Chris Carter was awful all night when he spoke. I feel like I have seen them call crack backs penalties, but only if the runner is passed the block already when it occurs.

 

Regardless of legality, it was ****ed up to jeopardize another player's career with a cheap shot. If a player isn't looking, you don't go head hunting.

 

My understanding is that it's a penalty if it's in the back, low or to the head, or if it's unnecessary (ie. that the player wasn't a potential tackler). IMO it did not meet those criteria. In fact, I would have been pissed if Jones had broken the tackle that brought him down and Branch had just stood there watching Lewan tackle Jones to save a TD.

Not sure on the taunting penalties. It does seem that sometimes the number doesn't matter. The refs are just trying to send a message and give those players that one penalty towards ejection.

 

There was no head hunting. He stuck his shoulder into his chest. Totally legal vicious hit. That's football at its finest.
If a player isn't "looking" while running towards the ball he deserves to get knocked the flip out.

 

Did anyone see that lineman who branch apparently knocked out, pop right back up SO fast as if he was embellishing the hit??
I could not believe it. Anyone see the replay again of this? Just wondering if it looked the same to anyone else.

 

It's absolutely ****ing not football. Nothing about that hit is football. And I didn't mean a literal shot to the head, but rather trying to blow up a player who is not looking. There's an NFL brotherhood and you don't **** around with someone else's career like that. Everyone in the NFL is a teammate in that respect.

 

I get that... I'm with you. However, Taylor Lewan isn't exactly the textbook definition of a standup guy, and clean player who follows the unwritten code of the game either. Of course, no proof, but I'm willing to be that Lewan was doing some stuff all game that put a target on his back too. Not that it makes it right... But Lewan is a bit like Richie Incognito was... he's a hot head, and he's got a reputation as a dirty player himself. That goes back to his college days too IIRC. I remember tailgating with some guys at Michigan games when Lewan was there, he's not a model citizen from the things you heard from the locals. Sometimes that unwritten code gets tossed aside when guys themselves have already broken it. Again, obviously nothing factual here, and I don't disagree with you, just some additional context.

 

Appreciate that. Was not aware of Lewan's rep.

 

https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/nfl-video-rulebook/defenseless-player/

The Dolphins had possession at the time(making Branch an offensive blocker), and came in from the direction of the Titans endzone.

I'm sure the team will try and make the argument that Branch made the effort for it not to be a blindside block because he hit him from the front, but it doesn't really matter- the level of contact was unnecessary. Branch didn't quite pull a Warren Sapp, but he could have picked his spot and taken him out of the play with less than what he did.

 

Are you officially ready to cross over the line near Toledo and become a Buckeye? Water is warm down here, hop in!

 

Never!

Although at this point I couldn’t care less if they fired Harbaugh though if he loses to both MSU and Ohio again, especially after the Notre Dame loss too. Doubt it’ll happen because of the value he brings the program in every other way but you can’t keep losing rivalry games. Lol. The whole roster is basically his recruits now though, so it’s time to put up or shut up for him in my opinion.

 

Taylor Lewan played college for my Wolverines. Let me just say, he was known for doing dirty s**t on the field...and i loved him for it. Hell, I wish the Dolphins would have got him. I don't mind a little 'dirty'.

So, don't go around feeling sorry for him. If you dish it...you gotta take it.

 

Bingo

 

There's some real disgusting fandom going on in this thread. It's not even remotely tolerable to say that dirty play is acceptable so long as it's a guy on our team doing it.

Here's the real answer to the original question: Branch made a dirty, dangerous, and 100% illegal play that the refs inexplicably missed the call on for whatever reason. He most likely should have been thrown out and he'll probably get fined by the league office. Despite the missed call, what Branch did was disgusting, and should never EVER be encouraged at any level, regardless of who the opposing player is and what reputation he has.

If I were Adam Gase, I would be absolutely destroying him in meetings this week. There is no room that type of play on any football team and there is no excuse to be dirty...ever. Branch should be ashamed of himself, and as a fan I was completely ashamed for him when I watched it live.

 

Well then the question becomes does it matter per the rules that Branch contacted him in the chest?

 

Branch intentionally tried to hurt another player. He went in there looking for blood and he literally knocked the guy out cold before he hit the ground. Anyone who thinks that's a good football play is a psychopath.

 

Do you know Branch? Has he confessed this to you?

 

You're right. He probably destroyed the guy on accident. I mean it's not like he called the guy a "body bag" as he was being escorted off the field by doctors. That would be insane. Only someone looking to hurt a person would shout something so ridiculous after knocking them out.

You're probably right though. It's me reaching for a story. Branch sounds like a peach.

 

Passing quite the judgement on Branch there though aren’t you? Lewan isn’t exactly a model citizen on the field. He’s doing things on a regular basis that cross the line. Sometimes, that puts a target in your back and you end up having to pay the piper. Not saying that makes it right if Branch was hunting him and he had intent to injure ... which I doubt is anyone’s motive on that field 98% of the time.

As for what happened after, Lewan was up pretty quickly and in that scrum. Who knows what got said between the two and what was heard likely out of context. Let’s not forget here Taylor Lewan is also the guy who apparently cover up a rape for a friend/teammate then threatened the victim saying he’s rape her again if she didn’t shut up.

If we can pass judgment on branch like you are for a block that doesn’t look all that illegal or that brutal. Hell, Landry’s last year was by far worse. But if you can vilify branch for that and his actions surely you should be able to recognize that things like that rarely happen without there being underlying reasons. Especially when Lewan has a reputation as a dirty player.

I mean it is what it is. I don’t think it’s that bad of a hit. Initially live, I though Lewan flopped a bit to sell it. There was some pretty good whiplash effect there though but I don’t see it as a play full of intent with branch head hunting. Lewan is in position to tackle jones potentially. And if you don’t think a guy like Lewan is going to take a shot at jones on the sideline there if he has a chance you’re foolish. Branch takes a guy out of the play. Shoulder to chest. It’s not really blindside. Sure Lewan doesn’t see it coming but what do you want branch to do? Go ahhh. It’s ok. I’ll let that 300 pound lineman get a shot at hitting our safety who’s returning an INT ?? No.

It looks bad. The result is bad. I don’t necessarily see it as that bad. Coulda been a penalty, but it wasn’t really by the wording of the rule.

It’s quite the assumption though to say branch intended to hurt him by his comment. These guys were five or more hours into a game at that point after delays. After an INT. After the play and a little scrum/brawl breaking out... emotions are high. It’s trash talking. I’m sure things far worse that that get said every play, and I can almost guarantee you Lewan was fully taking part in that, and then some leading up to it. If you don’t think so, just read some books from guys that played int he trenches. It’s pretty common.

I also think a lot of what happened for fan reaction to the play was driven by the moronic commentary by the fox crew and Blandino. They made a mess out of their broadcast trying to explain whatever they thought happened which was wrong. If the refs called it that way. And New York called it that way and agr ed with the refs. I guess fox clearly got it wrong. Lol

Again i don’t like it. But.. I don’t think it’s the mounting you’re making it out to be here either, but I get where you’re coming from. :up:

 

I said my piece. Anybody that thinks that was a dirty play needs to switch to European football. Take Goodell with you.

He got knocked the flip out. It's a full contact sport. Trying to give it a motive of intentionally injuring another player is immature at best. These guys are trying to knock each other the flip out EVERY PLAY!!! While not intentionally trying to injure anyone. THAT'S FOOTBALL!

at least it used ta be

 

I normally appreciate your sarcasm a lot. But I think you're being genuine here which is confusing me because trying to be real while providing undocumented info to the discussion is confusing for me.

Did someone shout "body bag" while Lewan was laying on the ground? I wasn't there and I've only seen the play as it happened without any commentary so I'm asking???. If not, what's your point?

 

100% sarcasm. Yes, Branch reportedly yelled "body bag" directly at Lewan as he was being escorted out of the stadium by medical staff. To me that means he was intent on hurting the guy and then proud of himself after the fact, which is even worse.

If you don't believe me though...



It's ok to love the Dolphins without loving all the players on the Dolphins. Andre Branch is clearly a disgusting human being. End of story.

 

How can we really be sure who he’s yelling at?? Lewan is walking off the field through one of the tunnels, branch is yelling towards the field at someone by the looks of things. Who’s to say he’s actually yelling at Lewan here???

Upon further research, the twitter using posting it is likely a titans fan. Something to do with Vanderbilt baseball, which of course is Nashville area. Seems to be he’s taking this clip out of context based on being what I’d assume to be a titans fan given his locale. Branch clearly yells body bag. No disputing that but looks to me by the video Lewan is nowhere near the direction Branch is yelling. I think it just looks that way from the way it was broadcasted

 

Must be a lot of psycopaths around here then.
He didnt knock him out cold, he hit him in the chest. The play was in front of the ball with Lewan going towards the returner. Its football, if he were head hunting I would agree with you. he hit him in front so not a block in the back, and in his chest area.

 

The block by Landry last season was far, far worse. IMO, Landry absolutely blew that dude up. Branch, again IMO, did not try to blow him up. If he wanted to blow him up, he could have legit launched into him, and Lewan would not have been walking off the field on his own. I think that most of the force in that impact came from Lewan. I think it's ridiculous to act like Branch shouldn't have blocked him.

 

Damn, our fan base is slimy. When did it become ok to purposely hurt people? Branch wasn't just trying to block the guy. He was trying to knock him the **** out and end his night...and that's exactly what happened. These guys are not Roman gladiators; we don't need to see a dead body on the field to call it football.

You guys just sit on the highway with a bucket of popcorn waiting for cars to crash? Did you guys get stiff when Walker broke his ankle? Complete savages.

 

For reference, this is what it looks like when a guy gets knocked out before he hits the ground.



That looks like a normal block to you? He's 6 yards away, not really even trying to make a play, and not moving toward the runner.

 

Yep, you definitely nailed the sentiments of everyone who disagrees with you. We definitely have all stated that we want to see our players play dirty.

Or rather there's a bunch of us in here who don't think that Branch tried to blow him up. We don't think it was even an illegal hit. I've watched the replay a ton, and I still don't see Branch try to blow a dude up.

 

I think hes out when his head bounces off the ground. Unfortunate result, but that is all you are looking at.

 

Yeah it's the ground's fault that the dude got knocked out. Let's blame the ground for being too hard and pretend like Branch is a good dude.

 

At some point you just see what you want to see. That doesn't make things better, or right.

I get that you don't want it to be true for whatever reason, but unfortunately there's overwhelming video and audio evidence to suggest that he was in-fact trying to "blow him up".

 

That was a direct reply to you stating he was out before he hit the ground. Are you that dense?

 

Agreed and I was critical of Landry for that hit at the time since IMO it was dirty. My opinion isn't based on whether a player plays for my team. I don't feel Branch's hit was dirty. He clearly wanted to get a shot on Lewan b/c of how dirty Lewan plays, but Branch was smart enough to do it within the rules and clearly did not hit him as hard as he could have.

 

Fame, get off your high horse.

 

Jones ends up on the ground right next to Lewan. He was in position to make a play on the ball.

No that did not look like a normal block. If it would have looked like a recent version of normal block for the Phins OL Branch would have missed and Lewan would have blown up Jones instead.