T.J. Ward

[Canton Mike]

@pavo-joe said:

Suh's hit was a continuation play. He could have let go and stopped at any time, insteed he tried to twist his hear off as he tossed him to the ground. Ward's hit was dam near unavoidable and he clearly did not lead with his head there was however helmet to helmet contact as Shipley has coming down. I guess it could be Shipleys fault for not defying gravity and levitating in the air so he only got busted ribs instead of a concussion.

I may be wrong but My view of "continuation" (Ward's hit) is a movement already started that couldn't be stopped. Suh's throwing DelHomme as he did was a deliberate & additional action &, at least IMHO, should have been been a MUCH higher fine. I don't say this as a biased Brown's fan, but simply as an observation. Suh's hit was simply malicious & the difference in fines was completely out of line.

Mike

[CLEVELandMILIDH]

Quick video I put together, Im gonna do a complete one once I get some more video of him.

"The Warden" is his new handle, copyrighted by me....

[cambridgeho]

"The Warden" that is a badass name.

[TheClevelandSound]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81b1...le=HP_headlines

BEREA, Ohio -- T.J. Ward's "cheap shot" was costly.

For delivering a nasty blow to an opponent's head, the NFL belted the Cleveland Browns' rookie safety in the wallet.

Ward, who in just four games as a pro has developed a reputation as a ferocious tackler and fearless talker, was fined $15,000 Wednesday for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley during the fourth quarter of the Browns' win on Sunday.

Ward confirmed he was fined, but he wouldn't divulge the amount. However, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that the league assessed Ward the $15,000 penalty for ramming Shipley, who was knocked out briefly and sustained a concussion.

The league will not announce its discipline on Ward until Friday.

A split-second after Shipley failed to catch a pass from Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer in the end zone, Ward unloaded on the rookie wideout, sending him sprawling to the turf. Ward claims he led with his right shoulder, but television replays clearly show him making contact with Shipley's helmet.

"I just tried to make a play, and unfortunately, he got hurt," Ward said before practice Wednesday. "It's part of the violent game we play. If you play that position, it kind of comes with the territory."

The Bengals weren't pleased, and following the game, both Palmer and wide receiver Terrell Owens accused Ward of a dirty play.

"I just hate to see a guy get hit like that in the head," Owens said. "For him to take a cheap shot like that, that's uncalled for."

Browns coach Eric Mangini defended Ward, saying it was an aggressive play -- nothing more.

Owens countered with a personal shot at Mangini.

"Look who it's coming from," Owens told Bengals teammate Chad Ochocinco in an interview on VERSUS in advance of the premiere of the "The T.Ocho Show." "Probably 90 percent of his players don't like him (Mangini) anyway. "I don't like him. We got to see him again anyway, so we'll see who's going to do some cheap shots next game.

"Hit me like that."

The Browns visit the Bengals on Dec. 19.

Ward insists he didn't intentionally try to injure Shipley. As he came across the end zone, Ward said he saw the ball and Shipley and acted instinctively.

"It wasn't malicious intent to knock him out or get him hurt," Ward said. "It's part of the game. I reacted to what I saw and tried to make a play. I didn't really try to hit him with everything I had, but still it was a pretty violent hit. I wasn't trying to aim for his helmet in any way.

"I just hit what I saw, it all happened so fast."

It might have been a blur, but with the league determined to clean up unnecessary contact to player's head in the wake of new studies on concussions, Ward might need to closely monitor his future on-field conduct. He might not deserve a head hunter's label or to be cast as a dirty player, but it's likely officials will be aware of Ward's actions as the season progresses.

Undersized at 5-foot-10, Ward made Oregon's team as a walk-on. He wound up playing 37 games for the Ducks, catching the eye of pro scouts because of his ability to punish running backs, wide receivers and quarterbacks. He never backed off, and he has no plans to stop playing the only way he knows.

Ward was aware that Mike Pereira, former NFL vice president of officiating, said in an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer that the league should fine the 23-year-old a minimum of $25,000 for a hit he described as "one of the worst I've seen in a while."

The Browns haven't had a defensive back who could hit like Ward since safety Eric Turner in the 1990s. Mangini wants his team to be physical, and from experience, he knows that having a safety who can deliver knee-buckling hits can make receivers wary of coming over the middle.

"Legally, you want guys to think, 'OK, if I catch this in cut, there's going to be a price to pay for catching this,'" Mangini said. "If you can establish that, then sometimes guys will get alligator arms or they won't run those angles quite as deep or as tight.

"No one would ever admit, 'Man, I don't really want to go in there.' If you can get an understanding with receivers, it helps."

Not surprisingly, the Browns didn't have any issues with Ward's big hit. If anyone of them had a right to be upset, it's rookie quarterback Colt McCoy. Shipley was McCoy's teammate at Texas and the best man at his wedding. But even he didn't believe Ward's hit was beyond reason.

"It's a violent sport," McCoy said. "We all know that there's gonna be contact. Nobody ever wants to get hurt, and nobody ever wants to hurt anybody. It was a good hit. Jordan knows. He's played receiver his whole life. There's a chance that when you go across the middle, that you're gonna have to take a big shot, a big lick, and he got one."

[jrb12711]

looking at this hit objectively, it's extremely clear that although it was a late hit on a "defenseless" player, he is clearly leading with his shoulder on that play. It just so happened that the two helmets hit too. Like jesus, why would anyone lead with their helmet to hit another person in the helmet? That would clearly hurt the guy doing it about as much as the guy getting the hit. I 100% agree it was a late hit, and I'm in no way surprised he got fined, but clearly wasn't a cheap shot. Stop crying T.O. you premadona bitch.

Also LOVE the way this kid reacted to it. As everyone said, this is the type of guys we need on our defense.

[Earl34]

@theclevelandsound said:

Owens countered with a personal shot at Mangini.

"Look who it's coming from," Owens told Bengals teammate Chad Ochocinco in an interview on VERSUS in advance of the premiere of the "The T.Ocho Show." "Probably 90 percent of his players don't like him (Mangini) anyway.

Oh my. Coming from that paragon of positive lockerroom dynamics known as TO. All I can say is "Oh my". This is why teams were beating down the door for you this season T.O..

Personally, I'm kind of tired of hearing everyone's opinion on what TJ Ward's intent was. So, if you believe the talking heads, he deliberately intended to hurt Shipley. He took a cheap shot. I don't think that anything you see on film is going to tell you that. It was a good hit that was a little too high and therefore illegal.

When Erik Smith knocked the snot out of Anquan Boldin in 2008, he was running full speed and initiated the hit. The other DB hit Boldin from behind and Boldin then rotated to a position where Smith struck him helmet to helmet. The game moves fast and sometimes the aggressor can't change his vector to avoid an illegal hit.

I said it before and I'll say it again. Welcome to the NFL Jordan.

[hoorta]

Formerly Stone said:

That's bit of an exaggeration dontchya think?

Bengals fans? Ask a whining wussy if they thought an injury was cheap or dirty? No thanks, I'd rather ask an infant about rocket science.....probably get a more rational answer.

Question- how do you break a guy's jaw if you didn't hit him in the head? Here's the kind of shit Ward gets away with, and pisses off opposing fans. ALL equivalent to TJ's hit- and go and tell me most of those shots had ANYTHING to do with the play. The play was freaking OVER when he zonked Davin Holly.

And I'm not on the guys case just because he happens to play for the Steelers- I'd detest him just as bad if he played for any other team. With the new shots to the head rule- looks like Wards going to have to clean up his act because it's gonna be "Fines for Hines".

[bringbackbrownie2]

"A split-second after Shipley failed to catch a pass from Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer in the end zone, Ward unloaded on the rookie wideout, sending him sprawling to the turf. Ward claims he led with his right shoulder, but television replays clearly show him making contact with Shipley's helmet."

-And this is why I hate the media including ESPN with their biased reporting. It is clear by the video that he DID lead with his shoulder. There was a little helmet contact but the big blow was his SHOULDER hitting the helmet. They make it sound like it was helmet to helmet when it wasn't.

"Ward was aware that Mike Pereira, former NFL vice president of officiating, said in an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer that the league should fine the 23-year-old a minimum of $25,000 for a hit he described as "one of the worst I've seen in a while."

-This is seriously a joke because their have been several helmet to helmet hits this year while Wards was shoulder to helmet. I agree the penalty was warranted, and a small fine as well- just not $15,000 considering Suh was only fined like $2,500!

[beefjerky]

Ward will for sure be going for Owens now that he called him out, then after the game he'll cry about how dirty of a player Ward is.

I sorta wish the play happened to Owens instead of Shipley.

[The Gipper]

@hoorta said:

Question- how do you break a guy's jaw if you didn't hit him in the head? Here's the kind of shit Ward gets away with, and pisses off opposing fans. ALL equivalent to TJ's hit- and go and tell me most of those shots had ANYTHING to do with the play. The play was freaking OVER when he zonked Davin Holly.

And I'm not on the guys case just because he happens to play for the Steelers- I'd detest him just as bad if he played for any other team. With the new shots to the head rule- looks like Wards going to have to clean up his act because it's gonna be "Fines for Hines".

On 4 occasions on this video Ward did his blocking by leading with his helmet. As far as I know that is supposed to be illegal, but beyond that, I simply have to say that it is somewhat of a miracle that he doesn't have a compressed vertebrae in his neck or worse. I think he is kind of lucky. At this point in his life and career I doubt that he wants to continue to do that sort of thing or else he could be spending the rest of his days in a wheelchair being fed by a tube.

[The Gipper]

Formerly Stone said:

Nice video.....it shows a series of quality hits! The only one that is even borderline is the one on Holly, the rest are exactly what you teach football players to do.

And the one on Holly is very similar to the hit that this thread is all about.

SOUR GRAPES!

I was thinking it was more the one on Reed that was the worst. He lowered his head and hit Reed directly with his helmet. But, as I said, to me, that play looked like it could have been ultimately more dangerous to Ward than to Reed. Frankly, it looked like Ward could have snapped his f**king neck on that play. (courtesies to the Longest Yard)

[Mr. T]

@clevelandmilidh said:

Quick video I put together, Im gonna do a complete one once I get some more video of him.

"The Warden" is his new handle, copyrighted by me....

You can add a couple of good hits on Roddy White after this weeks game.

The Warden is in the House!

[slowburn]

@clevelandmilidh said:

Quick video I put together, Im gonna do a complete one once I get some more video of him.

"The Warden" is his new handle, copyrighted by me....

nice

[calfoxwc]

Owens translation:

"Waaaaa, the Browns don't just give up passes all day anymore, waaaaaa"

NFL translation:

"Waaaaa, The Browns aren't one of our chosen teams, waaaaaaaa"

Palmers translation:

"Waaaaaaaa, we lost the game and their defense means business now, waaaaaa"

whine whine whine.

If it had been a hit by Pollymaulyouwithhishair, there would have been a 50 dollar fine.

Winning teams get the juice, the NFL likes the $$$$.

I love T.J. Ward's play. That one hit didn't quite turn out like he meant it, but it's a fast game.

The Browns have to play big, it's a big play game.

[The Gipper]

Formerly Stone said:

1. These clips are from past years before the helmet to helmet sissy rules started.

2. If you watch closely you will see that he leads with his face mask and not the crown of his helmet.

Were they from before the head to head rules started? I kind of question that. I am understanding that those rules have been around about 10 years.

And on the Reed hit, I don't know what you are watching. It is clearly the smack dab top of his helmet that he lays into Reed's throat.

Like I said, that one was foolish on his part....for his own sake. Forget about the guy he hit. That his looked like a paraplegic maker...for him.

[Kosar_For_President]

@clevelandmilidh said:

Quick video I put together, Im gonna do a complete one once I get some more video of him.

"The Warden" is his new handle, copyrighted by me....

Dude, nice editing, but "Bodies Hit the Floor". Come on, 99% of all NFL compilations use this dumb f*cking song

See my post for song suggestions.

[neohionative]

@dawgpoundpitt said:

Not gunna lie....i loved the TJ Ward hit on shipley...yea hes gunna get fined, but i think it shows that he will light someone up if you come across him. Yes it lead to a TD but still we need that intimadator in our D and hes showing he can be that guy

Looking though this thread I see a lot of comments at the very least tacitly approving the hit, yet these are some of the same people who bitched high and low about another Ward being a cheapshot artist extraordinaire...

It's this kind of dimwitted hypocrisy and stubborn refusal to aknowledge talent elsewhere that makes being a Brown's fan here kind of hard

[hoorta]

@neohionative said:

Looking though this thread I see a lot of comments at the very least tacitly approving the hit, yet these are some of the same people who bitched high and low about another Ward being a cheapshot artist extraordinaire...

It's this kind of dimwitted hypocrisy and stubborn refusal to aknowledge talent elsewhere that makes being a Brown's fan here kind of hard

When did I ever say Hines Ward wasn't talented? IMO, he's borderline HOF, and if he stays healthy a few more seasons, he's a lock.

BTW, I'm done arguing with Stone- he can believe whatever he wants to about HW, and it sure isn't going to change my opinion any on the matter. Not only in denial what a cheap shot looks like presented conclusive video evidence, he's clueless to what the term "spearing" means.

[The Gipper]

@hoorta said:

When did I ever say Hines Ward wasn't talented? IMO, he's borderline HOF, and if he stays healthy a few more seasons, he's a lock.

BTW, I'm done arguing with Stone- he can believe whatever he wants to about HW, and it sure isn't going to change my opinion any on the matter. Not only in denial what a cheap shot looks like presented conclusive video evidence, he's clueless to what the term "spearing" means.

Perhaps who and who is not a "dirty" player is purely a subjective matter. Perhaps Stone thinks subjectively that Hines is not a dirty player. Unfortunately for him, subjectively, Ward's peers perceive him and voted him the dirtiest player in the NFL. Is that unfair? Ward and Steeler may subjectively think so. Nevertheless that perception is out there. Is perception reality?

[WarrenDawg]

T.J., Please put a good lick on each receiver on my list...

1. Hiney Ward

2. Ochocinco

3. T.O.