Opinions?

[aj_law]

IMO, violent, but borderline defenseless receiver.

TJ WARD IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER.

[Finnegans Wake]

Much as I hate the pussification of the NFL, Ward was clearly going head to head.  You can make a violent hit and aim it lower, dude.

[otismalibu]

I'd say he was leading with the shoulder, but got maybe a little high. I don't think you could turf a guy like that with only head-to-head contact.

[jonzr]

Yeah, that was a shoulder and a defenseless WR, pretty damn violent.  That Jordan Shipley should be a pretty good WR.

[Preacherman0]

It's hard to tell in full-speed, but the replay gives you a pretty good idea of whether it looks like there was an intent to hurt someone.  Looks like Ward meant to put a hurtin' on Shipley, even though he really did not lead with his head.

[vinman3]

That should have been a penalty. There was one in the Miami/NY Jets game two weeks ago that I just could not believe a flag was thrown on. Can't find a video of it, it ended up being helmet to helmet, but the receiver came down on the defender, and the DB put his hands up to whoa him down. Sad.

[aj_law]

As I mentioned on another board, initially I thought it was an illegal shot too, but after watching it a coupla more times, I'm not so sure it deserves to be labeled that way.

He turned his head and led with the shoulder.  He didn't lead with his crown/helmet.  Defenseless receiver? Maybe.  Bang, bang play though.  A safety's job is to dislodge the ball from the receiver.  Awfully hard to pull up in that split second when the receiver drops the rock.  It's the kind of play you want to see from your safety.  You want that WR hearing footsteps so he alligator arms the next one over the middle.

[otismalibu]

Looks like Ward meant to put a hurtin' on Shipley, even though he really did not lead with his head.

Every time you hit someone, you should be trying to put the hurt on him. That's why they wear pads.

I've told the young lad many times this season...coach will not get made at you for hitting too hard. He might, if you don't hit hard enough. You can be the bowling ball or you can be the pin.