Brandon Meriweather does not have the greatest reputation in the NFL. The Washington Redskins safety has had issues with the safety guidelines in the NFL, delivering helmet-to-helmet blows each week in the season. After placing big hits on two Chicago Bears wide receivers, Brandon Marshall is calling for Meriweather to get kicked out of the league.
During the Bears loss to the Redskins, Meriweather placed questionable hits on both Marshall and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. Both hits were flagged as illegal contact, being helmet-to-helmet hits on defenseless receivers. The top wide receiver believes it is time for the NFL to take very serious action against the safety. He wants more than just a fine placed on Meriweather, he wants him out of the league all together.
"Guys like that really don't understand that there is life after football," Marshall said, per the Chicago Tribune. "I respect the league trying to better our game and guys like that, maybe he needs to get suspended or taken out of the game completely. I understand. I get it. I was one of those guys. I played defense growing up. I was a headhunter. Even sometimes on the offensive side, I played that way. But with rules in place, you've gotta respect it."
It was very clear that Meriweather went high on both hits to receivers. He hit Jeffery right in the face mask while he hit Marshall in the neck as the receiver dropped the ball in the process. This is not the first incident Meriwaether has had this season. Last month he was fined $42,000 for his hitting. The number is sure to get hire and a suspension could be in his future.
The Redskins safety remains confident that each hit he placed in the Bears game was fully legal and within the guidelines of the NFL. However, as he continues to get fined he is no longer sure where the correct hitting areas are.
"I feel like every hit that I took was a legit hit," Meriweather said, per the Washington Post. "I wasn't trying to be dirty. I wasn't trying to hurt nobody. I didn't launch with my head. I used my shoulder like they told me to do. Everything I did was a pointer from them (league officials).... You've just got to play. There ain't nothing I can do about it. I just go out there and play."
With two penalties in one game, a suspension is very likely. Head coach Mike Shanahan remains hopeful that the NFL goes easy on his starting safety, noting that he does not believe either hit was intentional. Meriweather claims he is trying to stay within the rules, but no matter what he continues to get flagged by the league.
"The last two, three weeks, I tried everything possible," Meriweather said. "I lowered my target. As y'all could see, I lowered my target. I stopped using my head. I'm using my shoulder. No matter what I do, honestly I feel like I'm gonna be in the wrong. If I hit you with my shoulder and I slide up, they're gonna say it's head to head. If I hit them too low, I think somebody just got flagged for hitting somebody too low. So I think it all depends on who's watching. I don't think we can be right."
