Broncos Thoughts on the Illegal Block

MTM wrote:

Sometimes results matter more than intent and process. The outcome of this event - season ending injury - have made the action much worse. If Fuga had just gotten up and chased the play, this whole conversation isn't happening.

Personally I don't think you can ignore intent. None of us know Bender's intent. I'm just saying after looking at it again I'm not as sure as I was when it happened-the first time I saw it was live and at full speed.



He definately acted like an a-hole after the fact and I'm sure that rubs people the wrong way. After the play if he had shown any concern and/or compunction I bet a lot of people feel differently.

I agree that we don't know his intent, that was why I said, sometimes the results matter more.



Because he wound up costing Fuga at least the rest of this season, Bender's intent is largely irrelevant.



"Gee, officer, I didn't mean to run the red light and strike that pedestrian crossing in the crosswalk. Since I didn't mean to, why don't we just let this one slide?"



But if you ran a red light, and didn't hit anyone you might be able to talk your way out of it or explain it away. But the consequences change the equation. Fuga's completely destroyed knee changed the role intent plays in the equation.

I wrote this on another thread. And at risk of being a douche, I am going to quote myself, to see if this helps you, MTM from a defensive linemans perspective.

I'm sorry, but if you are diving at the back of someone's knees and rolling through it, you are trying to injure.



There is a difference between trying to hurt, and trying to injure. You are always trying to hurt someone, get them off the field. That is your job, but you want to see them back so you can try and hurt them again. Injuring is a different story. When you want to injure someone, it is akin to a rape or a murder. It is a "crime" of passion on the football field. I played defensive end, and anyone that played in the trenches knows the difference. You always want to hurt the quarterback - as in - get him off the field. Anyone that blocks below the knees from behind and rolls through it, is just looking to injure...



Whether or not he meant to end someone's season, he hit behind the knees and rolled through. Add to that the "No flag no foul" tweet, and allegedly high fiving his teammates on the sidelines as Fuga was laying there, and you can paint a clear picture of who this kid really is. Either he is a bastard cheap shot artist, and proud of it - OR he is clinically insane. Either way he shouldn't see the field the rest of the year, if ever again.

MTM wrote:

Bender admitted going at Fuga's knees. He's dirty.



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I missed that admission. If he said that then my opinion has changed.

http://www.rgj.com/article/20100928/SPORTS06/9280335/1018/SPORTS" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bender said: I thought I got across his face, I thought he knew I was there. I threw the block and could see the side of his eyes and I got on the front part of his knee. I was always told that if you hit on the front part, you'll be fine. It was a questionable call, obviously. Everybody had an opinion on what they thought.

I am going to agree with MTM on this one. I don't want to try to flame the fire, but this video to me looks like he hit him at the hips. Would we even be talking about this as being dirty if Fuga would not have been injured?



I don't feel that these types of blocks should be allowed, but I think blocks similar to Benders occur many times a game.



Let's hope Fuga has a speedy recovery.

CaptainCoug wrote:
I am going to agree with MTM on this one. I don't want to try to flame the fire, but this video to me looks like he hit him at the hips. Would we even be talking about this as being dirty if Fuga would not have been injured?



I don't feel that these types of blocks should be allowed, but I think blocks similar to Benders occur many times a game.



Let's hope Fuga has a speedy recovery.

Well, there is his own statement......

ABYUFAN wrote:

I am going to agree with MTM on this one. I don't want to try to flame the fire, but this video to me looks like he hit him at the hips. Would we even be talking about this as being dirty if Fuga would not have been injured?



I don't feel that these types of blocks should be allowed, but I think blocks similar to Benders occur many times a game.



Let's hope Fuga has a speedy recovery.

Well, there is his own statement......

Oh. Ha ha, not sure how i missed that part. Never mind. Dudes a loser. Video still looks like more of a hip shot than knee shot to me though...

I thought it was a bad block and could definitely been called as clipping. I'm not convinced that he was out to blow out a knee though.



His post-injury reaction, and the actions of other UNR players, however convince me that they are doooooosh bags.

CaptainCoug wrote:

CaptainCoug wrote:
I am going to agree with MTM on this one. I don't want to try to flame the fire, but this video to me looks like he hit him at the hips. Would we even be talking about this as being dirty if Fuga would not have been injured?



I don't feel that these types of blocks should be allowed, but I think blocks similar to Benders occur many times a game.



Let's hope Fuga has a speedy recovery.

Well, there is his own statement......

Oh. Ha ha, not sure how i missed that part. Never mind. Dudes a loser. Video still looks like more of a hip shot than knee shot to me though...

"Oh. Ha ha??" That's why his hip got injured, right?!! What is wrong with some of you people? To suggest "these blocks happen all the time..." is total absurdity!

Are you also going to further speculate that it must have been Fuga's weak ligaments that gave way because the blow to his hip was so hard? Have you walked next to Fuga? He's a fricken tree trunk, not one of these blink and get injured kind of players. Have you considered the physics in all your micro-analytical nonsense? Bender goes 300+, he ran a couple steps, sprung and and jumped forward and downward; and made it worse by rolling, which conceivably lengthened out the contact zone of the hit. What do you figure 750-1000 pounds of force concentrated from his hip downward? ya, that "happens all the time."

Are you guys, MTM, CAFB and CtnCoug going to explain why if these blocks happen all the time and are legal, why more knees arent blown out? Please, talk to a collegiate football player or even better an Orthopedist. Take a stand. Pick a side on this one. Deciding between two juxtaposed positions is often about preferences, should we pass or run; pick orange or yellow?

BUT, This hit was about a principle, a moral RIght or Wrong. There is no middle ground on this one. So before you slip further down the slope of apathy and apologetics or pseudo-farsical objectivism (or however you describe your monday morning, arm-chair officiating) admit it, THis act whether blatant or not, aggregious or not--- WAS FLAT OUT WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!

Go talk to Fuga's family and ask them if they thought this just happens "all the time." Or if it was "legal." Or if it "just one of those things." Better yet, ask Bronco--who is not exactly vocal when it comes to calling out a team or another coach. Ask him if he thinks it "happens all the time"......Oh wait, HE ALREADY DID SPEAK OUT ON THIS?

MARS!!! Can I get a Title of LIberty, PLease??!!!!!!!!!!!!! Weak opinions on the left! Strong opinions on the right!

hit at the hips. honestly... how in the ever-burning hell do you get hit at the hips from watching this video? His left shoulder kind of looks like it is hitting his hips (after his leading shoulder, the right one has driven through Fuga's knees already and taken them out - collapsing his body and yeah, maybe his left shoulder hits him as he continues to roll through the tackle, instead of stopping.)





You have no idea what you are commenting on...

That Block was illegal.. and those Refs know it, Nevada Knows it, and we ALL know it.

If you look at the video, Fuga is Looking at #34 Taua who happens to be his cousin. If Fuga is Looking @ #34 then how is Bender going to claim " I saw the corner of his eye" Fuga is CLEARLY looking dead on at #34 Taua so how in the BLUE hell can bender claim he saw the side of Fugas eye if all Bender can see from his position is the Back of Fugas helmet? IF you see the back of fugas Helmet and his jersey im pretty sure you are BEHIND fuga! I know my 2 cents dont matter now but its frustrating to see a guy get away with such a dirty hit and his way of apologizing is sending him a message on facebook? There should be a penalty for being such an IDIOT!



Best of wishes to Romney and the Fuga family for a Speedy Recovery! :)

dmcougar wrote:
Are you guys, MTM, CAFB and CtnCoug going to explain why if these blocks happen all the time and are legal, why more knees arent blown out?

I never said this. I said that the block looked illegal (clipping), was dangerous, and should have been called a penalty. I just don't presume to know that this guy did this intentionally. His tweet after the game shows that he's a dick, I concede.

I also did not say I didnt think the rule needed to be changed on blocks like this, I just think from the video it looks like Bender hit him at the waist and from the front. After the hit he rolled into Fuga. Not good.



Again, the official review of the play by the conference said it was legal. My original post stated this, but I too think it needs to be outlawed.



Fuga hurt his opposite knee on the hit, correct? (the right knee?) This could be an explanation as to why there are not so many injuries from these types of hits in the big ten. Fuga got hit, but it could have been catching his foot on the ground in combination with the hit that actually caused the injury.



As far as intent goes, looks like Bender is a loser. Not arguing that.