The Ninja......

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Keith

Missing the opener really sucks. This isn't Smith's first issue with Incognito, but he really should take the higher ground with that guy.

What the hell is Antonio, a 19-year old college kid or something ?
How does a 32 year old NFL veteran lose his cool like this in a totally meaningless preseason game ? Missing the SD game is gonna cost him a lot of money, and he's also really hurt his own team with the suspension.

[barrett]

I want to know how the officials could be so incompetent.

You have two guys who are known to hate each other. They tried to injure/kick each other last year and you missed all of it live. The league had to clean up with fines. You would figure this is the kind of thing that an official's preparation should prepare them for going into the game.

Then instead of keeping an eye on these two, they totally miss one guy hanging on the other guy's facemask, and the 2nd guy retaliating by ripping his helmet off and hitting him with it. And the officials don't see any of this?

Fine/suspend the stupid players involved if you think they deserve it, but if player safety matters than you should be fining/suspending the officials who missed it all and caused it to escalate through their incompetence.

[popanot]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk 18m
To no surprise, Antonio Smith will appeal his three-game suspension (two preseason games, one regular season game)

I sure hope he doesn't muck this up and delay the process to where his suspension drags further into the regular season. Dude, suck it up and take your punishment! You're not going win an appeal. Be happy it's just one regular season game against a very beatable team.

[HPF Bob]

The Chargers are relying on a pair of offensive tackles who resemble metro buses. We ought to be able to get some outside rush with guys like Mercilus and Jefferson. Just dial it up and the interior DL won't matter.

[Nconroe]

I do wish they would talk more about Incognito instigating the situation with hands and punches to Smiths head. But Smith needs to stay cool, easy to say, hard to do in the situation.

[WMH]

As expected, his appeal was denied.

Going to cost Smith ~$380K for being an idiot.

Ouch for him, and sucks for us.

But I'm sure we'll manage.

[barrett]

After reading this...

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/99...onathan-martin

Antonio Smith should get a refund of his fine and a commendation from the league for hitting that guy with his helmet. I disliked him when I thought he was a dirty player, turns out that may be his good side. How does a locker room put up with a guy like that? How is it only when a guy freaks out that anyone notices? How did multiple teammates come to his defense when he was first accused yesterday before the transcript was released?

I hope this guy disappears from football permanently.