Wake’s defensive mindset

NFL safety rules shouldn’t favor offense, he says

DAVIE — There’s only one way to play a sport built on violence, and that’s to be violent.

At least that’s a defensive player’s mindset according Miami Dolphins pass rusher Cameron Wake, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, who has played football in both the CFL and NFL.

That’s why watching Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier, a former Plantation High standout, crumbling to the ground following a tackle in the first quarter of a physical Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals doesn’t faze the nine-year veteran.

Not even when that tackle led to Shazier undergoing spinal stabilization surgery days later after suffering a severe back injury.

To Wake, that’s part of the game.

“I’ve seen a lot of injuries so unfortunately, being in this league, that comes along with it and it’s unfortunate,” Wake said after thoroughly explaining the physics of football, and the dangers of playing at half speed.

According to Wake, turning down the volume of his pass rushing pursuit is a recipe for disaster, and vice versa because the point of football is to impose your will on another man.

“I want to hurt everybody I play. I don’t want to injure anybody,” Wake continued. “I want you to be able to get up and go to the next play. I want you to feed your family and play next week, but I want you to say ‘Man, Cameron Wake.’

“I don’t want you to be off Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake sacks New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the second half their Nov. 26 game. the team, or not playing,” he continued. “But I want you to obviously be physically defeated. I want to intimidate.”

The problem the NFL is facing is that in this CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy ) era of football — where preventing head head trauma and concussions are the primary focus of the league’s player safety movement — is that not all players are buying in, no matter the consequences.

And according to Wake, the consequences are often subjective, based on who you are, and most importantly, what side of the ball you play on.

Just this past week a flurry of suspensions were doled out for on-field conduct, and many of them were controversial.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is suspended for Monday night’s game against the Dolphins for dropping his elbow into a Buffalo Bills player after the whistle had been blown. Gronkowski apologized for the play, one that led to Bills rookie Tre’Davious White suffering a concussion.

Cincinnati Bengals safety George Iloka was suspended one game for blasting Steelers receiver Antonio Brown after a touchdown catch during the same game Shazier got hurt. His suspension was later rescinded because it was ruled a football play. But Steelers receiver Juju Smith-Schuster didn’t get his one game suspension overturned after he laid out Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict on a block. Smith-Schuster stood over Burflict, who has a reputation as one of the dirtiest players in the NFL, seemingly gloating after the hit.

“We have a responsibility to make this game as safe as it possibly can be. It’s my opinion as someone that is highly involved in the process behind the scenes, as a competition committee member and a guy that has been in this league a long time, I take that responsibility personality,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “I think we have worked hard to improve in those areas. I think the game is safer than it’s been. With that being said, I think we still have room for growth.”

But exactly how can, and should the NFL turn down the volume on what made it into the most profitable sports league in America?

According to Wake, the journey starts with equaling the playing field for everyone, and making defensive players’ safety a priority too.

“Where’s the line? Are you going to tell all the running backs, listen you’ve all got to slow down a little bit? Receivers?” Wake said.

“We’re rarely defenseless as a defender. I mean my knees aren’t valuable to the NFL? They can cut me, they can do everything; but if I brush a quarterback, I get fined.”