Random YouTube Magic: Anquan Boldin Gets KTFO by Eric Smith's Cheap Shot

I've seen the replay and I believe Smith should be fined for the play but I don't see or hear anyone commenting on is how the hit Bolden took from behind caused his head and upper body to dip down into the oncoming collision. Smith dove at Bolden and should be fined for that but there were other factors involved that made the hit more dangerous.

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Is it really fair to call this a cheap shot? If you watch the video, Boldin was pushed from behind and accelerated towards Smith, throwing off the timing of the hit. Considering Smith was running full speed, he didn't have time to redirect his hit. With the extra step he'd have had had Boldin not been pushed forward, he possibly could have dipped down and drilled him with a shoulder to the chest rather than the head shot.

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That wasn't a cheap shot, it was just bad luck. I hope Boldin is fine, but to call for a fine or suspension of Smith is just crazy.

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Smith made no play on the ball. He led with his helmet.
$50k plus 1 game sounds pretty good.

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That was not a dirty hit.

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Like Johnson said their are other reason's the hit actually happen, the man covering Boldin is who should be fined 1. he broke a rule with Pass Interference and 2. Because of that pass Boldin went forward faster which lead to Smiths not be able to pull away for the blow he was going to give.

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Unfortunate? Yes. Cheap? I don't think so.
The quick little nudge in the back just before the other flying imbecile comes in is what separates it in my opinion.

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if you watch it in full speed there was no way for him to stop as his player pushed boldin into him. I want to see one of you people just stop on a dime. Idiots there was nothing he could have done.

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Clearly it was helmet to helmet, but it's hard to see any malicious intent here... A fine might be in order, but even that is hard to justify seeing how the league didn't reprimand anyone for McGahee's eye getting gouged.

Obviously let's just hope Boldin is ok. Seeing someone lying on the field like that is always scary.

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Here's a suggestion to clear up all the cheap shots in football:

If youare fined and/or suspended for a cheap shot that injures another player, YOU don't play another game until they do. Give a late hit that ends someone's career? Too bad, 'cause yours is over too. That would put an end to the spearing, the horse collaring, and the helmet-to-helmet stuff. And I'm perfectly happy letting the commissioner decide the outcome.

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Helmet to helmet idiots, what part of that don't you understand! Fine his A--!!!!

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it was not a cheap shot. he was pushed forward from behind. end of discussion. there was no way that he came flying into boldin with "cheap shot" on his mind. let's see all you armchair quarterbacks stop on a dime. this is not a punishable hit...unfortunate....hell, yes. outcome.....everyone will walk away and be okay. there was absolutely no malicious intent. it was gravity, speed and size. thank god that boldin is alright.

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ive played several years of defensive back and in my opinion i just see a defensive back charging the ball, just like we are taught to do. it is a vicious hit, but i do not believe it was intentionally helmet to helmet, it was just the position of the players in the air.

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I too played defensive back (safety) for several years and I know full-well the act of charging the ball and executing a well-timed, bone-jarring hit, but this hit was malicious and I'm glad Eric Smith was fined appropriately. As pointed out by someone else, Smtih made no play on the ball whatsoever and then exploded forward to make the hit, leading with his head no less. You can't tell me he wasn't looking for a "kill-shot" on this play.

I agree that the attempted tackle from behind (pushing Boldin's head down) is what ultimately caused the "helmet-to-helmet" shot to be so violent, but even if Boldin's head stays up, Smith was coming at him with malicious intent to knock him out, plain and simple. That said, let's drop the argument that the action of "the other guy" is the true cause of the injury because he knocked Boldin's head down . . . Clearly Smith could not anticpate this and was unable to pull away at the last 1/10th of a second to stop contact with Boldin's head, but that's how things are in the NFL. So many things can happen in a matter of milliseconds that can cause injuries, which is why you have a responsibility as a professional athlete not to put yourself or someone else in a position to be seriously injured. That's why the rule is black & white . . . Helmet-to-helmet = $ Fine / suspension. Enough said.


p.s. Donaldson, your argument is ludicrous. You claim the other defensive back should be fined because he committed "pass interference"? Watch the film . . . he made contact after the ball had arrived and broke no rule. Even if he had committed P.I., you actually think he should be fined for making a typical football play? Give me a break. Eric Smith's actions were reckless and malicious and he is clearly the one to blame here.

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Smith lead with his helmet, and injured a player = suspension and fine. I'm good with that. Was it malicious, or premeditated? Of course not. The main thing is Bolden's going to be ok. And it was great to see so many players from both teams in prayer for him...

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There has to be something set up for "Incidental Helmet to Helmet"

STILL, Not a Dirty Hit.

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Look first off he did lower his head and threw his helmet towards the direction of Boldin's helmet. I did see what some of you were talking about how he got pushed down some. But i think what really pushed the NFL to decide it was uncalled for is because he launched himself like that at a defenseless receiver while the game was out of reach and coming to an end. If it had been a close game and that score was going to make a difference then they might have gone easier on him saying he was trying everything he could to knock the ball out. But with it being out of reach and him lanching his helmet in the direction of Boldin's helmet ultimetly decided the ruling....

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Obviously none of you guys have ever played football, let alone at a high level. It is absolutely impossible to NOT lead with your head in a tackle, physically impossible. Also it is absolutely obvious that Smith was as shocked by the hit as Boldin. I guess no one noticed him crumple to the ground? Do you really think he was expecting that? His trajectory was straight into Boldin's chest with his head up (which you are taught to do). Boldin was knocked forward and down into Smith's face. There was nothing malicious at all about the hit. As for 'illegal', well anything can be illegal if Gooddell and his goons want it to be. The hit was clean and in the spirit of the game, however, that hasn't stopped the NFL from trying to ruin good play with their 'protections' for players.

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I was sitting in the fifth row in the end zone when this went down. Everything happened in a split second. Although the affects of the hit could have been terrible, there was NO WAY for Eric Smith to redirect his body. Physics doesn't allow this.

On another note, the hit sounded like a train crash and when Boldin went down I thought he was seriously injured. I have never seen anything like that live in action. Thank God he is feeling fine. Things could be much much worst.

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are u guys retarded? u really believe the guy saw the play unfold, lucky to follow the quarterback at all, and realized not only where it was going, but also how to play and where to land his head in order to hurt boldin??? thats ridiculous. do not get me wrong, injuries are the worst part about football, and its extremely unfortunate that bolden has to deal with it now, however its football. this is not flag football, and they dont play 2-hand touch. hits happen, and people get pissed/coaches get pissed when big hits dont happen to players who make big plays. smith was just trying to do his JOB. 6 inches lower, ie had bolden not been hit from behind, which also couldnt have been foreseen had they had 3 weeks to rehearse, and it would have been the hit of the week, and worthy of sportscenters top plays. give me a break. no need to encourage dirty hits, there are clearly enough injuries in the sport to go around, but dirty hit? get a life. thats absolutely a ridiculous comment.

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