Why Thomas Davis was suspended 2 games for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Davante Adams
The hit was dangerous, and not necessary.
Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis has been suspended two games by the NFL for a hit he placed on Packers wide receiver Davante Adams in Week 15, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The NFL noted Davis as a repeat offender, which would likely explain the two-game suspension as opposed to one.
Thomas Davis has been suspended 2 games for violation of safety-related playing rules pic.twitter.com/nJfRUjn61m
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) December 18, 2017
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera was surprised about the suspension, and worried for what it’ll do for his team moving forward:
Rivera also talked to me about the Thomas Davis suspension. Told me he is a “little surprised” that it’s two games. Said from his understanding Thomas will appeal. Added if TD is suspended it could be a tough day on defense with Shaq Thompson dealing w/injury.
— Tiffany Blackmon (@tiffblackmon) December 18, 2017
Adams left the game after taking this blindsiding helmet-to-helmet hit from Davis:
Adams would be ruled out with a concussion from the hit.
Davis was visibly upset with himself after making the hit that had Adams down on the field for some time, before ultimately getting up under his own power.
After the game, Rodgers condemned the hit.
“I think it was an unnecessary hit,” Rodgers said during his post-game press conference. “He’s a repeat offender, so I’m sure the league will deal with him according to that.”
Davis’ suspension isn’t a surprise.
The NFL has had its fair share of frightening injuries the past handful of weeks. We saw Ryan Shazier on the field for an extended period of time after a routine tackle, and he remains hospitalized in Pittsburgh after undergoing spinal stabilization surgery.
JuJu Smith-Schuster was recently suspended one game for a similar hit on Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict:
The precedent has been set for those unnecessary hits during the season. Rob Gronkowski was also suspended for a game after delivering an elbow to the head of Tre’Davious White after the whistle in Week 13.
To see Davis get two games was a bit of a surprise, considering the other hits and suspensions we’ve seen this season. But as the NFL noted in their letter to him, he’s also a repeat offender. Davis will appeal his suspension.
It wasn’t the first big hit Adams has taken this season.
Earlier in the year, he took a hit from Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan.
This was the hit that sidelined Adams earlier in the season:
Scary scene in Green Bay: Davante Adams takes helmet-on-helmet hit from Danny Trevathan. #GBvsCHI pic.twitter.com/39iQcI1S3o
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) September 29, 2017
Trevathan was suspended two games for that hit on Adams, an additional game longer than Smith-Schuster and Gronkowski.
With the recent head injuries to players, it’s not a surprise to see the NFL punish Davis in an attempt to show they are serious about player safety.
Adams believes that Davis hit him with malicious intent.
On Monday morning, Adams tweeted his frustrations over the hit:
I’ll never understand it. Game is already dangerous enough and we got Pro Bowl players out here head hunting and saying they “didn’t mean to harm me”
— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) December 18, 2017
Somebody please explain to me what I wasnt trying to hurt him means when we nowhere near the play and u lead with ya head and ear hole a defenseless player....
— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) December 18, 2017
Look it’s football but no room for shit like that. We supposed to be in this together n look out for one another not mess with a mans livelihood and hand out unnecessary concussions. We all got mouths to feed what if I did that to him and his kids cant eat...
— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) December 18, 2017
Adams then mentioned that it’s not the first time he’s experienced a big hit like that this year:
Not the type to rant but when u go through this shit twice in a year it takes a lil toll on u so excuse me.
— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) December 18, 2017
He was referencing the Trevathan hit from earlier in the season.
After seeing Adams’ reaction, Davis replied to him, saying that he didn’t mean the hit:
I understand your frustration and I do apologize for the hit! In no way was I trying to hurt you. My first instinct was turn and make a block. In all sincerity I do apologize. I truly respect you as a player and I made a mistake!
— Thomas Davis (@ThomasDavisSDTM) December 18, 2017
Another Twitter user would tweet a video for the hit with “Keep lying.” Adams would retweet the tweet onto his timeline.