Meriweather Cheap Shot

Meriweather Cheap Shot. After 3+ years in the NFL, Brandon Meriweather has done something he’s never done before: Got everyone talking about him. The hit Meriweather laid on Todd Heap Sunday is the talk of the football world right now. I’m sometimes accused of being slightly partisan in my Patriots coverage, and still my knee jerk reaction to the hit was that it was “cheap and stupid” and could have cost the Pats the game and I think most people agree. But it’s hardly stopped there. The Code Red Meriweather ordered on Heap has set off a shitstorm. It’s the Cheap Shot Heard ‘Round the World.

That man is Mike Pereira, who served as the NFL's Vice President of Officiating from 2004-09. Pereira now works for FoxSports, doing television analysis of specific plays, and he also writes a column for FoxSports.com. Pereira, who says he's concerned about the number of helmet-to-helmet hits that he's still seeing around the league, used his column this morning to break down four such hits. One of the four he focused on was Meriweather's hit on Heap, and Pereira clearly isn't pleased with the actions of the Patriots' safety. Periera says yes, and the video evidence is awfully condemning of the safety. Watch this clip carefully, and you can see Meriweather lining up Heap in midair, despite it being clear the tight end was closely marked, and would probably have gone down from contact by his defender anyway. Yet Meriweather still launches himself helmet first into Heap, sending him to the turf. He even reaches over the other defender to try and hit the tight end.

The play occured midway through the second quarter of the Baltimore Ravens-New England Patriots game. Heap was hit helmet to helmet by Meriweather after a pass sailed over his head. Heap, who was in midair, reached up for the pass but could not bring it down. After the ball clearly was over his head, Meriweather came in a led with his helmet, smacking Heap in the helmet. Heap laid motionless on the ground but thankfully got up after being helped by medical staff for a few minutes. He was later shown on the bench being tested for signs of a concussion. Meriweather was flagged for a 15 yard penalty for the hit but you can’t help but believe that he will be receiving some sort of fine or suspension for the hit.