In the wake of Sunday’s 29-29 tie between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field
Minnesota Vikings T-Shirt , one of the primary sticking points seems to be the hit that was put on Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins by Packers’ linebacker Clay Matthews. The hit negated what would have been a game-sealing interception by rookie Jaire Alexander and gave the Vikings the opportunity to march down the field to, ultimately, tie the game.People don’t seem to like the call.Was the penalty on Matthews a bunch of crap? Yeah, it probably was. For that matter, so was the call against Eric Kendricks on Aaron Rodgers at the end of the first half that ultimately set up another field goal for the Packers.Back during the preseason, when the Vikings’ Antwione Williams was penalized for what appeared to be a routine sack against the Jacksonville Jaguars, I said that this new rule was eventually going to cost some team a game (though I did say “helmet rule” rather than the rules against specifically landing on a quarterback after a tackle). On Sunday, that appears to be precisely what happened.When this rule was first announced during the offseason, people were confused as to what, exactly, was going to be penalized. The officials themselves said that the rule was confusing, and we’ve now seen in a real, meaningful game that there still don’t appear to be real hard and fast guidelines for implementing the rule.But let’s recall why, exactly, we are where we are with this, shall we?We’re at this point right now because, last October, Vikings’ linebacker Anthony Barr put what was then considered a perfectly legal hit on Aaron Rodgers that resulted in Rodgers breaking his collarbone and, effectively, ending the competitive portion of the Packers’ season. A play that Barr was not flagged for at the time, nor was he fined for after the fact. Oh, and a play that Barr also wound up receiving death threats over
Minnesota Vikings Hats , because that’s good, solid, intelligent behavior, but I digress.This resulted in a conversation at the NFL offices that I imagine went something like this:Person 1: “OMG we need to do more to protect quarterbacks!”Person 2: “Well, what exactly should we do?”Person 1: “OMG IDK but we have to do something!”And this is what we got. . .a rule that was thrown together late in the offseason with no real guidance given to officials as to how to call it that has now, officially, resulted in a team not winning a game that actually counts that it appeared they had won.This new rule, as much of a steaming garbage pile as it is, is designed to protect quarterbacks. If that’s the way things are going to be, it needs to be equally applied to all quarterbacks. “Protecting quarterbacks” doesn’t simply mean protecting your quarterback or protecting star quarterbacks. It means protecting quarterbacks, whether it’s Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins or a third-string quarterback from some random NFL team whose name you probably don’t even know right now. And in the name of protecting quarterbacks, we’re going to see the sorts of garbage calls that we saw affect both teams on Sunday at Lambeau Field.This new rule is awful. It’s cost a team a game, and it’s probably going to cost more teams games by the time this season is through. But we’re here because Aaron Rodgers got hurt on a legal play in 2017 and the league wasn’t going to simply let that slide.If people want to complain about where we are, they need to remember exactly how we got here, too. San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard missed practice with an injured right wrist that could keep him out of Thursday night's game against the Oakland Raiders."His wrist hurts," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He's struggling today to hold a ball. So, we'll see how he is tomorrow."Beathard got hurt in the second quarter of a loss on Sunday at Arizona when he hit his hand on a helmet. He stayed in the game and finished 14 for 28 for 190 yards and a touchdown, falling to 1-9 in his career as a starter, including losses in all five starts this season."I definitely felt it during the game," Beathard said. "I felt it when it happened. But, I think with adrenaline going, I don't think it was affecting the way I was throwing the ball."Shanahan said he believed Beathard would be able to play if the game this week were on Sunday but doesn't know if he'll be ready on the short week for the 49ers (1-7). Beathard remained hopeful he'll be able to go
Minnesota Vikings Hoodie , otherwise the Niners will turn to untested Nick Mullens.Mullens joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent last year after breaking all of Brett Favre's records in college at Southern Mississippi. He earned himself a practice squad spot.Mullens played well in the preseason this year and got promoted to the active roster following a season-ending knee injury to starter Jimmy Garoppolo in September."Nick comes in there, moves the chains, competes hard, made some plays with his legs and his arm," Shanahan said. "Guys believe in him and he's as competitive and confident as a guy I've been around. If he needs to play this week, he'll be on it."Mullens has not taken an NFL snap and has worked mostly with the scout team in practice.Mullens won't get much practice time this week either if he plays, with the Niners holding only a walkthrough on Tuesday and then a light practice Wednesday before playing the game."That's the challenge of being a backup, you don't get a lot of reps but you have to keep mentally sharp throughout the week," Mullens said. "You have to play the game in your head before it actually plays out. That's kind of what I've done each week."The only other quarterback on the roster is Tom Savage, who is still learning the offense after being signed earlier this month.The 49ers are dealing with several injuries during this short week with backup strong safety Antone Exum already ruled out for the game with a concussion.Starter Jaquiski Tartt also could miss the game with a shoulder injury and linebacker Reuben Foster also missed practice with a hamstring injury. Several other players were limited, including running back Matt Breida (ankle), CB Richard Sherman (calf, heel), T Joe Staley (ankle), C Weston Richburg (knee), WR Pierre Garcon (shoulder, knee), RB Raheem Mostert (ankle) and G Mike Person (ankle).San Francisco made two roster moves Tuesday by waiving receiver Victor Bolden Jr. and defensive back Greg Mabin, who started at cornerback two weeks ago against the Rams. Those moves clear roster spots if the 49ers decide to activate strong safety Marcell Harris and linebacker Dekoda Watson from injured reserve.
In the wake of Sunday’s 29-29 tie between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field Minnesota Vikings T-Shirt , one of the primary sticking points seems to be the hit that was put on Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins by Packers’ linebacker Clay Matthews. The hit negated what would have been a game-sealing interception by rookie Jaire Alexander and gave the Vikings the opportunity to march down the field to, ultimately, tie the game.People don’t seem to like the call.Was the penalty on Matthews a bunch of crap? Yeah, it probably was. For that matter, so was the call against Eric Kendricks on Aaron Rodgers at the end of the first half that ultimately set up another field goal for the Packers.Back during the preseason, when the Vikings’ Antwione Williams was penalized for what appeared to be a routine sack against the Jacksonville Jaguars, I said that this new rule was eventually going to cost some team a game (though I did say “helmet rule” rather than the rules against specifically landing on a quarterback after a tackle). On Sunday, that appears to be precisely what happened.When this rule was first announced during the offseason, people were confused as to what, exactly, was going to be penalized. The officials themselves said that the rule was confusing, and we’ve now seen in a real, meaningful game that there still don’t appear to be real hard and fast guidelines for implementing the rule.But let’s recall why, exactly, we are where we are with this, shall we?We’re at this point right now because, last October, Vikings’ linebacker Anthony Barr put what was then considered a perfectly legal hit on Aaron Rodgers that resulted in Rodgers breaking his collarbone and, effectively, ending the competitive portion of the Packers’ season. A play that Barr was not flagged for at the time, nor was he fined for after the fact. Oh, and a play that Barr also wound up receiving death threats over Minnesota Vikings Hats , because that’s good, solid, intelligent behavior, but I digress.This resulted in a conversation at the NFL offices that I imagine went something like this:Person 1: “OMG we need to do more to protect quarterbacks!”Person 2: “Well, what exactly should we do?”Person 1: “OMG IDK but we have to do something!”And this is what we got. . .a rule that was thrown together late in the offseason with no real guidance given to officials as to how to call it that has now, officially, resulted in a team not winning a game that actually counts that it appeared they had won.This new rule, as much of a steaming garbage pile as it is, is designed to protect quarterbacks. If that’s the way things are going to be, it needs to be equally applied to all quarterbacks. “Protecting quarterbacks” doesn’t simply mean protecting your quarterback or protecting star quarterbacks. It means protecting quarterbacks, whether it’s Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins or a third-string quarterback from some random NFL team whose name you probably don’t even know right now. And in the name of protecting quarterbacks, we’re going to see the sorts of garbage calls that we saw affect both teams on Sunday at Lambeau Field.This new rule is awful. It’s cost a team a game, and it’s probably going to cost more teams games by the time this season is through. But we’re here because Aaron Rodgers got hurt on a legal play in 2017 and the league wasn’t going to simply let that slide.If people want to complain about where we are, they need to remember exactly how we got here, too. San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard missed practice with an injured right wrist that could keep him out of Thursday night's game against the Oakland Raiders."His wrist hurts," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He's struggling today to hold a ball. So, we'll see how he is tomorrow."Beathard got hurt in the second quarter of a loss on Sunday at Arizona when he hit his hand on a helmet. He stayed in the game and finished 14 for 28 for 190 yards and a touchdown, falling to 1-9 in his career as a starter, including losses in all five starts this season."I definitely felt it during the game," Beathard said. "I felt it when it happened. But, I think with adrenaline going, I don't think it was affecting the way I was throwing the ball."Shanahan said he believed Beathard would be able to play if the game this week were on Sunday but doesn't know if he'll be ready on the short week for the 49ers (1-7). Beathard remained hopeful he'll be able to go Minnesota Vikings Hoodie , otherwise the Niners will turn to untested Nick Mullens.Mullens joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent last year after breaking all of Brett Favre's records in college at Southern Mississippi. He earned himself a practice squad spot.Mullens played well in the preseason this year and got promoted to the active roster following a season-ending knee injury to starter Jimmy Garoppolo in September."Nick comes in there, moves the chains, competes hard, made some plays with his legs and his arm," Shanahan said. "Guys believe in him and he's as competitive and confident as a guy I've been around. If he needs to play this week, he'll be on it."Mullens has not taken an NFL snap and has worked mostly with the scout team in practice.Mullens won't get much practice time this week either if he plays, with the Niners holding only a walkthrough on Tuesday and then a light practice Wednesday before playing the game."That's the challenge of being a backup, you don't get a lot of reps but you have to keep mentally sharp throughout the week," Mullens said. "You have to play the game in your head before it actually plays out. That's kind of what I've done each week."The only other quarterback on the roster is Tom Savage, who is still learning the offense after being signed earlier this month.The 49ers are dealing with several injuries during this short week with backup strong safety Antone Exum already ruled out for the game with a concussion.Starter Jaquiski Tartt also could miss the game with a shoulder injury and linebacker Reuben Foster also missed practice with a hamstring injury. Several other players were limited, including running back Matt Breida (ankle), CB Richard Sherman (calf, heel), T Joe Staley (ankle), C Weston Richburg (knee), WR Pierre Garcon (shoulder, knee), RB Raheem Mostert (ankle) and G Mike Person (ankle).San Francisco made two roster moves Tuesday by waiving receiver Victor Bolden Jr. and defensive back Greg Mabin, who started at cornerback two weeks ago against the Rams. Those moves clear roster spots if the 49ers decide to activate strong safety Marcell Harris and linebacker Dekoda Watson from injured reserve.