I have two gripes from this NFL Sunday, originally I only had one but then Ike Hilliard got layed out in the Sunday Night Game between Tampa Bay and Seattle.

Coaches Calling Time Out To Ice the Kicker

Last year Mike Shanahan created a new game plan when it comes to trying to win the game late when the opposing team sets up for a game winning or tying field goal.  The now dubbed “Shanahan Rule” is the most annoying series of events to take place on the gridiron.  In theory, calling a time out right before a kicker kicks the field goal can have some positive effects but how many times does it really work.

In the last two weeks we have had occurrences of the “Shanahan Rule”.Coach Whisenhunt tried it last week against the Cowboys Nick Folk.  Folk would have missed the field goal when the Cardinals blocked the kick, but nope Coach Whis called a timer only to see Folk nail the game tying field goal in dramatic fashion.  Today Rookie Raiders Coach Tom Cable decided to use the rule against the Jets Jay Feeley, guess what happened.

I dont understand what the advantage of calling the time out seconds before the snap.  Back in the day if you wanted to ice the kicker, you would call the time out well before the snap.  Can someone please tell me why Coaches feel that calling the time out and giving a kicker a second chance does for the team.

Overabundance of Helmet to Helmet Hits

Ike Hilliard just got layed out in the Tampa Bay/Seattle game.  Michaels and Collinsworth (Who just may be the worst color analyst in the NFL, but that is a different blog for a different day) didnt seem to point out that the cause for Hilliard leaving the game was due to the face that the Seattle defender lead with his helmet.  Anquan Boldin suffered a hit similar to this as we all already know earlier in the season.  I don’t feel that simply laying a fine on the player that lays the hit is enough.  Players need to learn that the helmet is not a means to stopping a player.  It is for protection, not a weapon.

written by CJ "L.A." Boyle