Some seriously stupid things happened in the stupid but awesome NFL this past weekend. Let's summarize…
The stupidest fumble-related rule
Robert Griffin III was driving the Washington Redskins down the field in the fourth quarter when he slid awkwardly after clearly giving himself up at the end of a first-down run. He fumbled and hadn't been touched, so the turnover was legit.
However, that rule has to be addressed. If a player has obviously given himself up, the play has to be considered dead. Defenders would have been penalized for hitting Griffin at the exact moment the ball came loose, which to me indicates there's something stupid about the ruling.
The play should have been over right here…
RG3 agrees regarding the stupidity of the rule. From the Washington Post:
“Yeah, it’s the rule,” Griffin said. “And it’s a stupid rule. You’d think if you declare yourself down that you’d be down. I mean, I wasn’t falling. I was trying to get down to avoid a hit, slide, be out there for my team. Knee down, elbow down, and then the ball comes out. According to them, it’s a fumble. That’s just the way it goes. It just sucks.”
The stupidest stubborn coaching decision
Poor Greg Schiano finds his way into this feature every week. But man, what was the point of drafting Mike Glennon in the third round if you're not going to give him a shot in situations like the Buccaneers were in late Sunday afternoon? Down 20 midway through the fourth quarter, Schiano kept a struggling Josh Freeman in the game instead of giving Glennon a shot. Freeman went on to complete just three of his final nine passes and is now the NFL's lowest-rated passer.
The stupidest roster decision
Bad karma, San Francisco, allowing Aldon Smith to play 60 hours after being arrested. Smith allegedly smashed his car into a tree at 7 a.m. on a weekday and police say his blood-alcohol level was .015 — nearly twice the legal limit. It wasn't Smith's first alcohol-related arrest, but the 49ers applied an age-old double standard and started him anyway…probably because he's really good at football.
After being crushed at home by the Colts, the Niners suddenly came to their senses and ruled Smith out indefinitely going forward.
The stupidest pregame Twitter tirade
Roddy White, ladies and gentlemen…
Watching nfl countdown and they talking bad about Aldon smith but I'm willing to bet Keyshawn Tom and cris have all driven drunk no doubt
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) September 22, 2013
Aldon smith isn't right in any way form or fashion but come on guys don't act like you never did it you just got away with it
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) September 22, 2013
The stupidest rash of penalties
The New York Jets beat the Buffalo Bills Sunday, but that doesn't mean they weren't stupid. New York should have crushed the Bills, but it was a one-score game in the end because the Jets took an unbelievable 20 penalties. That, of course, is a new team record. The highlight came when Jets corner Kyle Wilson was actually penalized on three consecutive plays on Buffalo's game-tying fourth-quarter touchdown drive.
How is that even possible?
The stupidest non-call
I'm not sure how this isn't offensive pass interference on Dez Bryant…
