Raiders’ Carr wishes Hayes landed on him
Dolphin injured himself as he tried to avoid a penalty
DAVIE, Fla. — Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr shared some sympathetic remarks Wednesday about Miami Dolphins defensive end William Hayes, who tore his ACL trying to avoid a roughing-the-passer penalty while sacking Carr last Sunday.
“Honestly, I said this to my wife and a couple teammates the other day, I wish the guy would’ve just landed on me besides tear his ACL, honestly,” Carr told reporters in Oakland. “On that play, for him to try and protect me — which I’m thankful for, thank you — for him to tear his ACL, nobody wants that. I don’t want that.”
Hayes will be done for the season after suffering the injury in the Dolphins’ 28-20 win over the Raiders.
Hayes was trying to make a play on Carr while abiding by the NFL’s latest emphasis on the roughing-the-passer personal foul, which states a defender cannot use all or most of his body weight to drive a quarterback into the ground.
The emphasis on the rule has resulted in a number of roughing-the-passer penalties at the start of this NFL season, and has received significant criticism from players like Green Bay Packers star linebacker Clay Matthews, who has incurred three of those penalties this season.
There have been 34 roughing-the-passer calls. While that works out to just one flag for every 100 pass attempts, it represents a massive increase over previous years. There were 16 such penalties through three weeks last season and 20 the year before.
The lack of consistency and clarity is why “I don’t like the rule,” said Fox’s Troy Aikman, whose Hall of Fame career was cut short by the battering he took during a 12-year stint as Cowboys quarterback.
“I think the league overreacted, and I think they will continue to look at it with the controversy that’s been created,” Aikman said, adding the strict interpretation of the 1995 rule “changes the outcome of games and ultimately will cost some coaches their jobs.”
While defenders are still trying to adjust, Carr said quarterbacks like him are also trying to acclimate to the new rule.
Carr said he immediately knew Hayes was injured because he heard Hayes crying out in pain after the play.
“I definitely didn’t want the guy to tear his ACL. Thankfully, he protected me and kept me safe. But if he was doing it again, (I’d say) ‘man, land on me so you don’t hurt yourself,’ ” Carr said.
PACKERS: Defensive back Bashaud Breeland has signed with the team after it placed veteran and former New Mexico State Aggie Davon House on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
House, who played mainly on special teams, is in the second year of his second stint in Green Bay, having initially been drafted by the Packers in 2011. A fifth-year player out of Clemson, Breeland played 60 games with 57 starts in four years with the Washington Redskins.
SEAHAWKS: Cach Pete Carroll attempted Wednesday to downplay safety Earl Thomas’ lingering dissatisfaction, saying he believes the sides will be fine with a plan that includes Thomas not taking part in many practices.
Thomas was again a nonparticipant in practice Wednesday as Seattle began preparations for Sunday’s game against Arizona. After last week’s victory over Dallas, Thomas said he had no intention of putting his future at risk by practicing unless the Seahawks provided him contract security beyond the 2018 season or granted his wish to be traded.
“We’ve done the whole conversation. We’ve been through it. We’re very clear,” Carroll said. “… I’m really looking forward to another week of playing ball. Everything is taking place, and we’re not really sharing it with you, but it’s going on.”
Thomas said after Seattle’s 24-13 win Sunday that he didn’t feel the need to practice because of the lack of a long-term commitment from the Seahawks. Thomas said he expected to be fined for his actions, and Carroll indicated there could be consequences.
CHARGERS: Joey Bosa remains sidelined with a left foot injury, but the defensive end is hopeful he can return in early November.
“There is a little instability in the tendon, but there’s a good chance I won’t have surgery,” Bosa said.
PATRIOTS: Running back Rex Burkhead was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, three days after he left the loss to the Detroit Lions with a neck injury.
Burkhead was the leading rusher this season, carrying 24 times for 86 yards. Running back Kenjon Barner was signed Wednesday to fill his spot on the roster.
JETS: Normally stoic coach Todd Bowles vehemently denied a published report saying that he was stripping defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers of some play-calling duties. “(It’s) 100 percent false,” Bowles said Wednesday. “Completely a lie.”
CARDINALS: Arizona revealed that QB Josh Rosen will be the team’s starter Sunday at home against Seattle.