Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork committed one of the dirtiest acts you'll ever see on a football field during last night's game against the Giants, sticking his hand in running back Brandon Jacobs' face mask in an attempt to gouge his eye. If an official had seen it, there's no doubt that Wilfork would have been ejected. But since the officials were huddling at the time, they all missed it. Jacobs, to his credit, didn't retaliate. Now NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell needs to suspend Wilfork for the Patriots' first playoff game.
Goodell suspended Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth five games for stomping on the helmetless head of Cowboys center Andre Gurode last year. Haynesworth's action may have been worse than Wilfork's, but it wasn't more than five times worse.
However, the chances are somewhere between slim and none that Goodell will do it. The Patriots are the biggest thing going in the NFL right now, and Wilfork is an important part of the defense. There's no way the NFL will sit him down for a playoff game. And that's a shame, because that means he'll get away with the cheapest of cheap shots.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. This is ridiculous. If you actually think that he was trying to gouge out Jacobs' eye then you're out of your mind. I agree he was trying to intimidate him and definitely got too close and without question should be fined, but to suggest that Wilfork's actions are on par with Haynesworth is stupid and eliminates what little credibility you have.
The NFL, incidentally, is a contact sport. But, Wilfork should know better, which is why his paycheck should suffer. Nevertheless, what he did is not something he should be suspended for.
Posted at 10:43AM on Dec 30th 2007 by Brian
2. I don't know where MDS is from, but I'm from New Orleans, and that sh*t looked ridiculous from way down South. Wilfork should be disciplined in some capacity for his actions.
The officials MAYBE should have made that pass interference call for Burress in the end zone.
But...
The officials MAYBE should have not called the team celebration penalty against the Pats in the first half.
The Wilfork eye poke (attempted or not) is the only thing lingering for me.
Posted at 10:43AM on Dec 30th 2007 by held_over
3. he tried--no success. forget about it PATS won, and are the greatest ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 10:49AM on Dec 30th 2007 by betty marquart
4. A big fine and a next-game suspension are in order. Our country looks like it loves thugs. America gets the black-eye when we tolerate a poke like that.
Posted at 10:59AM on Dec 30th 2007 by Bill
5. I do agree that it is a cheap shot, he should be penalized for it but not suspended, i still do not think the Pats can win straight through like the 72 dolphins, which will end up being one of the biggest dissapointments in football history
Posted at 11:14AM on Dec 30th 2007 by Mitch
6. He should be suspended and fined! Wow, just because he attempted to poke in the eye and it didn't happen, he shouldn't be punished? So, does that mean if I attempt to steal from a store, and a security guard catches me before I leave, (so technically it didn't happen) I shouldn't be punished. When we start saying something almost happens, but because no injury or it didn't quite happen should not be punished, is when we live in a sad and dangerous world.
Posted at 11:23AM on Dec 30th 2007 by mel
7. To suggest he actually had to make contact with his eye to draw a harsh penalty is ridiculous. Clearly, his intent was to injure Jacobs outside of the confines of the game. The fact that he failed to actually hit his eye does not lap over the fact he extended one finger inside his face mask. I don't know if Jacobs has contacts or not, but under no circumstances is that acceptable behavior for a professional.
As a neutral fan in the game, I thought Wilfork's typical display of cowardice certainly merits a hefty fine. Suspension? Well, I'm just glad it's not my call. I think the biggest issue here is the fact the game was viewed by approximately every person in the country, and considering Commissioner Goodell's desire to make his legacy that of a man wanting to eliminate as much of the thug image of the league as possible, I wouldn't be surprised to see him dole out a suspension.
Another aspect is the fact Wilfork has already been fined for a cheap hit earlier this season. That will be taken into account.
However, for Patriots fans to simply excuse this as trivial is frustrating. I understand Belichick has successfully used the villian card to help motivate his talented team to a historic regular season, the fans shouldn't take that attitude too far.
Ask yourself this: If Michael Strahan had done the same thing to Tom Brady, would you not be calling for Strahan's immediate execution? I bet you would.
Posted at 11:39AM on Dec 30th 2007 by Neal
8. Maybe he was poked in the eye first by a Giant was was just letting it be known he wouldn't tolerate that crap !
Posted at 11:39AM on Dec 30th 2007 by smc
9. Yea...He was trying to "gouge" his eyes out....Nice choice of words. Obviously he shouldnt have even went to the face, no matter what his intent, but please. Gouge his eyes?? Seems to me if I was trying to gouge someones eye, I would put some force behind it instead of slowly going up to his eye and mask....Im sure Wilfork went up to him thinking "yea i have to rip his eye out and end his career right now"....obviously stupid to even go there at all by Wilfork, but don't exaggerate it just casue you hate the Pats..
Posted at 11:50AM on Dec 30th 2007 by Rich
10. Honestly I think the Patriots don't even deserve to be congratulated for thier " perfect season" considering they cheated in the very first game....I think the Patriots and thier orginization as a whole is PATHETIC and should no way be congratulated for thier so called accomplishements...... It should read like this Dolphins - 14 -0 Patriots - 16-0*
That asterik states that it doesn't count so hey I welcome all emails from all the pathetic Patriots fans.....Bring it on cuz I'm ready punks
Posted at 11:51AM on Dec 30th 2007 by Brian
11. The fact that Gaytriots fans are defending the eye poke is so fitting. You all should be ashamed not only for your comments, but for rewarding a team that wins by cheating and playing dirty with your support. Does the pain of the decades of sub .500 seasons hurt that much? Well, you should start to tone down your obnoxiousness because your "stars" are all nearing the end of their careers, and your "dynasty" will return to its previous state of suck-dom.
Posted at 12:08PM on Dec 30th 2007 by JD
12. Yeah Brian..... Pats don't deserve it ! Junior Seau, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Richard Seymour, Asante Samuel and on, and on, and on etc. etc. etc.
None of those guys; nobody on that football team works hard or knows how to play the game.
They're all just lucky right or they all cheat.
Kiss it Baby and Chris Collingsworth is still a puke !
Posted at 12:19PM on Dec 30th 2007 by smc
13. It's "Collinsworth," first off. At least get that right, stud. Second, I don't see how MDS is exaggerating the situation at all. Again, flip the situation, if you saw any player doing the same thing to Tom Brady, you'd flip out. In that case, if MDS wrote the exact same piece, changing the appropriate names, you'd have no problem whatsoever.
Mask it with the same denial you all did when Belichick got caught cheating. In this case, though, we all saw without confusion what happened. It was a dirty tactic from a dirty player. A player does not deserve shelter from such deplorable action simply because of the jersey he wears.
Posted at 12:55PM on Dec 30th 2007 by Neal
14. That "Missed Call" was but one of many that made this outing less respectable than it should have been. Come on... play clock runs out and you give them a time out insted of the penalty. Come on... you hit the Giants return man out of bounds and the Giants end up with the 15 yard penalty. There were at leaset 2-3 other "calls/non-calls" that gave the Pats a leg up on taking the game. Lets face it, the Pats being 16-0 will benefit the NFL a lot more than the Giants being 11-5. Given the fact that the Pats were given every conceivable oppertunity to pull this one out...... is it any surprise they did? Way to go 16-0
Posted at 1:00PM on Dec 30th 2007 by ed
15. Brandon Jacobs and some of the other players from the Giants were doing a lot of trash talking and provoking so that the Pats could get flags. It worked in their favor a couple of times, but playing dirty will get you no where. I love the fact that no one cares to mention one of the Giants players pushing Rodney Harrison to the ground and expected not a single a reaction...okay.
Posted at 1:02PM on Dec 30th 2007 by Tyhesha
16. Oh please Tyhesha, Rodney Harrisons behavior was so bad last night, that even Pats Coach (who usually we can class as inhumane) pulled him out of the game for a set. That should say something all it's self. If they do not suspend Wilfork for his behavior, then Roger Goodell will need to rethink his thug persona. I am not a Patriots fan, but I will say congrats on 16-0. Even if they put an asterick after it, it still is not an easy feat. To go out and beat 16 other teams. To me though, this will be all meaningless, if they don't make or win the superbowl.
Posted at 1:20PM on Dec 30th 2007 by mel
17. Well, Tyhesha, I suppose I didn't expect Harrison to react by breaking any rules, considering knocking players to the ground is pretty much the foundation on which the game is built.
Posted at 2:22PM on Dec 30th 2007 by Neal
18. What Willfork did was reprehensible. When I saw the replay all I could think of was that kid from Cleveland who lost his career to a thrown flag a few years back. I have been a pats fan my entire life. I have defended this team all season while the people keep stirring the pot on this moronic taping scandal,, this I cant defend and I wont. Vince needs to be sat down for this.. I don’t think it should be a playoff game but definitely the first game or two of next season. Along with a fine the size of his waistline
Murph
p.s. fins fans give it up we know the last time your team actually did anything was in 72. But stop trying to twist this season into something less than it is.. if they pats go on and win the super bowl its going to be the greatest season in history. just deal with it
Posted at 2:26PM on Dec 30th 2007 by murph207
19. Wilforks "eyegouge" was wrong and he should be fined, but to compare his action to stomping on a players helmetless head with a cleated foot is just plain ridiculous.
The two incidents are not even close. Wilforks finger should not be in anyones facemask, but did he intend to gouge Jacobs eye? You don't know that. For all you know Wilforks intent may have been to push jacobs facemask and he slipped.(I'm not saying thats what happened. My point is you can't know what Wilforks intent was.) It's still wrong on Wilforks part, but not the same as an intentional eyegouge. Haynesworth clearly stomped on Gurodes helmetles head with a cleated foot. No doubt about his intent. Also If wilfork was trying to gouge Jacobs eye it was a pretty weak attempt.(which leads me to believe Wilfork was'nt tyring to gouge Jacobs eye.)
I believe a fine for Wilfork is in order. However don't try to compare what Wilfork did to Haynesworths offense.
PATRIOTS REGULAR SEASON RECORD 16-0*
*greatest team ever.
Posted at 3:57PM on Dec 30th 2007 by RFIpats fan
20. I'm not condoning what Wilfork did, although he could have done a lot worse. All I'm saying is that the Giants were the ones antagonizing them and this is the result, which he will have to pay for. Did they have to react each time they were provoked? No...but they did. We've all been in situations where someone kept pushing that button...some people can just walk away and others can't. The person provoking the situation bares some responsibility as well.
Posted at 4:05PM on Dec 30th 2007 by Tyhesha