DeMaurice Smith Speaks With Brandon Meriweather

The Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, DeMaurice Smith, spoke with Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather on his recent suspension and related comments. Smith believes Meriweather understands his mistakes and the obligations he has to his teammates and other players.

Smith said, “I spoke to Brandon. He is passionate about the game and I know he is sorry for what he said. He is concentrating on helping his team win the rest of the season. Brandon knows that all players have a responsibility to each other and to play within the rules of the game.”

The NFL suspended Meriweather for two games after he was penalized in Washington’s win over the Bears on Oct. 20 for separately hitting Brandon Marshall and receiver Alshon Jeffery high. After appeal, the league reduced the suspension to one game and Meriweather sat out Sunday’s game against the Broncos.

On Monday Meriweather said, “I guess I just have to take people’s knees out. That’s the only way. I would hate to end a guy’s career over a rule, but I guess it’s better other people than me getting suspended for longer. You just have to go low now, man. You’ve got to end people’s careers. You got to tear people’s ACLs and mess up people’s knees. You can’t hit them high anymore.”

Meriweather’s comments were likely out of frustration as many defensive players are struggling with how to legally deliver a hit following the rule changes that are intended to make the game safer and reduce head injuries. However there have been other unintended consequences, as Ashley Fox noted recently, so far this season 54 NFL players have gone on injured reserved because of lower leg injuries.

Chargers star tight end Antonio Gates says he can understand Meriweather’s frustration and added he’s not against rugged play, it’s just when hits are delivered. “If I have the ball and see you coming and I know what’s coming, that’s football,” Gates said. “But if I’m in the air and I’m not looking and you ear-hole me that’s (different). That is the whole concept of being a defenseless player and getting hit that way.”

Sunday, Meriweather and his team will face the San Diego Chargers in Washington.