Nunez-Roches Hit: A Shaw Shank Redemption?
No one knows for sure what was in Rakeem Nunez-Roches mind when he launched himself towards the Chicago Bear’s back-up QB Connor Shaw so perhaps you’ll have to decide for yourself. I think that once you look at the gruesome tape and sequence of events, that you may decide that Nunez-Roches deserves some redemption.
Here’s a tape I put together on the play in question.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches: A Shaw Shank Redemption? Rakeem’s hit a dirty one? Go to https://t.co/GGRWacM8Fw pic.twitter.com/geoHUAviV5
— Ladner Morse (@Laddiemorse) August 28, 2016
It looks like Nunez-Roches is launching himself towards Shaw and aiming his helmet low to avoid any helmet-to-helmet contact but he is also far enough away from the Shaw to force him to grab him around the neck. As his body is coming down, his legs swing to his right and he then brings the weight of Shaw down to the ground frontwards. Shaw doesn’t bend his knees (or can’t) so we can all go quietly into the night… and the next play… so when Nunez-Roches is pulling him down, his weight is thrust against the front Shaw’s shin which buckled just above the ankle.
No one wants to see anyone hurt (unless you’re a sadist or just plain mean) so it’s hard to believe Rakeem Nunez-Roches was playing out of control. He’s never had a problem like that before (unlike other we know of… Ndamukong Suh).
What do you think Chiefs fans? Was Rakeem Nunez-Roches out of control and delivering a “BS Hit” as Connor Shaw first tweeted (but then took down)?