Ryan Clark Is Sorry for Almost Putting a Hole in Wes Welker

You may have heard something about Steelers safety Ryan Clark knocking Patriots wideout Wes Welker through the Gillette Stadium turf on Sunday. Opinions vary as to the legality of the hit (by the letter of the rules, it was a penalty -- don't kill the messenger, just saying), and there used to be a time in the NFL when hard tackles didn't automatically result in a flag and a subsequent fine.

But as Troy Polamalu rightly pointed out in October, football "just loses so much of its essence when it becomes like a pansy game." Yes, yes it does. In any event, Clark was apologetic after the game.

"The ball got tipped; [the official] said I shouldn't have left my feet. But I don't really know how to control that. I talked to Kevin Faulk and some other guys, I told them I apologize. I couldn't find Welker after the game to tell him I wasn't trying to be dirty, it was just football."

Clark makes a good point; hitting Welker wouldn't have been a penalty if he hadn't left his feet, but that's a lot easier said than done. It's one thing to write it into the rule book, it's something else entirely to expect a 190-pound defender running full speed to be able to pull off, what with the laws of physics being immutable and all that.

"They said don't leave your feet," Clark said the officials told him. "If anybody watches the other games we played, I don't turn any of them down. It's not like I'm trying to be cheap. If anybody comes across, it's my job to tackle him, it's my job to hit him.

Clark isn't known as a dirty player -- in fact, just the opposite -- and I'm guessing a lot of football fans appreciate the way he plays. But if the league fines LaMarr Woodley $10,000 for this, then Clark's about to be made an example of.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

12-02-2008 @ 11:19AM

Thatsabsurd said...

I loved that hit and any football player ever will love it also. It;s what football is all about; every sore bone and muscle encountered. If Welker for a second claims it was a cheap shot he should carry his pansy a$$ right to figure skating cause it was a clean football hit.

Man I keep seeing that hit over and over it looks like football from the 1960's and 1970's before Jackasses like goodell became involved!

12-02-2008 @ 8:37PM

Coval said...

Hey tough guy, How about you keep your stupid comments to yourself. It has nothing to do with being a pansy, and everything to do with a flagrant foul. Not only did he leave his feet but Welker was turning his head because the ball was behind him. The hell with the fine....Keep the money, a fine will not make up for that BS play. I want to see Mankins (or anyone for that matter) put that skinny b**ch on his a** the next time the Pats meet up with them. Hopefully will be this year in the playoffs. Then I want to see piece of crap coach smile when he gets carted off the field. Just like he smiled to Clark after the hit. You don't think that the Coach will take the 15 yard personal foul in exchange for knocking out arguably there best receiver? It probably was in there game plan to do that. It just happened later in the game rather than earlier. Either way I've lost all respect for that coach after seeing him smile to Clark. And I hope he gets what's coming to him

12-02-2008 @ 12:20PM

Mark said...

I've watched the tape on this several times. Also watched the replays on ESPN and originally heard the "penalty" called as helmet to helmet contact. Don't see it. Clark clearly turns his body to make contact with his shoulder and arm and does not lead with his helmet. Must admit that, as much as i watch football, never heard that "leaving your feet", in and of itself, constitutes a penalty. I see that happen on almost every play in every game. Pretty B.S. call in my view. The Steelers have played a brand of hard hitting, sure tackling, physical defense for the last thirty years. It is their hallmark and has been since Ham, Lambert and Joe Greene. They have never had a reputation of being a "dirty" team ala the old Raiders and the chop block specialist Broncos. New England fan needs to man-up, buckle up the chinstrap and quit whining. This is good hard football, nothing more.

12-02-2008 @ 12:49PM

nfl fan said...

Well, it looks like the only ingredient needed to beat the patsies is to hit them hard and often.....you see how they just got scared?!

12-02-2008 @ 1:08PM

KP said...

Hey Crybaby guy Coval...this is to you........I'll be sending the Waaambulance over for you. Coach Tomlin didn't have instant replay, multi-camera angles, and TV to watch the hit over and over like you did. What he saw was one of his defenders making a decisive, physical hit.....just like he's supposed to do. Clark is not a dirty player. Expecting these athletes to "pull up" and not "leave your feet" with the speed and intensity that is happening on the field of play is ridiculous. You wanna turn the mans game of football into synchronized swimming then go ahead. The more the commish pansies up this game the more the fans are going to dislike it. They better re-evaluate what they are doing before they ruin the sport for good.......

12-02-2008 @ 2:27PM

lk said...

Not really sure how you can revel in these types of hits, but hey if you want to watch a bunch of second string players on the field I guess that is your perogative. Hits like this take players out of games. Wes Welker suffered a concussion from that hit. I enjoy watching Welker, not someone else. But no problem, lets keep bashing our best players, then we can complain when we are watching games comparable to pre-season football. There was absolutely no reason for Clark to hit Welker that hard. How proud he must be. I am starting to see why people think PA fans suck.

12-02-2008 @ 3:12PM

Hey coval-----------------what does that stand for 'I'm one of those pansy supporters in the game of football"

Stop watching the game you are a disgarce to what football is all about.

It was a clean hit and the only reason it is a penalty is from the pansys (like you) behind the scenes.

go wipe goodells ass now i think he is done on the toilet.

12-02-2008 @ 3:14PM

nick said...

the commissioner needs to be fired. the way he handled "spy-gate" and all the ridiculous fines coming down, not to mention the terrible officiating that he seems to be overlooking every week. this has truly been the worst year of football in the NFL in my life. Goodell can't even stick to his conduct policies giving thugs 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th chances. it's real simple, goodell has sabotaged the NFL, and he needs to go. This is a violent sport that grown men get paid a kings ransom for playing a kids game.

the hit on welker is not cheap. did the whistle blow? no. was the midget running over the middle? yes. did clark lead with the helmet? no. what is this leaving the feet crap? crap. he could have run right through him, it would have made no difference...

12-02-2008 @ 4:23PM

I loved that hit LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!

That's football

Also one of the reasons little receivers don't last long or soon they stop trying to get the ball in such dangerous territory.

Keep playing around with the sharks and sooner or later YOU will be bit.

Nothing against Welker, hell he is a great receiver but he should have known one was going to come one day, crossing the middle like he does.

12-02-2008 @ 4:49PM

Tim said...

HEY COVAL....... WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, WAAAAAAAAAAAA, WA WA WA WA WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

PS - WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

12-09-2008 @ 10:24AM

denis said...

Bottom line, clark hit welker blind side with his best shot. He has to have 50 lbs on him, and welker walked off the field, so now we know who the bigger man is! IN YO FACE!

12-02-2008 @ 5:08PM

Matt said...

Ok first off, Steeler fans need to watch that tape again. Clearly Welker was not going to catch that ball, Clearly he slowed up and was not trying to catch it. Clearly Clark had PLENTY of time to avoid this hit. He chose to hurt a player. He wanted to hurt Welker and he succeeded.

I will just say this. The Steelers think they are big and bad.. but we (being the Pats) have OWNED your A$$e$ in all the games that count. This one is not a game that counted. The next time we meet, and believe me when I tell you, we will meet again... Holmes, Washington and Ward better have their heads on a swivel. You want to try to man up.. You will see how physical the Pats can get. Oh and by the way, I can't wait until they throw a wide receiver screen to whatever side of the field Clark is on. Welker might exact a bit of "Hines Ward", crack back block revenge on Clark.

No worries Steeler fans. Your message was received, don't worry, it was not lost on our team. We keep our mouths shut, go about our business, but don't EVER think we will forget this. And don't think we will let it go.

Good luck...

12-03-2008 @ 11:24AM

Scott_gp said...

A quick note about an excerpt from Matt's comment: "But we (being the Pats) have OWNED your A$$e$ in all the games that count." I think you meant to say "THEY (being the Pats)." THEY. God forbid somebody should peruse the Fanhouse comments and think it's full of humorless, maladjusted losers.

Oh wait, unless....are you Matt Light? In that case, good game on Sunday.

12-02-2008 @ 7:34PM

dave said...

Welker was lucky-Clark actually pulled up a little bit. Would have been much worse if he hit him full speed.

Funny to hear all of the whining from Pats fans, the same fans that idolize Harrison and the rest of the cheaters. As for the playoffs, don't plan on being there this year or anytime soon. You have to have a sense of reality-the Giants, Colts and Steelers are the last 3 teams to win the SB; the so called dynasty is long gone.

As for Mankins going after Clark, he should at least wash off some of those cleat marks on his chest after getting run over repeatedly on Sunday.

As Anthony Smith would say to Bellicheat, "I have NOT seen better safety play than that".

Enjoy the winter off, cheaters!!!!!

12-02-2008 @ 8:47PM

chris said...

i've been a patriots fan my entire life, and as much as I cringed on seeing it, it's a completely legit hit. For the rest of my fellow pats fans, quit complaining, or did you forget our defense from 03-04?

12-03-2008 @ 3:19AM

pat-fan said...

COVAL , You make me sick!!!
I am one of the biggest Pats fans ever and have not missed a home game in the last 5 years...
If it was a Pats hit on a Steeler you would be happy!!! Right??? I would hope so!!! Its people like you that are going to ruin this sport!!! This is a game of violence so if you dont like it dont watch it... These players and getting paid millions and millions and millions of dollars!!! I think they know what they are getting themselfs into.... Dont be a sore loser and man-up and just admit to yourself that the Pats took one of the worst beatings ever by the STEELERS on Sunday and that the end of it!!!
DON"T RUIN THE GAME FOR THE REST OF US!!!

12-03-2008 @ 9:53AM

are-you-kidding? said...

This is getting absurd. Yes, it was a violent hit, but nothing worth crying about or fining him over. As a football fan you live for these hits and as pat-fan stated, if it were the other way around, Patriot fans would be cheering as loudly as the Steeler fans were. I get tired of all these fines/suspensions. The game is played at full speed by a bunch of men, and reviewed in slow-motion by a bunch of whiney girls (yeah Goodell, that means you - and I apologize to all the girls I offended, you're far better than Goodell). I wish he'd go away and stop ruining the game.
Coval - stop embarrassing real Patriot fans. This is a team that used to be feared on defense for their play, both clean and dirty (eye poking Wilfork and of course Harrison). But at least I respected them. Fans like Coval ruin that. And please don't ever call Welker the best receiver ever again, especially when you've had Troy Brown & Randy Moss. Just stop watching football all together.

12-03-2008 @ 10:52AM

Steelady said...

and by the way, Mike P. (vice president of officiating) says it was a legal hit.

12-03-2008 @ 11:45AM

Ok, how about this situation: Rodney Harrison just took off Hines Ward's head the way Clark did to Welker. How many Steelers fans in here would be throwing out all of the "just man-up" comments? I would venture to guess not a one. Am I pissed about the hit? No... Do I think Clark was out to (and possibly ordered to) take out Welker? Yes I do. Is that part of football? Yes it is...

At the end of the day, the Pats and Steelers will meet again. I am looking forward to that game. I will mark it on my calendar. I think you will see an entirely different Patriots team in that game. They will not be out played physically again.

Matt Light definitely had a few bad plays, but if you watch the game on DVR, you will see he won more of the battles than he lost. Unfortuantely the ones he lost were big plays.

Enjoy the victory while it lasts... You handed it to us, but this game was just 1 of 16... No big thing. The next time we meet. The Steelers will be going home.... again... Terrible towels in hand..

12-03-2008 @ 12:11PM

Matt, there you go again with the "WE" business. I think you should stop projecting onto your favorite team, because it would appear that they feel differently. There was plenty of time left in that ballgame...had retribution against Clark or the Steelers (notice how I don't say "we") been necessary, I'm sure it would have been doled out.

So yes, THEY will meet again, and more than likely without incident...it's delusional fans that make these stories so much bigger than they really are.

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