Ahmad Brooks Says His Flag For Hitting Drew Brees Was "Bullshit"...

[Upton]

With the Saints driving, down three, with just over three minutes left, Ahmad Brooks sacked Drew Brees and forced a fumble that was recovered by Patrick Willis. "It was almost like Christmas early," Willis said. Well, Christmas was canceled. Officials called Brooks for a personal foul, which swung the game. Brooks was, understandably, pissed.

http://deadspin.com/ahmad-brooks-says-his-flag-for-hitting-drew-brees-was-1466625370?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+deadspin%2Ffull+%28Deadspin%29

The home cooking reserved for star QBs penalty probably cost the 49ers the game. Though in reality they didn't play well enough offensively to win anyway, but still. Might as well just put flags on the QB and say none of them are allowed to be hit.

[intaglio]

1. That's a "clothesline" hit one of the most danderous hits you can make

look at the QB's neck when that hits. It risks severing the spinal cord, displacing cervical vertebrae, crushing the wind-pipe and the hyoid bone in addition to possible concussion.

[Upton]

2. Baloney..he hits him on the shoulders..

and just why is Brees wearing shoulder pads anyway..decoration?

[intaglio]

5. Did either of you actually look at the gif?

The tackle is high with the upper part of the arm striking the neck before the elbow and lower arm strike the upper chest and the right hand grasps the shoulder. This tackle forces Brees neck to hyper-extend.

A clothesline does not need to be passive with the offender just sticking his arm out to catch a running player. The tackle you have pictured is highly dangerous and was rightly penalised.

[Upton]

6. Sure, I've looked at it..but I wonder if you have.

Brooks' initial contact is with the shoulder pads of Brees both on the chest and shoulder, not with the neck. His neck does snap back some, but that's not due to any "clothesline", which the hit definitely wasn't, it's part of what happens in football when a larger player hits another.. or at least it's supposed to be..

[joeybee12]

7. You need glasses...nt

[Upton]

8. You're obviouisly biased..

since Brady, much like Brees, is one of those NFL protected QBs who looks for and often puts on an act to get game changing calls like this..I guess I can understand your position, but I also realize where it's coming from.

[Goblinmonger]

18. His neck hyper-extends (if that's a thing)

because the hit lands simultaneously with the right hand on the Brees' left shoulder pad and their right shoulder pads connect. It has nothing to do with any other part of the arm which doesn't land until after those two contact points cause the "hyper-extension."

[Goblinmonger]

3. Absolutely not a clothesline

He hits his shoulders first. The arm never really becomes a part of what is going on in the neck.

[trotsky]

12. Yeah definitely not a clothesline.

But a nasty looking hit nonetheless. Yikes.

[nomorenomore08]

19. And not something that would be called in probably 4 out of 5 cases.

"Home cooking" is right.

[joeybee12]

4. Good call...who knew thugs could be such crybabies?

[Auggie]

9. I thought it was bullshit. But the bigger issue is …

49ers don't have an answer for defenses that stuff the box.

[Upton]

10. Right now, the 49ers basically have no passing game..

so whenever they run into a team they can't physically dominate, they're in trouble. It's unusual in today's NFL to have a one dimensional team on the rushing side, but that's what they've become.

The 49ers have problems. It's going to be a struggle to even make the playoffs. Kaepernick has never adapted to losing Crabtree and has regressed overall. I don't know why the 49ers didn't go after another established WR after the Achilles injury. And sometimes I wonder if Roman's play calling is putting Kaep in the best position to succeed..

[Auggie]

13. Agree. I wonder about the play calling too.

I can't say if Kaep's regressed. Defenses are playing him tougher. He needs passing reps. Maybe simpler plays. He's still the equivalent of a first year starter.

My guess is Harbaugh/Baalke knew they'd get Crabtree back around now and figured the schedule was easy enough that they could stay in playoff contention without an established WR. That loss to Carolina was a big blow to that plan. So now they need to finish 5-1 to probably secure the WC.

Crisis mode in Santa Clara this week. Tough games ahead. Perhaps no Iupati, either.

[Iggo]

11. In other news, Alex Smith just lost his first game since, what...the 2011 season?

[madinmaryland]

14. Too fucking funny!! I remember when a pass rusher even caused a breeze by Montana,

they got called for roughing the passer.

[Upton]

15. Then you don't remember too well..look how the NFL has changed..

The majority of these then legal hits, Montana is in there too, would be penalties today..

[wilt the stilt]

16. I disagree with you

most of these hits were shoulder first.

[joeybee12]

17. Ray Lewis said he'd pay Brook's fine...thugs of a feather, I guess...nt

[Upton]

20. The NFL's hypocrisy..