Monday, November 9: The Unfortunate Culmination Of DeAngelo Hall Week
DeAngelo Hall never pretended that this was "just another game" or that he didn't care about going back to Atlanta, but -- despite what yesterday's AP story claims -- I never felt like his talk got out of control. He was pointedly, brutally critical of Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, but still said all the right things about the players and coaches.
Still, Hall was lustily booed every time he was the spotlighted player -- at player introductions, back to return punts -- and, of course, was involved in possibly the lowest moment of a Redskins season that has seen plenty of low moments.
What strikes me watching the video today is how accurate Hall's post-game recounting of the incident is.
"I ran over there to help my guy," Hall said in the postgame locker room, "and next thing I know, one of their strength and conditioning coaches started grabbing at me, putting his hands on me. Then other guys put their hands on me. The whole time I'm trying to get them off me. After that, Coach (Mike) Smith came over to me, talking [stuff] to me, saying they were going to kick my [butt]. I stay in Atlanta during the offseason, so if Mike Smith wants to see me, he can definitely find me. That's some [bullstuff] right there. But he can save that for another day."
Given the level of sheer chaos on the sidelines (and it looked even more chaotic in person than it does in the broadcast), that's actually pretty close to what seems to be happening.
Here, for contrast, is Falcons head coach Mike Smith's description of what happened.
"There were a bunch of guys on that sideline," Smith said. "Some of them were wearing black helmets and some of them were wearing maroon helmets. I can't tell you anything more about it. It was very, very hectic on that sideline. There were a lot of things going on and my main goal was for the safety of our football team and restoring order."
It doesn't in any way excuse Hall's actions. LaRon Landry's hit was clearly late, the flag was clearly deserved, and the Falcons players had every right to be upset. There was no need for Hall to defend anyone. But his clear description of what happened -- especially next to Smith's vague recounting -- at least lends credence to the idea that Hall had SOME idea what he was doing and wasn't just out of control.
It seems inevitable in hindsight that DeAngelo Hall Week was going to conclude with some kind of moment of brilliance or drama on Hall's part -- that one way or another, Hall was going to be involved in something pivotal. Given the way the first half of the game went, it's no surprise that this was it.
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One other note from watching the video: it is remarkable to see how all the Atlanta players suddenly go into reverse when Albert Haynesworth shows up. It seems like it's been a long time since the Redskins had a player that inspired that kind of reaction. Also mildly amusing: Haynesworth shows up long after Justin Tryon and Chris Horton, and behind Kedric Golston and Cornelius Griffin; the announcers completely ignore those four guys to announce Haynesworth's presence.
Still, Hall was lustily booed every time he was the spotlighted player -- at player introductions, back to return punts -- and, of course, was involved in possibly the lowest moment of a Redskins season that has seen plenty of low moments.
What strikes me watching the video today is how accurate Hall's post-game recounting of the incident is.
"I ran over there to help my guy," Hall said in the postgame locker room, "and next thing I know, one of their strength and conditioning coaches started grabbing at me, putting his hands on me. Then other guys put their hands on me. The whole time I'm trying to get them off me. After that, Coach (Mike) Smith came over to me, talking [stuff] to me, saying they were going to kick my [butt]. I stay in Atlanta during the offseason, so if Mike Smith wants to see me, he can definitely find me. That's some [bullstuff] right there. But he can save that for another day."
Given the level of sheer chaos on the sidelines (and it looked even more chaotic in person than it does in the broadcast), that's actually pretty close to what seems to be happening.
Here, for contrast, is Falcons head coach Mike Smith's description of what happened.
"There were a bunch of guys on that sideline," Smith said. "Some of them were wearing black helmets and some of them were wearing maroon helmets. I can't tell you anything more about it. It was very, very hectic on that sideline. There were a lot of things going on and my main goal was for the safety of our football team and restoring order."
It doesn't in any way excuse Hall's actions. LaRon Landry's hit was clearly late, the flag was clearly deserved, and the Falcons players had every right to be upset. There was no need for Hall to defend anyone. But his clear description of what happened -- especially next to Smith's vague recounting -- at least lends credence to the idea that Hall had SOME idea what he was doing and wasn't just out of control.
It seems inevitable in hindsight that DeAngelo Hall Week was going to conclude with some kind of moment of brilliance or drama on Hall's part -- that one way or another, Hall was going to be involved in something pivotal. Given the way the first half of the game went, it's no surprise that this was it.
******
One other note from watching the video: it is remarkable to see how all the Atlanta players suddenly go into reverse when Albert Haynesworth shows up. It seems like it's been a long time since the Redskins had a player that inspired that kind of reaction. Also mildly amusing: Haynesworth shows up long after Justin Tryon and Chris Horton, and behind Kedric Golston and Cornelius Griffin; the announcers completely ignore those four guys to announce Haynesworth's presence.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-09-2009 @ 10:40AM
lesliet said...
yeah, and I don't get what Smith was even doing in there...He appeared upset with the ref, wanting the flag. Then the ref threw the flag. Why the hell is he still upset? He had no business getting that involved.
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11-09-2009 @ 10:41AM
Chris said...
Actually... looking at the video, it looks like Mike Smith throws an elbow at DeAngelo Hall. Check around the 0:22 mark. If it is in fact what I think it is, even though DHall is wearing a helmet, very unprofessional conduct by Mike Smith.
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11-09-2009 @ 10:30AM
BrianNjRedskinFan said...
Band of brothers.......you should watch it some time
Dirty, gritty, and mean. I loved every second of it. it showed heart
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11-09-2009 @ 10:32AM
skeetmccool8841 said...
hahahahaahahah thats so awesome, haynesworth shows up and the entire ATL bench walks back 10 feet.
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11-09-2009 @ 10:34AM
cwbarr_1 said...
Zorn and Blache need to bench Landry....it is so past due. 1st, he shows up late as hell to offseason workouts. In almost every game he has over-persued on a running back, in almost every occasion costing us points. He also has several penalties for late hits! How long has he played football? I mean, you would think he would KNOW where the sidelines are!
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11-09-2009 @ 10:36AM
cwbarr_1 said...
Mike Smith should be fined. He helped the incident progress...though Landry should be benched too.
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11-09-2009 @ 10:41AM
ssag1 said...
I was there;it was not pretty !. The entire Dome seemed to erupt in boos anytime Hall was spotlighted. He may be a ball player but he is also human. Hail to the Redskins, even in defeat.
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11-09-2009 @ 11:49AM
bob400 said...
GETTING IN SIDELINE FIGHTS IS RETARDED BC IT ONLY LEADS TO PENALTIES BUT WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR ANYONE TO COME TO HALL'S DEFENSE, REDSKINS WERE STANDING AROUND LIKE A BUNCH OF SOFT SISSYS UNTIL HAYNESWORTH SHOWED UP AND SHOVED SOMEONE. THATS OUR TEAM IN A NUTSHELL SOFT PLAYERS BC OF SOFT LEADERSHIP AND COACHING. THEY COULD ALL SEE HALL WAS BEING ROUGHED UP AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN 11 GUYS TRYING TO GET HIM OUT OF THERE.
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11-10-2009 @ 9:22AM
HarBrw said...
I agree not comming to the aid of your teamate in the wrong or right shows how soft our coach is. That is why we struggle in the first half of every game. We have a soft team due to a powder puff soft coach.
11-09-2009 @ 12:18PM
Skinsfan said...
Are we watching the same video? How can anyone say Hall isn't guilty of starting that fight? You can clearly see the Falcons players and coaches trying to get him back on the field and all Hall does is push further and further back on to their sideline. Bottom line Hall is a punk, there's a reason the Falcons AND Raiders got rid of the guy.
He's a cancer. I wish we had someone like Mike Smith on the Redskins, he at least stands up for his players, unlike Zorn who was doing what?
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11-09-2009 @ 12:45PM
Nathan said...
seriously you folks need to take off the rose colored glasses. Hall is thoroughly a turd. Maybe the Falcon's reaction on the sidelines was an overreaction, but that would only be because Hall is the softest hitter in the league, so clearly none of them were in any danger. These Redskins are the worst I have ever seen... it is really unbearable. I hope the stress of this season gives Dark Heart a heart attack.
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11-09-2009 @ 12:45PM
Rob said...
Best part of that game, no doubt
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11-09-2009 @ 1:19PM
Eric B said...
at least 3 guys have the fire it takes to play football (landry, hall and haynesworth) this illustrated just why the 'skins can't get anything done...no one is willing to get physical when the going gets tough...
mike smith is classless...he should be suspended for at least a game.
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11-09-2009 @ 7:23PM
martinpd said...
Hall and Landry have fire? Since the hell when? Laron Landry put more priority on a lip stud this off-season than preseason preparation and D-Hall is the king of half-ass arm tackling. Put in the extra hours, act like you enjoy football, and act like it's a privilege to play for the Washington Redskins. Fans would kill to be in your position, yet you give half ass efforts with arm tackling (Hall) and throw a joke of a tackle at Michael Turner's ankles (Landry). The late hit doesn't show fire, it shows stupidity.
11-09-2009 @ 1:21PM
keithamcgregor said...
If you watch the play in slow motion, you actually see Landry hit Matty (slush puppy) before he goes out of bounds. According to the rules, the player (runner) is only out of bounds after his feet or his hands (or another part of his body) hit out of bounds. So according to the rules, Slush Puppy was still inbounds. Smith did take a cheap shot at Hall and should be fined or suspended. The refs definitely messed up by not flagging the Falcons on that play also. Hall should have known better than to go over to their sideline. Suspend or fine him for his stupidity also.
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11-09-2009 @ 1:24PM
jdelgallo said...
this was the best part of the game, it's one thing to struggle during the season but the thing that pissed me off so much was that the players didnt look angry at how the season was going. When i saw them fighting i finally saw some real passion from these guys.
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11-09-2009 @ 1:51PM
Mike said...
LOL this was my favorite part of the game also!! The problem with Hall is he misses tackles, is not in the correct position to make tackles and then talks a HUGE game and doesn't back it up with anything but average play. All the Hall guys who say he gets interceptions have no argument because 3 INT's is nothing and two of them are lucky off of tips. it's more important to tackle than get INT's. As far as the play I agree with Matt. Hall was over there because the play was there but he wasn't smart to get involved BUT you can't blame him for anything after that when the coach grabs him. How can he get away if someone is holding him and he is mobbed by the other team? Come on are you guys really skins fans. Let's back our guy up. They mobbed him, their coach took a cheap shot and there should be serious repercussions for this!
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11-09-2009 @ 2:05PM
Bhqmiller said...
This doesn't have anything to do with this "brawl" but what I think the Redskins should do from this point forward and into the future. This is a team of individuals, and wanna be superstars. Todd Yoder with his bright yellow mohawk, Devin Thomas with eye black under one eye, Portis not practicing, etc. They should take names and numbers off of jerseys during practice, during the off season, ota's etc. Break these guys down like they are about to go in to boot camp or basic training. If you have sleeve tattoos then you need to wear long sleeves, make them shave their heads and shave their faces. If one person screws up, the whole team needs to do front, back, go's until the coach gets tired. I understand you can't MAKE anyone do anything, but these guys WANT to play, and if they don't adhere to these new set of standards, then they don't play. This team is the furthest thing from a team. I think their motto is "there is no "I" in team, but there is a "ME"
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11-09-2009 @ 2:55PM
keithamcgregor said...
This is a team full of prima donnas. We all know who they are and hopefully next season the New GM will come in here and clean those guys out of here. It will hurt Snyders feelings because it seems like they're his favorite overpaid players.
11-09-2009 @ 2:41PM
petebozick said...
I looks to me that just as D Hall is about to walk back on the field, Falcons #51 and 31 possibly, shove him and then Falcons coach Jeff Fish grabs his jersey. How can he get away at that point?
The funniest part is that Landy and Ryan both run back on the field like it's no big deal.
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