Mason sees double standard in protecting QBs

We’d never go so far as to expect Jets WR Derrick Mason to be soft-spoken. But it took us by surprise to hear Mason — an offensive player, mind you — tell NFL Network that the league has a double standard when it comes to protecting quarterbacks.

Mason doesn’t have a problem with Michael Vick‘s rant that game officials treated him differently than other QBs. But while Vick has since backed off those comments and taken the politically correct stance, Mason is backing the beaten-up (or down) Eagle. Not only that, but Mason is perfectly willing to call it as he sees it.

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“Vick has a point. I’m hoping he didn’t back off his words,” Mason said Thursday. “There are some quarterbacks in this league you can’t get close to; if you hit them, a flag is being thrown. Then, there are some quarterbacks you can hit after they’ve released the ball. That’s just the way this league is. You see it each and every week.

“I’m not scared to name any names. People like (Tom) Brady, (Peyton) Manning, (Drew) Brees … quarterbacks like that, who are very, very good and have won championships, you can’t touch them. If you do, a flag is going to get thrown. That’s just how it is, that’s the way our game is being ran now. You can’t touch the franchise guy.”

Of course, there’s a flip side to this issue. Mason went on to say he also sees quarterbacks receiving too much protection, which he says he witnessed firsthand in Week 3 when teammate Muhammad Wilkerson was flagged for roughing the passer for bumping Oakland’s Jason Campbell.

“That flag — and I’m going to call a spade a spade — that was probably the worst flag I’ve seen in a very long time,” Mason said. “That was not warranted. But in this league, they’re taught to protect the quarterbacks. And you can’t touch them after they release the ball. Wilkerson barely even hit him. It was more so like a, ‘Hey, what’s up, how you doin?’ The refs threw the flag. Some weeks, you see stuff like that not called, and then some weeks, you see stuff like that (that is) called. I think when you do something like that, you just have to be consistent as a ref and you have to call it both ways.”

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Mason out for Ravens

Published: December 26th, 2010 | Tags: Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens, Week 16 injuries 2010

Derrick Mason has left Sunday’s game against the Browns with what looks to be a right leg injury.

Mason was injured while running a route down the field early during the fourth quarter. He first tripped after his feet got tangled with T.J. Ward, and then after regaining his balance pulled up lame as he made his way to the sideline. It didn’t look like Mason was able to put much weight on his right leg, and he was down in pain on the sideline for several moments.

Mason is the Ravens’ leading receiver today against the Browns with four receptions for 50 yards, and was on the receiving end of one of Joe Flacco’s two touchdown throws.

No official word from the Ravens just yet, but Mason was limited in practice this week due to an ankle issue.

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