“It’s a dangerous game, it really is,” said Brady. “I think we all signed up for this game knowing that it’s dangerous … [but] nobody wants to see anybody get hurt. That’s not why we play the game. But we also know the physical nature of this sport is that people do get hurt. We’ve all been hurt. Everybody in this locker room has been hurt. I’ve had four or five surgeries. It’s just part of what you’re signing up for.”
The NFL is looking into suspending players for helmet-to-helmet hits.
“You get trained as a player and everyone’s just trying to go out there and make the play,” said Brady. “Sometimes I guess guys cross the line. Sometimes guys are trying to do it within the rules that are set for us. It’s a very instinctive game out there. They’re going to enforce the rules however they see fit. We show up one week and they say, ‘Well, this is how the rules are now.’ That’s just the way it works for players, and we learn to make adjustments with that. It’s not the first time they’ve changed a rule here during the season. It’s just what they do.”
Down and out
Running back Fred Taylor (toe), receiver Julian Edelman, who left Sunday’s game against Baltimore with a head injury, and safety Jarrad Page, who left Sunday’s game with a calf injury, did not practice on Wednesday.
San Diego coach Norv Turner said that he was going to hold tight end Antonio Gates (toe) and receiver Malcom Floyd (hamstring) out of practice on Wednesday.