AB's Punt Return

[Hallmarky]

I'm hearing on the radio and seeing on post game shows a lot of people thinkg AB deliberately kicked Lanning on his punt return. He obviously (Tomlinism) tried to hurdle him. What do you think?

 

[Chicoman]

I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt....he's not a trash talker or a dirty player but it sure looked like his foot went to the right into the punters head as he was in the air. He's gonna get fined at least $50k by Der Fuhrer. Since he's a Steeler it'll probably be $100k

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I think he tried to hurdle him but that was a stupid move. If he had kept to the sideline he probably would have taken it to the house.

 

[TAS]

He wanted to hurdle him. Obviously.

Big ginger will want to fine and suspend him

 

[Confluence]

It was clear that he was trying to hurdle him --- or AB wouldn't have been mid-air. But the kicker stood up instead of going lower for the tackle and I think AB got surprised. Being in mid-air, he did what any superman would and simply directed his landing thru the object in his path....if he hadn't hit him square on, he might have been open to injury or fallen awkwardly. Great play, great mid-air decision.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

He wanted to hurdle him. Obviously.

Big ginger will want to fine and suspend him

I think AB was anticipating a normal tackle, which if the punter had done, AB would have hurdled him. The punter however fell down and backwards in the best tradition of kickers making tackles, i.e. "Oh ****, someone is running at me, the best I can do is fall down in front of him".

 

[bermudasteel]

Can't disagree w/ TAS...

I believe the intent was to hurdle the punter, who, tried to tackle AB while "falling backward while AB was in the air" - it is not my feeling that he wanted to kick the guy in the head/face but me he wanted to use him as a catapult???

His game day check will, however, be AB(it) lighter this week...

 

[Vader]

AB was looking for a highlight reel play instead of just running into the EZ. He could have easily gotten by the punter. His entire left side was wide open. No reason at all to hurdle anyone. AB could have out ran him like he was standing still.

 

[Drink IRON City]

I don't think intentional at all. I think AB was thinking high lite reel. Most are right by saying a cut left right there may have gotten him in the ginger snap 6




Salute the nation

 

[FAB802]

It reminded me of this when I was younger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0O7973Ew8A

 

[Steeltime]

AB did not plan on stomping on the punter, but while in mid-air and seeing the punter falling backwards in his path, it certainly looked like he intentionally put his foot right on the guys face and shoulder.

As several others have noted, he had a ton of room to simply move left, blow past the punter, and jog into the endzone. He is such a good open field runner that he had to have seen that.

 

[Coryea]

woodson did that in 94 or 93, I think against the Chargers, split the dudes nose open.

 

[thesteelcity]

I think he did not time the hurdle correctly and when he was in mid air, there was nowhere to go and he used his foot, like a stiff arm. There was a replay from the punter's perspective that definitely showed a stomp kicking motion. The flag was justified and I'm sure a lighter check will be sent.

 

[ark steel]

I think he did not time the hurdle correctly and when he was in mid air, there was nowhere to go and he used his foot, like a stiff arm. There was a replay from the punter's perspective that definitely showed a stomp kicking motion. The flag was justified and I'm sure a lighter check will be sent.

I think, when he realized he wasn't going to MOe the hurdle, he gave it a little extra stomp. I cheered.

 

[SteelerFan448]

The punter fell back as he tried to hurdle him. As a result, his face got in the way of Brown's cleat. A cut to the left would have been an easy punt return for a score, but instead we got an all-time awesome highlight play from Brown that has turned into hilarious memes and a fantastic 38-yard touchdown run by Bell.

 

[Litos]

he just wanted to imitate LeVeon Bell

 

[Steel Not A Player]

So what exactly is the fine for axe kicking a punter in the face?

I can't imagine it will be less than 20k. Not that it was egregious, Lanning had that **** coming stopping a touchdown, but we're the Steelers and Goodell hates us.

If he suspends Brown we know it's personal.

 

[nooneuno]

...............................................

 

[PoloMalo43]

he just wanted to imitate LeVeon Bell

In honor of Debo who just retired a steeler:



I think Charlie Batch explained it pretty well after the game which was if you look at the kickers form as he tried to make the tackle it's apparent.... he had none. He seemed to want to go low then came up, Brown assumed he would go low and we saw the result. Batch also said the thought of kicking a guy would never even cross Brown's mind, he's not that kind of player.

 

[Steelers1356]

but while in mid-air and seeing the punter falling backwards in his path, it certainly looked like he intentionally put his foot right on the guys face and shoulder.

It seems that way, but at that point he really couldn't avoid it. More like the punter's face got in the way of Browns foot as another poster pointed out.

 

[In Ben We Trust]

Totally hilarious but a fine is coming.

 

[SteelerSask2]

Yes he purposely tried to drop kick a punter he barely or doesn't even know in the face. It was a ridiculous move that underscores why it is beyond stupid to have him back there, but intentional, No.

 

[madinsomniac]

Intentional or not... it was hilarious. And all the better that it happened vs the Brownies

 

[nooneuno]

Yes he purposely tried to drop kick a punter he barely or doesn't even know in the face. It was a ridiculous move that underscores why it is beyond stupid to have him back there, but intentional, No.

Why is it beyond stupid to have him back there? If he cuts it to the left he has a TD. He's one of the best returners in the league period. He's paid millions of dollars, he obviously loves returning kicks, what's the problem? Oh wait he might get hurt, he could get hurt any play he's on the field.

Some people like to point out every little negative thing this team does and we have someone great at what they do, yet we find reasons that sucks or is stupid as well.

 

[bmoritz]

I love Antonio, he's probably my favorite current player. And I don't think he was intending to kick him in the face. With that said, I think he did intentionally stick his foot out further. I was shocked he wasn't ejected, and honestly, I really wouldn't have complained if he was. If it were the Browns returner doing that to Wing, you know damn well we would've been calling for an ejection.