WebProNews

Tag: Clay Matthews

  • Dashon Goldson Suspended For Illegal Hit

    Dashon Goldson, safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has been suspended. He will be out for one week as a result of the illegal hit that he delivered to running back Darren Sproles, who plays for the New Orleans Saints. On Sunday, he hit Sproles with helmet to helmet contact, which is illegal in the NFL and can be very dangerous for players. This is not the first time that Goldson has violated the rules of the NFL and put another player in danger. Due to being a repeat offender and the seriousness of his latest hit, Goldson is being suspended for one week.

    The illegal hits that players have been delivering lately has become a big issue and something needs to be done in order to change that behavior, or we will be seeing more and more injuries. There have already been several injuries this season to running backs and quarterbacks, which can really hurt a team. Clay Matthews was fined for a very serious hit on Colin Kaepernick in week 1, in addition to other fines that were delivered during the game. Fox Sports Florida reports that Goldson, a seventh-year veteran, has drawn 15 personal fouls since 2010, more than anyone else in the league. The violation that occurred this past Sunday was also the fifth time that he has been called for unnecessary roughness since 2011. It seems a bit unnecessary, but he does not seem to get the point, since the whistle continues to be blown on his inappropriate antics.

    Overall, Tampa Bay was penalized 10 times for 118 yards in the Week 2 loss. This certainly played a large part in their loss and the game ended with a final score of 16-14 after a lack of offense from both teams. The suspension will prevent Goldson from practicing with the team or competing in their week 3 game against the New England Patriots. He will be able to resume team activities next Monday. This was also his second fine in the first two weeks of the season, after being penalized for striking Jeff Cumberland of the New York Jets, when he was defenseless. He was fined $30,000 for the hit against Cumberland, when he hit him in the head and neck area, according to ABC News.

    The suspension was imposed Monday by NFL vice president of football operations Merton Hanks. In the statement sent to Goldson, Hanks told him “It is clear that you lowered your head and unnecessarily rammed the left side of your helmet into the left side of your opponent’s head.”

    Hopefully, Goldson will start to get the point eventually, otherwise more drastic measures will need to be taken.

    Dashon Goldson hit on Darren Sproles

    Image via Youtube

  • Clay Matthews Fined For Hit On Colin Kaepernick

    This week, Matthews becomes the next villain in the dirty play of defensive players. He gave San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, a very hard tackle during their game last week. Matthews is a linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, and he has been known for delivering hard and dirty hits throughout his career. Matthews played for USC in college and was drafted by the Packers in 2009, making quarterbacks all over the league fear for him ever since.

    In their week 1 game, the Packers and 49ers faced off in a complete grudge match. The game’s final score was 34-28 in favor of the 49ers. Fighting to become one of the top teams in the NFC again this year, both teams have a lot to prove. Matthews delivered a late hit to him on the sideline after Kaepernick was scrambling near the sideline. The play even resulted in a fight between the two teams on the sideline, causing 49ers tackle Joe Staley to be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. After the game, Matthews conceded that it was not a smart play, although with only one other game of being fined, he feels that he still has a pretty clean record, states ESPN.

    The fine was issued on Friday, but the day before it was announced Matthews was asked to comment on the play. He was not willing to discuss the play and simply said “I’m an awesome player, not a dirty one.” He was previously fined $5,000 for a facemask penalty that was issued to him after hitting Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in 2010.

    Matthews’ fullback teammate Matt Kuhn also defended him by saying “Clay’s not a dirty player. I think most people know that. We want him to play aggressive.” He also insisted that defenders have to be aggressive with a quarterback like Kaepernick who runs with the football, according to CBS Milwaukee.

    The whole game turned out to be very aggressive, issuing fines to other players as well, including 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks who was fined $12,750 for a hit on Aaron Rodgers and 49ers receiver Anquan Boldin was fined $7,875 for a late hit on Jarret Bush. With both of these coming from 49ers players, maybe they were simply retaliating out of frustration for the aggression that was given to their quarterback.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pr8hIzNefk

    This week, the Packers host the Washington Redskins and the 49ers have another tough match ahead against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks.

    Image via Youtube

  • Clay Matthews Recipient of Criticism After Late Hit

    Before Sunday’s game between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers, Packer’s linebacker Clay Matthews stated that the Packers would be going after quarterback Colin Kaepernick: “One of the things that the referees have told us is that when these quarterbacks carry out the fakes, they lose their right as a quarterback, a pocket-passing quarterback, the protection of a quarterback. So with that, you do have to take your shots on the quarterback, and obviously they’re too important to their offense.” And on Sunday, that is exactly what Matthews attempted to do. However, the all-pro linebacker for the Packers was unable to do so… legally; Matthews did happen to get a hit on Kaepernick, but that hit happened to come late after the play was over and the quarterback had run out-of-bounds.

    Matthews and the Packers certainly had reason to be targeting Kaepernick. Just 8 months ago during the playoffs, Kaepernick torched the Packers for 181 yards rushing and led the 49ers to victory in just his first playoff start. In said game, Kaepernick was responsible for 2 touchdowns through the air and another 2 on the ground. The 181 yard performance was a playoff record, and also seemed to serve as a metaphorical “slap” against the Packers defense.

    Literal slapping occurred after Matthews made the illegal tackle on Kaepernick. Following the play, 49ers offensive tackle Joe Staley rushed to the defense of his quarterback (Both statements being ironic because Staley would never rush anywhere at 315 pounds and doesn’t play defense seeing as he is an offensive lineman, but you get the point.). While grappling with Matthews on the sidelines, Jim Harbaugh (the coach of the 49ers) said “… I saw two punches thrown to Joe’s head. Well, one punch and one open slap. Which if you’re gonna go to the face, come with some knuckles, not an open slap.”

    What is your opinion on the statement and actions of Matthews? Respond in the comments section below.

    The statement by Harbaugh simply continues his onslaught against the statements and actions made by Clay Matthews. In response to the comments Matthews made before the game concerning going after the 49ers quarterback, Harbaugh made the following statement:

    “You’re hearing some intimidating type of talk. Kind of things — same things we were hearing a couple of years ago. It sounds a lot like targeting a specific player. “You definitely start to wonder. A man will usually tell you his bad intentions if you just listen. You know what’s being said publicly, you wonder what’s being said privately. You hope that their intent is not going to be anything that’s not within the rules.”

    After the game, Harbaugh would also said toward Matthews that “I think that young man works very hard on being a tough guy. He’ll have some repairing to do to his image after the slap.”

    When one adds together all the comments made by both sides, the actions committed during the game, and the botched call by the referees, and we have what looks to be a quickly evolving rivalry; A rivalry which seemingly brings much tension and animosity for years to come.

    Image via YouTube

  • Clay Matthews, Suave Team Up For Hair Like Clay Twitter Sweepstakes

    Clay Matthews is a Green Bay Packers linebacker and a self described “average American with extraordinary hair.” And now he wants to see if you too, can have Hair Like Clay.

    Matthews has teamed up with Suave for Men hair care products for the promotion, which leverages Twitter to give one lucky fan the chance to hang out with last year’s Super Bowl champ, sometime during the offseason.

    The contest began on February 1st and will run through February 15th. All fans have to do is snap a photo of their best Clay Matthews hair style. It can be their real hair, or a Clay Matthews-esque wig for those who might be follically challenged. Once they have the perfect photo, fans must tweet it to the @SuaveMen Twitter account using the hashtag # HairLikeClay. One lucky fan will be chosen to win a trip to hang out with Matthews.

    “All men can’t have football greatness like Clay, but they can have hair greatness with Suave for Men,” said David Rubin, Unilever Marketing Director, Hair, U.S. “Clay is a great fit for our Suave Men’s line and with #hairlikeclay we’re giving fans the opportunity to show off their hair greatness for the exciting opportunity to meet Clay in person.”

    @SuaveMen
    Suave    Tweet us a photo w/ your best @ClayMatthews52 hair & include #HairLikeClay for chance to hang w/ Clay this offseason. http://t.co/HiRdZMel 2 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    Suave has also tapped Clay’s brother Casey for a Matthews vs. Matthews video campaign showcasing…you guessed it, hair.

    I wonder when Head & Shoulders’ “Hair Like Troy” campaign will kick off?