Shockingly, Broncos Player Thinks Vince Wilfork, Patriots, Play Dirty

The Denver Post's Mike Klis makes an interesting point: when it comes to the NFL Gestapo meting out punishments, players who receive bad publicity for their actions receive stiffer penalties than those who don't, no matter how egregious the offense. I have no idea if the data support Klis's claim, but anecdotally, it certainly seems plausible.

The league's decision to only fine -- and not suspend -- Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork for unsuccessfully decapitating Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler is the latest example, according to Klis, and some Denver players are in agreement.

"When he gets beaten on a play and then retaliates with a cheap shot, it's uncalled for," [center Casey] Wiegmann said. "But a lot of guys on their defense are doing that type of stuff. If you go back and watch the play-by-play, stuff happens late all the time."

No story of cheap-shotting would be complete without the cursory Rodney Harrison mention, so here ya go:

"The play right before Rodney Harrison got hurt?" Wiegmann said of the season-ending knee injury the Pats' safety suffered later in the game. "He cheap-shotted me right around the pile after the play. Stuff like that, they get away with."

And no, the irony of a Broncos offensive line accusing somebody -- anybody -- of cheap shots isn't lost on me. That said, it shouldn't give opponents, particularly those with a history of dirty hits, carte blanche to do as they please. No worries, though, I get the feeling that the league is very serious about cleaning up its image (commence theme music).

Dirty Plays in Sports

Vince Wilfork's forearm shiver to Jay Cutler's noggin on Monday Night Football earned a trip to New York to visit with Commissioner Robert Goodell. Wilfork was fined for the incident, but does his "dirty play" even reach the same level as others on this list?

Tom Hauck, Getty Images

Spurs forward Robert Horry's hip-check sent Suns guard Steve Nash flying out of bounds during Game 4 of their NBA series in 2007. Horry was suspended for the next two games; Amare Stoudamire and Boris Diaw of the Suns were banned from Game 5 for leaving the bench area during the incident. The Spurs eliminated the Suns and went on to win the NFA title.

Chris Birck, NBAE / Getty Images

Ohio State's legendary coach Woody Hayes got caught up in the emotion in 1978 and punched Clemson's Charlie Bauman after his interception ended the Buckeyes' potential game-winning drive during the Gator Bowl. Hayes was fired the next day and never coached again.

NFL linebacker Bill Romanowski made series of rule-breaking decisions during his career. Among them: he ended a teammate's career by punching him and breaking his eye socket (Marcus Williams), spat on an opponent (J.J. Stokes) and kicked an opponent in the head (Larry Centers).

Andy Lyons, Getty Images

Mike Tyson shocked the world when he bit Evander Holyfield twice -- once on each ear -- during their title fight in 1997. Tyson, who said that he was retaliating because Holyfield had been allowed to get away with headbutting him, was disqualified and suspended.

Jeff Haynes, AFP / Getty Images

In an incident the Titans' Albert Haynesworth would later describe as "disgusting," he stomped on the helmet-less head of Cowboys center Andre Gurode in 2006. Gurode needed 30 stitches to close the wound. The league suspended Haynesworth for five games without pay, its harshest penalty ever for an on-field transgression.

John Russell, AP

Vancouver's Todd Bertuzzi grabbed Colorado's Steve Moore from behind and punched him in the side of the head during a game in 2004. Moore sustained fractured vertebrae in his neck, facial injuries and a concussion. Bertuzzi forfeited about $500,000 due to suspension by the league.

CP, Rogers Sportsnet / AP

Dennis Rodman showed that he took the Pistons' Bad Boys nickname seriously when he kicked cameraman Eugene Amos in the groin during a sideline entanglement in 1997. Amos was carried from the court on a stretcher. Rodman, who scoffed at the seriousness of the injury, was suspended 11 games and fined $25,000.

Sports Channel Chicago, NBA / AP

Boston's Marty McSorley swung his stick and hit the Canucks' Donald Brashear in the head in 2000 during a game in Vancouver. Brashear hit his head on the ice and lost consciousness. McSorley was found guilty of assault and sentenced to 18 months probation. The NHL suspended him for a year and he never played in the league again.

Gerry Kahrman, Vancouver Province / AP

Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the knees in 1994 by Shane Stant, who had been hired by rival Tonya Harding's husband, Jeff Gillooly. Kerrigan was unable to defend her title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships due to her injuries.

Lennox McLendon, AP

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

11-01-2008 @ 10:16PM

Wayne said...

If you hadn't written that last paragraph, I would have lost all respect for you as a pseudo-sports journalist.

The irony is so thick in this situation that you can cut it with a knife. How many players have the Broncos' o-line injured with illegal chop blocks over the years? It's just sour grapes from an underachieving team.

11-01-2008 @ 11:30PM

rj said...

any bronco players break any legs lately. or was bryan cox the last one...wilfork is a dk. your just pissed cause you got killed. first time in the last 5 games these 2 played the refs weren't in the bag for bronc's

11-02-2008 @ 7:20AM

Thatsabsurd said...

The New England Patriots have absolutely no class. They are the scum of the league.

The article is correct once a team plays them (honestly) and gets a head either individual against individual or by the entire team cheap shots start all over with the Patriots.

If goodell really wanted to clean up this league he should start by eliminating the entire New England 9Scum) team.

New England you suck!

11-02-2008 @ 2:09PM

keeva said...

Your jealousy is unseemly!

Go Pats!!!

11-02-2008 @ 9:37PM

Ken said...

Kiss my A$$!!!!!!!!!

11-02-2008 @ 2:28PM

Brittany said...

GO PATS!!! U CANT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11-04-2008 @ 7:25AM

civi said...

hey little boy your daddy shouldnt let you watch football I think fiqure skating is your sport ,every team does what the pats do it seems to me like sour grapes

11-02-2008 @ 3:41PM

mazie said...

Everybody hates the winners!

11-02-2008 @ 2:33PM

Keith said...

This article should have started with the disclaimer that the Patriots absolutely destroyed and embarrassed the Broncos on national TV...hence the complaining.

It drives me insane that a similar play in which Wilfork injured JP Losman's knee (to note NOT knocking him out for the season) and Bernard Pollard's hit on Brady's knee carry different results... That being a Patriots player being fined and the NON Patriots player getting away with it. That said, I am a Pats fan and Wilfork has had some disgressions in the past two seasons, but to the point of one of the above comments, the Broncos have played dirty for years...it happens.

Let me ask, if Wilfork played for the Lions, would anyone care to make it a national story? Probably not.

Go ahead league, I enjoy watching you come up with reason to B*tch and moan about a team that...just knows how to win.

Go Pats!
Keith

11-02-2008 @ 2:24PM

James said...

The pats are definently cheap shot artist.No surprise there,look who their role model is,their coach,a cheater!
Unfortunately for the Pats he should of saved his cheating
for after Tom got injured!

11-02-2008 @ 6:46PM

JAKE said...

The Patriots, with the whole spygate thing last year and Rodney Harrison recieving the most personal fouls in football, definitely have a history of cheating. Last week they played the Rams in New England and had ZERO penalties called against them despite one obvious and blatant facemask after an interception by the Rams. Research has shown that while playing in Foxborough the Pats recieve far less penalties than on the road. Late hits, out of bounds hits, cheap hits etc. are not a good part of the game but if the refs don't call them on it, why would they stop?

11-02-2008 @ 3:57PM

Wiff said...

Perhaps you didn't notice the Pats received zero (yes zero) penalties in that game. Your comments are like others that have surfaced, especially in the past season and a half which smack of jealousy more than anything else. The Pats have enough challenges this year without ganging up with false allegations from the media and fans of other teams. How 'bout some sportsmanship from you guys?

11-02-2008 @ 3:01PM

Joe L said...

these continuing insults regarding a hard hitting team like the Pats is another example of the jealousy of other players and teams...had they not noticed that the BEST QUARTERBACK in the league was hurt for the year by a cheap shot (i dont care if they call it legal..) if you want to play flag football..go to your high school field...we may not win ANOTHER super bowl this year, but we are TEAM
wah wah

11-02-2008 @ 3:58PM

jeff l said...

lol jealous are we ?
lol and new doesnt suck loser'!
i blv it is just you 'and your team that suck,
lol gp patriot's !!!

11-02-2008 @ 4:53PM

Matty said...

Wow, if Vince Wilfork retires Ryan Wilson will be out of a job! Haha! Boo Vince Wilfork!!

11-02-2008 @ 11:39PM

cowboysfan said...

mazie the pat r not the best the got beat by the giants last year they r choke artist,

MikeinNH said...

WAH WAH WAH, The Patriots are cheaters, the Patriots are dirty players, The Patriots this and The Patriots that. The coach sucks, Brady sucks, the fans sucks, the stadium sucks. Snow sucks, the weather sucks, the leaves suck, the Red Sox sucks, Celtics suck, LOL Can't any of you idiots that hate the Pats and the Boston sports teams come up with something actually intelligent to say about the teams other than the one liners. Oh way, you live outside of New England, you say.....That explains it all now! GO PATS!!!!!

11-02-2008 @ 4:48PM

Sandy said...

Mike, your post was the BEST POST I have ever read. You really nailed it. Exactly!!

11-02-2008 @ 6:59PM

I would leave your beloved sox out of this debate and their pinball machine of a stadium that only holds 37,000 people. Right field is 302, the shortest in baseball. there's a giant wall in left, a section of fans jutting into right center and no foul territory on either side of the field. the sox have had the biggest homw field advantage for almost 80 years and only managed to win 2 world championships. not so good. i dont mind the pats stadium or the snow, nobody can help that, but maybe a little more class from a team that wins so much instead of injuring other players, taunting fans in other cities and vdeotaping their opposition to gain an edge!