PHOENIX (AP) -Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt expects the NFL to review a helmet-to-helmet hit by New York Jets safety Eric Smith on Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin.
Boldin was resting at home on Monday, one day after being carted off the field in the Cardinals’ 56-35 loss to the Jets in New Jersey.
Whisenhunt said he believed the hit violated a safety edict issued by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but he stopped short of calling for Smith to be suspended.
“I think it’s one of the hits that falls into the category of being dangerous to players,” Whisenhunt said Monday. “Certainly, I’m sure that the league is going to look at this and will address it.”
Boldin returned to Phoenix on Sunday night after being examined at a New York-area hospital. Whisenhunt said “all the test results were positive,” but he wouldn’t speculate whether Boldin could play Sunday against Buffalo.
hit in the back and then took a shot to his helmet from Smith. After being worked on for several minutes, Boldin was immobilized and placed on a stretcher before he was carted off the field.
Warner called the hit “vicious,” but said he didn’t believe Smith was trying to injure Boldin.
“I really believe that not many people, if any, in this business actually go after somebody to hurt them,” Warner said. “Unfortunately, you see ugly hits like that.
“It was just one of those frightening things that you just hope everybody walks away OK,” Warner said. “It’s the worst part of our business by far.”
In a Sept. 17 letter to players, the league office stressed it would monitor “illegal and dangerous hits” in an effort to protect players in a violent sport.
“Player safety on the field is important to all of us in the NFL,” the letter said. “Football is a tough game and we need to do everything possible to protect all players – offense, defense, and special teams – from unnecessary injury caused by illegal and dangerous hits.
“From this point forward, you should be clear on the following point: Any conduct that unnecessarily risks the safety of other players has no role in the game of football and will be disciplined at increased levels, including on a first offense,” the letter said.
eight lifting and film study Monday morning. Many said they hadn’t seen replays of the hit.
“It’s kind of like a split-second decision,” said safety Adrian Wilson, who was flagged for a hit against Baltimore last season. “I don’t know if that hit was dirty or not. It was definitely a tough play. A flag didn’t come out, so obviously the referees thought it was clean.”
Said cornerback Roderick Hood, “Being a defensive back, you’re always trying to make a play on the ball. I don’t think it was nothing malicious. I think he was just running to the ball and trying to make a play.”
Boldin, a two-time Pro Bowler in his sixth NFL season, has long been one of the Cardinals’ leaders. He made headlines in training camp when he lashed out at the club for failing to follow through on what he said was a promise for a new contract. Later, Boldin said he wanted to be traded.
Boldin has three years left on the four-year, $22.75 million extension he signed after the 2005 season. He’s making an average of $4 million a year.
Boldin’s contract hasn’t been an issue since the season began. He has 27 catches for 366 yards and five touchdowns and has been one of the main weapons for the Cardinals, who have dropped two in a row after opening the season 2-0 for the first time since 1991.
is the main concern of the team. We’ll see how he progresses once we get him in here, once we get him looked at.”
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