listen Listen: Dave Wyman discusses Golden Tate's block, fine
710 ESPN's Seattle Dave Wyman, a former NFL linebacker, explains why fining Seahawks receiver Golden Tate for his block on Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee could hurt the game.
It's Jan. 20, 2013. Just as it happened in 2005, the road to the Super Bowl comes through Seattle. The surprising Seahawks have shocked the football world by playing their way to the best record in the NFL and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They're hosting the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship game at CenturyLink Field, and a back-and-forth game that has the 12th Man in a frenzy has come down to one play.

The Seahawks trail by five points but are inside the Dallas 10-yard line. As time expires, quarterback Russell Wilson drops back to pass and can't find anyone to throw to. The clock ticks down to 3 seconds when suddenly Wilson sees a lane to the end zone and takes off running.

There's just one problem: Cowboys tackling machine Sean Lee has a bead on Wilson and will surely stop him for no gain as time expires. But suddenly wide receiver Golden Tate appears out of nowhere. He peels back off of his pass route and crashes into Lee, decleating him with a bone-crunching block that allows Wilson to score the game-winning touchdown as time expires. The Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl.

But wait, there's a flag on the field. Apparently a small portion of Tate's helmet made contact with a small portion of Lee's helmet and now the official broadcasts over the loudspeaker, "Personal foul, helmet-to-helmet contact with a defenseless player, number 81, 15-yard penalty."

Game over.

Just to rub salt in the wound, two days later Tate receives a FedEx packet from the NFL commissioner informing him that he's been fined $21,000. No trip to the Super Bowl, no playoff check, no glory.

Instead, Golden Tate is the "goat" of the NFL world. Why? Because he did exactly what he was supposed to do – try as hard as he can and give his best possible effort on that play.

Of course, everyone knows by now about Tate's real block on Lee last Sunday and the NFL's real fine of $21,000.

Are you kidding me?

Does everyone understand that the scenario I described above is a very real possibility? Have commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL rules committee thought this through?

This isn't some fantasy that just exists in my mind. Perhaps it won't occur in such a drastic scenario. But if you get enough occurrences like this one, the harm it will cause the game in the long run will far outweigh the benefits that "player safety" bring the game.

I don't mean to sound cold or blood-thirsty. After all, Sean Lee plays my position. I don't want to see anyone get seriously hurt. I got hit like that once in San Francisco when Joe Montana fooled me with a fake handoff. By the time I recognized the play was a bubble screen to my right, center Jesse Sapolu blind-sided me and knocked me flat on my butt.

Of course, back then the only thing you'd think as a player is, "Oh man, he got me." Or, "That's going to be humiliating in films!" The only thing you'd hear from a coach is, "Son, you better get your head on a swivel next time!" Or, "Pay attention!"

Never at any point on that play did I feel "defenseless." But in today's flag-happy world, there are those who want that block outlawed and eliminated from the game.

Former referee Mike "When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail" Pereira threw a penalty flag from whatever television studio he was sitting in. The only thing worse than a referee throwing a flag unnecessarily is an ex-referee "tweeting" about it. Pereira parroted the NFL league office: Sean Lee, a 6-2, 245-pound fire-breathing dragon who was on his way to take Russell Wilson's head off was "defenseless."

Had Tate not brought everything that he had to the table at that particular moment, he may have been the one who got hurt. Lee outweighs him by over 40 pounds and hits people for a living, whereas Tate catches the football for a living.

Goodell likely sent Tate a letter of reprimand and an invoice for $21,000, but maybe he should include some instruction on how to avoid that in the future. It poses a great question that more players should be asking the league office: What was I supposed to do?

Let me make my position on this very clear: I don't care if that had been a Cowboys receiver hitting a Seahawks linebacker. I don't care what Pereira or Goodell think a penalty is. I care about the integrity and the popularity of this game. Big hits are what this league was built on. If you take that side of the equation out of the mix, you're changing this game in such a fundamental way that it will eventually erode its popularity in the long run.

These guys signed on for this. Sean Lee is a big boy. He has willingly put himself in harm's way by stepping on the field and gets paid handsomely to do so. He would've loved to put that same hit on Wilson and you can bet that was on his mind as he pursued him to the sidelines.

This is a travesty, ladies and gentlemen, and 65,000 voices said so on Sunday. Tate's hit ignited an entire stadium full of people just as it would have in any NFL stadium.

The people have spoken – they like the big hits.

Follow Dave Wyman, 710Sports.com contributor

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Comments (55)


  • Add A Comment

  • BlatantChipmonk wrote...
    sign me up!
    September 19, 2012 4:04 pm
    and while you're at it, set up a line for EVERY OTHER Hawks fan. we will all gladly chip in a buck for Golden! when the Hawks play with the intensity they played with on Sunday, they are unbeatable. the hits (the the fines the incur) are part of the team we have, the team we love, and the team that will win. so Hawks, don't shy away from the big plays, the big hits, and keep up the good work on Monday!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • TwoTrees wrote...
    "It poses a great question that more players should be asking the league office: What was I supposed to do?"
    September 19, 2012 4:39 pm
    He should just pay it. In the end, Golden 'Maple Bar' Tate just bought himself $21K worth of locker room cred.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Levy Pants wrote...
    He was
    September 19, 2012 5:06 pm
    NOT supposed to helmet to chin blindside him. There were plenty of options to block he just chose trying to take his head off instead of chest blocking him just as effectively. Showboating, nothing more going for the big hit so everyone could talk about him on Monday and Tuesday. Typical selfish Seahawk behavior and typical reason why they will never be a TEAM that can win a championship.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    @Levy Pants
    September 19, 2012 6:08 pm
    Ever play football moron? Do you have any clue how fast S ** T happens on the field? Tate's hit was clean and the NFL overreacted like a bunch of nancy boys again as usual...IT'S A CONTACT SPORT. Tate could have taken his head off, but he used his shoulder and made a clean hit. Maybe you need to go play soccer....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Come on, Pissy Pants.
    September 19, 2012 11:08 pm
    Clean, legal (repeat LEGAL) hit. ...And there WAS no showboating.

    Just when did you more to Seattle? And was it from, Denver or some such place?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    You
    September 20, 2012 1:04 am
    must be a crybaby Dallas fan. WAAAAAAAA...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CG58 wrote...
    obviously you don't know football Levy Pants
    September 20, 2012 7:00 am
    What Tate did was the perfect execution of how blocking is taught to be. Get low, hit hard, drive with your legs until your opponent is on the ground. Tate hit him in the mid-section and just drove with his legs; Lee's body being lifted and falling back is what caused the appearance of Tate's block ending up under his chin. You would do better if you kept your comments to about something you know about.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • KitsapTransplant wrote...
    C'mon now...
    September 20, 2012 10:12 am
    He didn't mean to hit the guy in the helmet. Think about it. Tate is 5'10, Lee is 6'2. Even standing there Tate is going to slide right under his chin. He led the block with his SHOULDER and by the laws of height he clipped his chin strap merely because he is shorter than Lee. If it were someone who was the same height, it would have been a helmet to helmet without a doubt. But due to the height difference, it just put Tate in the wrong place. It was a killer hit, especially given by a guy who is so small. And as for your last comment, there are teams who has far worse attitudes than the Seahawks who make it all the way so your comment is a moot point. Learn the game before you comment...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ben Smith wrote...
    I see you never played a down of football in your life.
    September 20, 2012 11:02 am
    a much smaller guy lowerd his sholder (head and neck atatched so ya they came with) and threw himself into a much bigger faster stronger guy to protect his QB. Thats all that happend. If tate would have thought about how to hit him, Lee would have levelled him or run past him.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chawks425 wrote...
    Nice Dave!
    September 19, 2012 5:07 pm
    The problem isn't the hit on Sunday, but just like Dave said, when that hit becomes a penalty and the Offense is flagged for that BS, that's when it's a problem. Yea Golden will pay this one, and I would definitely line up to help him pay it by chipping in a buck. We need that intensity, and the commish is definitely ruining this game...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    Thats why the NFL has......
    September 19, 2012 5:20 pm
    ...an appeal process, and if I were Tate and John Schneider, I'd appeal until Goodell was sick of hearing from them and drop this. I'd do robo-appeal (patent pending, you'd think). $21000 is a lot for the victim's inability to pay attention for smaller things in play on the field; proud as they are, and rightfully should be. And Green Bay, you pay attention also!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rayvensdad wrote...
    HEY LEVY!...
    September 19, 2012 5:23 pm
    If he wanted to take his head off... he would have hit him in the head. HE HIT HIM HIGH ON THE CHEST! BARELY GRAZING HIS @#$%ing CHIN! He hit him with the thud he needed to because he knew the size disadvantage was there and had to give him a serious shot so he himself didn't get plowed over. This wasn't cheap, Lee didn't see it coming which is why the hit made it look worse then it ended up being. I've seen much harder hits look significantly less because the opponent saw it coming. Tate was looking for the pass, ran with Wilson, once the line of scrimmage was broke, looked back, saw Lee and made sure he wasn't going to be in the play. THAT'S FOOTBALL!!! All you people hate my sport of soccer because you say it's full of wimps. Well, unless you want to be wimpy too... STAND UP LIKE WYMAN IS TRYING TO DO!

    I'll gladly chip in and pay for this stupid fine!!! Goodell... you're a moron!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Rayvensdad
    September 19, 2012 6:06 pm
    You offer to chip in to pay the fine and also call Goodell a Moron,CLASSIC
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Golden Tate
    September 19, 2012 5:25 pm
    should have bent over to give Lee a hand up and said "Welcome to the NFL"
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 2112 wrote...
    Levy Pants
    September 19, 2012 5:51 pm
    You are right. It was all pre-meditated in the huddle, no wait in the pre-game meeting.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Skyfan wrote...
    Only one answer to this problem
    September 19, 2012 5:57 pm
    Listen, it playing football, meaning helmets will often times touch is now Verboten, then the easy solution is obvious. All players, take of the helmets, now play ball! The "Wussification" of football and the male race continues. Soon, men will not have circumcision, but have birth gender reassignment so women and men won't differ. Wussies!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    ILLEGAL HIT,pay the fine and shut up
    September 19, 2012 6:03 pm
    Never ceases to amaze me how home town fans of all teams never feel their players commit fouls.And one SUCKER even suggests the fans chip in and pay this over paid athletes fine for him.This is certainly the PATHETIC side of sports.You guys obviously never read the statistics about the life span of NFL football players.Or you could care less
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    @ Messiah
    September 19, 2012 6:12 pm
    I'm willing to bet you never played football in your life. You were probably taking acid in the parking lot in the 60's. It was a clean hit and Roger Goodell is a nancy boy! As are you Hippy!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Derrol_o wrote...
    mess101
    September 20, 2012 1:55 am
    As Dave said, the players sign up for it. You strike me as someone who likes rules just because they are rules. It's the difference between letter and principle. The discussion here isn't so much whether the hit was legal anyway (the majority DO feel it was legal, even within the confines of the rules) but whether it SHOULD be legal and how the rules negatively affect the quality of the game. That's the principle that you don't understand. Dave, thanks for your perspective on this as a former player and someone who truly does love the game of football.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Derrol
    September 20, 2012 7:25 am
    No I like rules in FOOTBALL because I'm tired of seeing stories of players being disabled at a young age. The Junior Seau tragedy did it for me that was the straw that broke the camels back.You can't receive constant numbers of head injuries and lead a normal life
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HockeyMom wrote...
    Oh, Messiah.....
    September 20, 2012 7:59 am
    You just never disappoint. Once again, you are off base. It was a legal hit. No fine should have been imposed. That's what has people fired up. If you knew the game and watched a frame by frame with your eyes wide open you would see the hit went straight on to the upper chest, not to the head. As for head injuries and such, those can happen when a hit is legal and when it is not. That is a risk that the player accepts when playing. Golden Tate did NOTHING wrong. If this is all too tough of a sport for you to watch, maybe you should just step back from the TV.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Hockey Mom
    September 20, 2012 12:09 pm
    Sorry Mom but again your local bias has effected your decision making.It was AN ILLEGAL hit,after additional review he is being fined ,case closed
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    Where's the head injury, Messiah?
    September 20, 2012 11:58 am
    He hit him IN THE CHEST.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Derrol_o wrote...
    m101
    September 20, 2012 1:08 pm
    You have a point and I'm well aware of the Seau situation as well as Dave Duerson and others. Seau and Duerson showed that these guys are human beings, not just football players or slabs of meat and there should be rules in place that protect them. But on the other hand, football is a dangerous sport and no one knows it more than the players themselves. Lee himself even said he has no issue with the hit and that it's just part of the game. The hit was fairly similar to the one Hines Ward put on Keith Rivers a few years back that shattered Rivers' jaw and ended his season. But I think the point here lies in the question: what SHOULD he have done? Tate takes on a 245-pound LB and he has no choice but to lay him out however he can otherwise Tate's the one that gets laid out and risks getting hurt. I seriously doubt Tate had any evil intent to seriously injure Lee neither. It was more of an instinctual play that he made on the fly and there was a good chance that a "legal" hit wouldn't have produced a favorable result for Tate.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ernie in the East wrote...
    messiah101 watch the vid
    September 20, 2012 2:36 pm
    Dude, watch the video! If anyone is going to have a head injury in that incident it would be Tate. He's the one who lowered his head and plowed into Lee. Sure I understand the concern for players after they leave the game, let's remember one thing, they are grown ups who know very well going into this career that it is hit and be hit. And with that comes risks. If you don't like the risks don't make it a career. The penalty and fine are ridiculous. Tate and the Seahawks should be appealing this decision til Goodell is no longer in charge of the NFL. For those interested, no, I'm not a die hard Seahawks fan. Have never been to a game nor have I watched a complete game on TV. My Sundays are tied to more important things but I like the game of football. Sure, I'm all for proper equipment and safety but really none of that is in question on this hit. This was an over reaction by Goodell and he needs to admit his error and correct his wrong.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    Messiah...
    September 20, 2012 11:56 am
    you mean "COULDN'T care less," I assume. Huge difference.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Skyfan
    September 19, 2012 6:04 pm
    NO MEN get circumcised stupid.But babies have this decision made for them
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • daveismenotyou wrote...
    Actually worldly guy,
    September 19, 2012 6:44 pm
    Yes, some men do get circumcised. Didn't you take anthropology?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    daveismennotyou
    September 20, 2012 7:26 am
    I'believe my intention was clear.And no I didn't, I took advanced physics instead
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • chawk wrote...
    Blindside?
    September 19, 2012 6:43 pm
    I looked at this several times and read various comments. One thing I didn't see was anyone talking about the angle of the hit. It looked like Tate squared up as much as possible and hit him straight on. If the fine sticks then all people have to do is look left before they are hit and it is "blindside".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }








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Dave Wyman discusses Golden Tate's block, fine

Thursday, Sep 20, 2012

710 ESPN's Seattle Dave Wyman, a former NFL linebacker, explains why fining Seahawks receiver Golden Tate for his block on Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee could hurt the game.
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