Panthers S Dante Wesley ejected

Oct 18, 2:43 pm EDT

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Carolina safety Dante Wesley(notes) was ejected late in the first half of Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay when he launched himself into Buccaneers punt returner Clifton Smith, who had signaled for a fair catch.

The hit with 10 seconds left in the second quarter brought players from both teams off the sidelines. No penalties resulted from the pushing and shoving between the NFC South rivals.

Smith remained on the ground for a few minutes, then was helped to his feet and walked off the field.

Wesley appeared to leave his feet and hit Smith in the upper body with his left shoulder. The Panthers were penalized 15 yards.

The Bucs said at halftime that Smith had a concussion and would miss the remainder of the game.

Updated Oct 18, 2:43 pm EDT
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1752 Comments

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  1. Derrick R
    1752. Posted by Derrick R Fri Dec 4 12:56am EST

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    The hit was either:
    #1- incredibly stupid or
    #2- super dirty.

    For us to try and decipher his intentions is pretty unfair.
    If the returner signalled for a fair catch, it would be dumb AND dirty, no doubt. But, I didn't see a signal for a fair catch which kind of tells me that Wesley just wanted to make a big nasty hit. Maybe he thought Smith was not going to field the kick himself. Who knows?
    Sure, he got carried away by launching himself, and what penalty/discipline he received was very deserved.

    Off the topic, half of these launching penalties I see are crap, though. A lot of times they flag a defender for launching when he's trying to make a hit on the ball. One key of the game is to try to seperate the player from the ball, and if you have to get up in the air to get to the ball and/or to make a hit on where a player is holding/catching a ball, you should be allowed to do so. Launching at a player's head, however, is something of another matter. Another off the topic subject is this Hines Ward rule. That rule is garbage as well. You can't blindside block a player who is not around the play? GARBAGE! Every player on the field can possibly be part of the play. If you're standing around and lolly-gagging and not paying attention, and you don't want to get hit- then sit down or run to the sidelines! I've been ear-holed before, and though it's not pleasant, it's part of the game. Always play at 100% and keep your head on a swivel. Before we know it, it's going to be the NFFL: National Flag Football League!
  2. Antferny Jones
    1751. Posted by Antferny Jones Mon Oct 19 6:22pm EDT

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    As a black man, I am outraged by the stupid nature of you people calling Clifton Smith "black". That is not accurate. He is only half black! The other half of him is blue.
  3. Antferny Jones
    1750. Posted by Antferny Jones Mon Oct 19 6:19pm EDT

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    He never signaled for fair catch. Never. He was dancing to his favorite rap music that's all. He started wav ing his arms and was just about to moon walk when Dante accidentally ran into him. What the heck people? That's not a racial issue.
  4. Antferny Jones
    1749. Posted by Antferny Jones Mon Oct 19 6:05pm EDT

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    That was not a dirty hit! The rule book says in chapter 17 section 92 that since NFL players can't read, they don't have to follow any rules. Besides, it was great for the game!!!!! All the brain dead Wrestling fans are going to be watching NFL now. Also, this hit was so scary that people who usually watch the WNBA will switch over to NFL because they finally found something bigger, ugglier, and scarier than the men who play in the WNBA.

    GOOD HIT!
  5. dudeman
    1748. Posted by dudeman Mon Oct 19 5:51pm EDT

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    The nfl is turning into a wussy sport!!

    kocked out?! get the meat hook, drag the corpse off the field and put another thug in.

    the romans had it right with the colliseums!!!!!!!!!!!


    btw : dallas bloz
  6. Allan
    1747. Posted by Allan Mon Oct 19 5:30pm EDT

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    the point really is a FAIR CATCH was signaled, he should not have been hit at all
  7. Scott D
    1746. Posted by Scott D Mon Oct 19 5:25pm EDT

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    Reading these comments, some of them are decent, but some of them are brain dead. The point many are overlooking is the fact that there was less then 20 seconds left in the half, only 10 seconds after the play.

    Wesley knew this and knew he had nothing to lose as the penalty would cause no harm whatsoever as they're not going to go 70 yds. or whatever in less then 10 seconds.

    He saw the opportunity to take a cheap shot and he took it, which should require not only a fine, but also a suspension as it was premeditated IMHO. I was sititng right in front of where the play happened and he launched himself into the air way before the ball arrived as he never even looked at the ball. He also went for the head!

    I am as much for physical football as anyone as I used to play LB and Stron Safety for many years in my playing days, but you do not try to injure someone on purpose ever!

    To give credit to some of the Panther's players they were visibly upset over the incident and several knelt down and prayed around Clifton Smith.
  8. Tevita
    1745. Posted by Tevita Mon Oct 19 5:22pm EDT

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    edw- Lets forget about the hundreds of years of slavery and inequallity. Lets forget about the decades of modern curruption and racist oppression. Lets also forget that COPS is just a show, and that your comment was unbelievably rediculous. On second thought. Lets not... LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  9. Azrael
    1744. Posted by Azrael Mon Oct 19 5:13pm EDT

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    I ended up watching this hit on youtube because I missed the game... the ball wasn't even close to clifton when he got plowed by dante and even if it had been closer or in clifton's hands that was still a very obvious attack to clifton and he not only deserves to be fined but suspended for at least half a season mistake or not he doesn't seem to have much respect for the other players out on the field playing as well which is a big no no in any sport whether it be football or baseball you just don't try to plow someone down like that ... if that was out on the street they would have been put in jail with assault at least... it could have been an honest mistake getting caught up in the moment but it definitely isn't something you want someone not paying attention to when people's lives could be on the line
  10. Tevita
    1743. Posted by Tevita Mon Oct 19 5:09pm EDT

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    Daniel- the comment about baggy pants, guns, and a home invasion was offensive; but I really dont care if it's not racially charged. But it sounds f***** up though, lol.

    Michael(no S. or M.)- there's no statistic that shows that most NFL players are thugs. Calling it how you see it doesn't mean its correct. Just because someone sounds like a thug doesn't make them a thug. If you can't understand them it doesn't mean there a thug, it means you can't understand them. Players are gangsters because they have gangster tatoos? That doesn't sound like a reasonable argument. Players dont "act" like anything. There just being themselves, players that "sound like thugs" might have thick country accents, and players with tatoos are paying for a style, like I might pay for a rolex. Its ignorent to just generalize, speculate, and stereotype about people you dont know. Are there thugs in the NFL, yes there's bound to be one. Do they make up the majority of the NFL, I don't know but it's highly unlikely.
  11. K.I.N.G!
    1742. Posted by K.I.N.G! Mon Oct 19 5:09pm EDT

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    what only makes Dante Wesley on Clifton Smith was the fact that Dante launch himself into a helpless player, and Clifton Smith was knock out. but if Clifton Smith had caught that ball and did the exact samething and Clifton not get knock out and fumble the ball nothing would be have been said. Dante Wesley took a gamble on a trying to make a big play, he already made it up in mind to hit him and the reason why you can tell cause he didnt' even hold back.
  12. From the heart N Soul
    1741. Posted by From the heart N Soul Mon Oct 19 5:03pm EDT

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    Did i hear the woed racist? it's pretty simple, there are 4 colors in the world,period! red/yellow/ black/ and white. that's it, get over saying racist words, we are all equal! hawk
  13. <i>born2bcassie</i>
    1740. Posted by born2bcassie Mon Oct 19 4:57pm EDT

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    the only thing the NFL provides our country other than gladiator style entertainment is keeping our prisons less crowded.....
  14. EdW
    1739. Posted by EdW Mon Oct 19 4:57pm EDT

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    Lets forget that most all of the guys getting fined or banned in the NFL are black. Lets forget that all the people being arrested on COPS are black. Lets forget that most of the murders are caused by black people. Second thought. Lets not!
  15. M@L D@ JOK3R
    1738. Posted by M@L D@ JOK3R Mon Oct 19 4:50pm EDT

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    @#$% that @#$% i dont think nothing should be done to him they takin the life out of football they might ass well call it pussball
  16. Can't believe it.
    1737. Posted by Can't believe it. Mon Oct 19 4:20pm EDT

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    He should be permanently banned from sports there is no excuse for that kind of brutality. We do not need people like him playing football or any sport for that manner. I hope Clifton Smith is doing well. I majored in Exercise and Sport Science at Oregon State University and sports injuries can be so bad. The injury could have turned out so much worse. That person should be ashamed of his actions. Very unsportsmanlike behavior.... I do not care how hard it is to be a football player there is no excuse for that kind of hit on another player ever. Great players of the past did not have resort to such brutality…
  17. Kevin
    1736. Posted by Kevin Mon Oct 19 3:55pm EDT

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    Players who cross the line are too dangerous and need to be dealt with far more harshly than they are --- no matter WHAT the sports. Donte Wesley endangered a mans life, stepped outside the rules of the game and in the reality that society is still society surrounding the game, he assaulted that man. And that's a cancer you can't have growing in your leagues.......like a Kermit Washington or Jack Tatum - you need to remove them. Perhaps you fine them SUBSTANTIALLY. And don't bother saying "it isn't fair" or "you can't be too hard" --- no, I'm sorry, that is exactly the point. It is a great privilege to play in a professional sports league in America. You assault somebody like that, 1 years suspension WITHOUT pay. If it ever happens again, you can expect to be forever barred. If the NFL really IS concerned about it's reputation, it needs to clean itself up. We heard last week how Rush Limbaugh having part ownership of a (sorry) team would be detrimental to the reputation of the league for expressing his opinion, guys committing crimes on the field should certainly have a stiff penalty.
  18. Kimberly
    1735. Posted by Kimberly Mon Oct 19 3:35pm EDT

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    it all boils down to one thing and one thing only....nut up or shut up....congrats on the big lick and i hope to see more in the future...they make the money for those reasons and everyone knows it....
  19. Devil's advocate
    1734. Posted by Devil's advocate Mon Oct 19 3:27pm EDT

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    He will be back doing the same thing again. Does he care? Probably not. Does the money he will be fined hurt him? Probably not. He, as a reserve player makes more money in a year than his mother (and father, if he knows who he is) has made in her (their) lifetime. He is probably laughing and watching the replay on you tube just like all who love to see things like that. Bragging about it to his cohorts, his posse, if he has one. I am guilty of doing it myself. Does it make it OK? Nobody cares and it will keep happening. Yeah, I played at one time, but I never wanted to cold@#$% someone like Wesley did. The person who says it is normal, buddy, you are not the norm. it is one thing to play with intensity and another to be outright sadistic in the way they play.
  20. So Cali Diva
    1733. Posted by So Cali Diva Mon Oct 19 3:09pm EDT

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    Where can i find the hit ok u tube but under what
  21. Michael S
    1732. Posted by Michael S Mon Oct 19 2:33pm EDT

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    1682 - Did you ever hear of You Tube?
  22. 5 4 fighting
    1731. Posted by 5 4 fighting Mon Oct 19 2:25pm EDT

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    Without a doubt a dirty hit- but the bottom line is we are responsible for our own actions. No doubt Wesley will be paying for his.
  23. Michael M
    1730. Posted by Michael M Mon Oct 19 2:01pm EDT

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    To 1696- Big "Joe" the enforcer!!! You say that you doubt anyone here has ever played football. I question whether you have ever played. You talk like you know what this sport is all about. You have no idea big guy. Is it fun to lay someone out? Yes. Are big hits part of the game? Yes. Was this a cheap shot? Absolutely. Does this idiot reserve player deserve to be kick out of the NFL? No way. Look the rules are there to protect people. This is the perfect example of that. This was a stupid play by a stupid player...and apparently its being supported by a stupid meathead named Joe. Look man you have no idea what football is if you think that is it. Why don't you run along and drink a nice cold one while you pretend to know how to work on a car cause apparently you are a real man.
  24. Swiegie
    1729. Posted by Swiegie Mon Oct 19 2:00pm EDT

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    There obviously IS a racist problem in this country....or you wouldn't rant about it so much. ENOUGH!
  25. Rotorwash
    1728. Posted by Rotorwash Mon Oct 19 1:57pm EDT

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    Back in the 60's when I played HS ball (Rt Defensive end).. I remember lickin my chops with the QB's back to me. OMG dinner is served! Today, like back then I understand the intensity but, the men who play today are bigger, stronger and faster. These protection rules are necessary for the men who play the game and for the game it's self to suvrive.
    Definately a fine and suspension is in order.......Come to think of it; maybe I should have been suspended back in the day...............Not!
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