DMN Blog: Flozell Adams explains what happened

[WoodysGirl]

4:23 PM Fri, Dec 11, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams told Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com that he did not know it was Justin Tuck he was pushing in the back Sunday that resulted in an unnecessary roughness penalty and ultimately a $50,000 fine.

Adams is upset that he is being labeled a dirty player but did not want to get into a back-and-forth with Tuck, who called him a "coward" and "dirtbag," after Sunday's game.

"A lot of people, reporters and some coaches have been around long before me and in 12 years and over 100-something games and they start calling me a dirty player now," Adams told Eatman. "I'm not doing anything different than I've always done. They can be the judge of whatever they want to say, but I know people in here - teammates, coaches and family - they know I'm not like that. I wouldn't do anything deliberately to hurt another player or take anyone out.

"At my position, I want to give some guys a few bumps here and there. That's how you play. But I'm not a dirty player. I'm not like that because I wouldn't want anything like that to happen to me."

On Friday, Adams told his side of the story regarding Sunday's halftime incident.

"The play was still going. At first, honestly - God as my witness - I did not know that was Tuck. I'm going down the field, when you kick a field goal, the other team can return it. As we're blocking, we've got to stop these guys first. After he kicked it, we know it could be returned, so we're running down the field. Now we immediately become defensive players.

So I'm running down the field. I'm running toward the side, I see (Hixon) running. So I'm running and I see a blue jersey, which just happens to be Tuck - God as my witness - I don't even know it's him. Usually when you see a guy like that, they're going to turn around and try to jack you up.

So I see him, I hit him before he hits me. It's still legal, it was a legal play because none of us heard the whistle. If you look at the tape, the ref isn't waving his hand to blow the ball dead until after the play. If you see our tapes, after I hit Tuck, I run down the field a few more steps and then the ref starts to wave his hands. I don't know what the ref under the goal post did, but nobody over by us (blew the play dead).
After I hit Tuck, I'm coming down the field and I see No. 94 coming at me. So, I mean, anyone in the whole entire world who sees someone coming after them is going to fight back. He hit me, I hit him. We both had our hands in the face mask. Next thing I know, the whole Giants sideline is right there."

 

[big dog cowboy]

Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams told Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com that he did not know it was Justin Tuck he was pushing in the back Sunday

Wow. That is hard to believe. Especially in light of the fact it said "TUCK" on that jersey right in front of his face.

 

[pjjrfan]

Hey it's football. He didn't go for the knees or a head shot, this is a tough sport, I'm cool with it big guy, now if you can just stop making stupid penalties.

 

[Jon88]

I don't think I believe that.

 

[AbeBeta]

Wow. That is hard to believe. Especially in light of the fact it said "TUCK" on that jersey right in front of his face.

If his story is legit, I doubt he's reading the jersey

 

[AbeBeta]

I don't think I believe that.

I don't know whether I do or not -- however it is a plausible story

 

[Idgit]

So, I gather you can hit players in the back once possession changes your side to defense on a kick return? I don't know the rule.

I can see not paying attention to the name or number on a blue jersey if you're trying to hit a guy and locate the ball carrier at the same time, for what that's worth.

 

[Kevinicus]

What he says about the play not being over is accurate. The players were still moving as if someone was running with the ball...well except for Tuck. Maybe if he had better awareness this never happens.

 

[Kevinicus]

So, I gather you can hit players in the back once position changes your side to defense on a kick return? I don't know the rule.

I can see not paying attention to the name or number on a blue jersey if you're trying to hit a guy and locate the ball carrier at the same time, for what that's worth.

Yes it's legal, it's not a block. You can shove guys out of your way to get in position to make a tackle.

 

[TheKey]

Anyone who has ever played football knows that while you are playing you are just 'in the zone'. You don't read jerseys or think about what you are doing, you just play.

 

[bbgun]

Wow. That is hard to believe. Especially in light of the fact it said "TUCK" on that jersey right in front of his face.

I thought he was partly deaf, not blind. Silly me.

 

[casmith07]

So, I gather you can hit players in the back once position changes your side to defense on a kick return? I don't know the rule.

I can see not paying attention to the name or number on a blue jersey if you're trying to hit a guy and locate the ball carrier at the same time, for what that's worth.

If you're on defense, it's not a block in the back because you aren't blocking.

 

[Nav22]

C'mon now. Whether or not he thought the play was still going, it was clearly an unnecessary shove.

In that regard, it's slightly reminiscent of the Warren Sapp hit on Chad Clifton, when Clifton was slowly jogging after an INT and Sapp leveled him.

If Justin Tuck was seriously injured on the play, this story would've taken on a life of its own. But he wasn't... and it's still football, last time I checked... move on.

 

[pgreptom]

Anyone who has ever played football knows that while you are playing you are just 'in the zone'. You don't read jerseys or think about what you are doing, you just play.

tah dah. I never read a single jersey, or paid attention to numbers. I saw colored objects...

 

[DallasCowboysRule!]

The guy did start to run it out of the end zone and then the refs blew it dead a few seconds later. I believe Flozell.

 

[EPL0c0]

Wow. That is hard to believe. Especially in light of the fact it said "TUCK" on that jersey right in front of his face.

Well y'know, Flo's a little DEEF so maybe Tuck said "Hey Flo, you suck." but maybe Flo heard "Hey Flo, push me to the ground yo."

Yeah, that's what I'm going with

 

[adbutcher]

tah dah. I never read a single jersey, or paid attention to numbers. I saw colored objects...

You barely hear the crowd noise, it is weird.

 

[DFWJC]

Anyone who has ever played football knows that while you are playing you are just 'in the zone'. You don't read jerseys or think about what you are doing, you just play.

Of course you don't.....you're absolutely right.

 

[Idgit]

Yes it's legal, it's not a block. You can shove guys out of your way to get in position to make a tackle.

If you're on defense, it's not a block in the back because you aren't blocking.

Gotcha. Makes sense, too. So what was the fine for? The fight afterward? Because 50 large for that is brutal. Or did the hit not occur after change of possession?

 

[CF74]

If the shove doesn't fit, u must acquit...