Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather was suspended two games by the NFL yesterday for his sixth, yes, SIXTH violation of the league’s rules on illegal hits. Whether it be leading with his helmet or hitting defenseless receivers, it’s clear that Meriweather has been unable to adjust to the league’s crackdown on dangerous hits in the secondary.
Here’s the video of his hit on Ravens WR Torrey Smith…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5BkBQxBKNA
The Meriweather suspension led his teammate, outspoken cornerback DeAngelo Hall, to lash out at anyone and everyone.
First he tweeted the NFL his dissatisfaction with the suspension, as if Roger Goodell is actually going through the @NFL mentions…
@nfl SMH Most of the guys making the rules never played the game before but they want to tell us what's best for the game…. Yeah right
— OG aka CAPTAIN 23 (@DeAngeloHall23) August 25, 2014
@nfl how do you adjust your target on a person who keeps changing there strike zone. My guy aim low and the WR lowered his head
— OG aka CAPTAIN 23 (@DeAngeloHall23) August 25, 2014
Hall even vented his frustration by comparing Meriweather’s suspension to that of Ravens RB Ray Rice, retweeting this message. If there’s one thing Goodell doesn’t want to see, it’s players openly questioning his disciplinary measures, especially when it comes to hot button issues like the Rice matter. That’s why Hall gets major bonus points for that retweet.
But that was just the appetizer for the main course. Hall then got into a brief tete a tete with Bleacher Report NFL writer Michael Schottey, who called out the cornerback on Twitter. That led Hall to the 140 character equivalent of “put a jersey on” and this exchange…
https://twitter.com/Schottey/status/504029304318332928
https://twitter.com/Schottey/status/504030307574906880
@Schottey @HailSkinz ohh really you think so well let me get you some pads and put you in that situation and see if you can get it right.
— OG aka CAPTAIN 23 (@DeAngeloHall23) August 25, 2014
https://twitter.com/Schottey/status/504033332607594497
@Schottey I've graded your skills too. I'm here too 21300 Redskin Park Druve Ashburn VA 20147. Come holla at me
— OG aka CAPTAIN 23 (@DeAngeloHall23) August 25, 2014
I’m surprised Schottey was willing to take a run at Hall like that and issue a follow-up tweet. Usually when a player calls out a writer, it’s easy for that writer to back off and retreat. Schottey stood firm though and bulldozed through Hall and other Redskins fans. You see, tackling has never been one of DeAngelo Hall’s strongsuits. Observe this play where he stands idly by and watches Rob Gronkowski carry teammates downfield. Then there was this laughable attempt to tackle former Panthers QB Jake Delhomme, who isn’t exactly Cam Newton when he’s rolling out of the pocket.
The Hall comeback is disappointing. He’s supposed to be one of the best trash talkers in the league, but all he can muster up is “I’ve graded your skills too.” I expected a lot more from someone who’s been matching wits with Richard Sherman this offseason. That’s the NFL equivalent of “I know you are, but what am I.” And he’s supposed to be one of the league’s best trash talkers?
Unless Hall can come up with some evidence of misplaced prepositions or run-on sentences in Schottey’s work, I’m disappointed that a Twitter feud that began with so much potential ended in a whiff.
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