In the NFL, quarterbacks no longer get hit without consequences and repercussions. The league has gone out of its way to protect quarterbacks with rules that are called inconsistently at best, and as much as player safety is a legitimate issue, there is an element of physicality to the game that simply can’t be legislated out of football at any level. The “going to the ground” penalty is especially open to egregious interpretation, as the potential for a defensive player to levitate his own body off a quarterback as he’s sacking him is limited at best.
Well, if you miss the “hit stick” hits on quarterbacks at the professional level, the Alliance of American Football, which debuted on Saturday night, might be the league you’re looking for. Check out this demolition of San Diego Fleet quarterback Mike Bercovici by San Antonio Commanders linebacker Shaan Washington:
Ouch. Not only would that be a 15-yard penalty against Washington in the NFL; he might be escorted out of the stadium. The hit was entirely legal, though, so there was no reactionary flag. And given that Mike Martz is the Fleet’s head coach and offensive play designer, no surprise that Washington had a free shot. Martz is not known for his protections.
Bercovici, the Arizona State alum who has seen time with the Chargers, stayed in the game. Though Washington could have been nicer to him… after all, this hit happened on Bercovici’s 26th birthday!
