Hall just honest about targeting injured players

Published: September 22nd, 2011 | Tags: London Fletcher, DeAngelo Hall, Maurice Jones-Drew, NFL Total Access, Tony Romo

Whether it’s a popular sentiment in Dallas or not, DeAngelo Hall’s shot-calling on Cowboys QB Tony Romo represents a truth of what happens between the lines in the NFL.

Teams and players look for any and every possible advantage on the field. That especially includes going after players with known injuries or reserves who have entered the game cold off the bench. It has, and always will be, part of the game.

nfl.use('nfl-video', function (Y) { var video = new Y.NFL.Video.Player({ srcNode: "#video-player-09000d5d8227ad33", align: "right", contentId: "09000d5d8227ad33", related: "home", adSetting: "1", dartURL: "http://ad.doubleclick.net/pfadx/nfl.special/blog/home;s1=blog;s2=home;slot=inpage;nfl=ad;tile=3;sz=640x360;ord=?", playerName: "blog_small_embedded", render: true, size: "inline", uniqid: "09000d5d8227ad33"});});

“It’s no different than when you have a guy who might have an injury coming into the game, or during the game. A cornerback who is hurt, obviously the offense is going to come at him,” Hall’s teammate, London Fletcher, told “NFL Total Access” Thursday. “If you have a sub coming into a game in a critical situation, you’re going to go after that guy. … Do you want to intentionally hurt somebody? No. But do we want to get a bunch of hats on him? Absolutely.”

It’s not just a defensive strategy, either. Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew said he “agrees totally” and admitted it’s was part of the reason he didn’t reveal his knee injury down the stretch last season.

“Any time you’re hurt, you have to understand they’re going to try to take you out of the game if they think that it’s going to help them win the game,” Jones-Drew said. “As bad as it sounds, that’s what this game is about, getting a ‘W’ at the end of the day.”

Hall doesn’t  shy away from sharing his opinions, and while his rant was maybe ill-timed and more honest than we’re used to, it’s nothing that should surprise anyone.

Follow The NFL Network on Twitter @nflnetwork.

Posted in: NFL Network   comments    

Comments may be no longer than 2000 characters and will post to the site shortly after submitting.

View the original article here

Collins replaces injured Cutler for Bears

Published: January 23rd, 2011 | Tags: Jay Cutler, Caleb Hanie, Chicago Bears, Jay Cutler, NFC Championship Game, Todd Collins

UPDATE: Collins’ stint at QB didn’t last long because he was ineffective. Caleb Hanie, the No. 3 QB, took over with 57 seconds remaining in the third quarter, meaning Cutler and Collins can’t return.

Any hope of a Bears comeback against the Packers now rests on the right arm of Todd Collins.

Collins replaced starting QB Jay Cutler on Chicago’s second possession of the second half Sunday. The Bears later announced that Cutler was questionable to return because of a knee injury.

According to various reports from the game, Cutler was late coming out of the locker room at halftime and at one point rode a stationary bike on the sideline. He was on the field for the Bears’ first possession of the half, but he missed on his only pass attempt.

It stands to reason that Cutler was injured during the first half and tried to play with the injury but just isn’t able to go. If Cutler is injured seriously enough to be on the sideline during an NFC Championship Game, it appears doubtful we’ll see him again.

Cutler was 6-of-13 passing for 80 yards with an interception.

Posted in: News  

View the original article here