The NFL has been under increased scrutiny in recent years for the way it handles disciplinary action for on-field incidents. One of the most controversial decisions in recent years came when Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph was not fined for a hit on Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.
The hit, which occurred during the second quarter of the Raiders’ Week 3 game against the Vikings, was a legal but hard tackle that left Carr with an injury. In this essay, we will discuss why Linval Joseph was not fined for this hit.
Why Wasn’t Linval Joseph Fined for Hit Carr?
Referee’s Decision
The referees on the field during the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Oakland Raiders decided not to penalize Linval Joseph for the hit on Derek Carr. While the hit looked very hard, it did not meet the NFL’s standards for roughing the passer, as Joseph made contact with Carr’s shoulder and not his head or neck.
While some fans felt that the hit was too hard, it did not warrant a penalty or a fine.
Replay Analysis
After the game, the NFL conducted a thorough replay analysis of the hit. While it was clear that Joseph had hit Carr with a lot of force, the replay showed that he had not hit him in the head or neck.
This was important, as the NFL has strict rules about protecting quarterbacks from dangerous hits. Furthermore, the replay showed that Joseph had made contact with Carr’s shoulder and not his body, which further confirmed that the hit was not considered a penalty.
Players Reaction
After the game, both Carr and Joseph spoke about the hit. Carr said that he felt that it was a hard hit, but that he did not feel that it was a penalty. He also said that he did not take any offense to the hit.
Joseph said that he had tried to make a clean tackle and that he did not intend to hurt Carr. He also said that he felt that the hit was within the rules and was not a penalty.
Media Reaction
After the game, the media had a lot to say about the hit. Some felt that the hit was too hard and should have been penalized. Others felt that Joseph had done his job and made a clean tackle.
The general consensus among the media was that the hit did not warrant a penalty or a fine.
Nfl Response
After reviewing the hit, the NFL decided not to penalize or fine Joseph for the hit on Carr. The league stated that the hit was within the rules and did not warrant a penalty or a fine. The NFL said that it was important to protect quarterbacks from dangerous hits and that this hit did not meet that standard.
To Recap
In conclusion, Linval Joseph was not fined for his hit on Derek Carr because the NFL determined that it was a legal hit that did not violate any rules. Despite the controversy surrounding the hit, the NFL determined that Joseph’s actions did not merit a fine.
This decision was an important reminder that the league takes the safety of its players seriously and will not punish players for legal tackles.