Rush Limbaugh, radio personality, has made a handsome living out of spreading his brand of conservatism. Bart Scott is an NFL linebacker, outspoken about most things, including politics. 
It's difficult to remember the play, considering it was the first game of the season, but do you remember the very last play of Game 1 in 2008? Chris Samuels got beat by Mathias Kiwanuka and appeared to either dive or fall on the back of Kiwanuka's ankle, nearly injuring him in the process. In the aftermath, Kiwanuka declared the play dirty. "That was the last image I had, the last play, the last image I had for the whole game, so, yeah, it will be in the back of my mind, but I am not going to do anything stupid."
"You don't want to focus on it? No. There are so many other things," Kiwanuka said. "I think you use it as a motivating factor and past that you just let it go."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been tough on player's off-field activities and is now extending his get tough ways with on-field behavior. According to Adam Schefter, Goodell sent an emailed memo today to all the teams telling them that illegal or dangerous hits may be subject to discipline, even on the first offense:Player safety on the field is important to all of us in the NFL. Football is a tough game and we need to do everything possible to protect all players - offense, defense, and special teams - from unnecessary injury caused by illegal and dangerous hits. From this point forward, you should be clear on the following point: Any conduct that unnecessarily risks the safety of other players has no role in the game of football and will be disciplined at increased levels, including on a first offense. Playing by the rules shows respect for your fellow players. No one wants to see unnecessary injuries. Let's have a safe and exciting 2008 season.Hmmm, sounds like a good idea in theory, but seems to be something harder to put in practice. Often what gets attention as an illegal hit is a hit that actually hurts someone. There are tons of tough hits, some maybe border line dirty, that don't get attention at all.
Every Tuesday with Between The Lines, I'll pick out some aspect of line play to try to focus on the part of the game that often gets overlooked by television announcers. To begin this year's series, I looked at the Giants defensive line, as the Super Bowl champs try to recover from the loss of Michael Strahan (retirement) and Osi Umenyiora (injury). As we all know, the Giants shut down the Redskins in the season opener last Thursday, but how did the rebuilt defensive line do? Read below to find out.
You might not have seen it if Thursday night's sloppy play in the second half lulled you to sleep or if you were running to the fridge to grab snacks for the McCain speech, but as the clock dwindled down on last night's game, Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels fell on DE>LB>DE Mathias Kiwanuka, being called for holding and leaving Kiwanuka on the ground clutching his ankle. Kiwanuka's fine in the medical sense. But he's not pleased with Samuels."Honestly, I thought it was a dirty play," Kiwanuka said. "There's no question about it, he was definitely beat. Instead of recovering or giving up or whatever options you have ... I don't think there's any place for that in the NFL."Justin Tuck alluded to the fact that Samuels was aiming to injure Kiwanuka on the play, and Antonio Pierce defended Samuels intention -- protecting Jason Campbell -- while hinting at, and admonishing, Samuels' attempt to hurt Kiwanuka. Tom Coughlin said Samuels told him it wasn't intentional.
New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin, right, talks on his headset as defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo stnads nearby during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Thursday night, Sept. 4, 2008, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won 16-7. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
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New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is sacked by Washington Redskins defensive end Chris Wilson, right, with help from linebacker Jason Taylor, left, during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Thursday night, Sept. 4, 2008, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants beat the Redskins 16-7. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
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New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs runs for 16 yards as Washington Redskins' Andre Carter, right, closes in during the third quarter of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Jacobs rushed for 116 yards as the Giants beat the Redskins 16-7. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
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Washington Redskins Clinton Portis (front) is tackled by New York Giants R.W. McQuarters in the fourth quarter during their season opening NFL football game in East Rutherford, September 4, 2008. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES)
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Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn reacts during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Thursday night, Sept. 4, 2008, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won 16-7. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
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New York Giants' Eli Manning looks for a receiver during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008. The Giants won 16-7. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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New York Giants' John Carney (5) kicks a field goal as Jeff Feagles holds during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Thursday night, Sept. 4, 2008, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Carney kicked three field goals as the Giants beat the Redskins 16-7. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
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Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell reacts after the Redskins were assessed a false-start penalty during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Thursday night, Sept. 4, 2008, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants beat the Redskins 16-7. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
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Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn, center, looks up during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008. The Giants beat the Redskins 16-7. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (C) is sacked by Washington Redskins Jason Taylor (L), Chris Wilson (C, rear) and Lorenzo Alexander (R) in the fourth quarter during their season opening NFL football game in East Rutherford, September 4, 2008. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES)
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Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.
"I feel really comfortable we can try to hold on while he's out, but we definitely hope it's not for an extended period of time," defensive tackle Barry Cofield said.The New York Post's Paul Schwartz points out that there aren't many options behind Umenyiora -- moving Mathias Kiwanuka back to end after teaching him to play outside linebacker is probably the best option -- but I'm surprised I didn't fire up the internets this morning to read that coaxingMichael Strahan out of retirement was at the top of New York's to-do list.
"Obviously you can't replace Osi Umenyiora, but I feel we got guys who can fill in that role and give us some quality play," added Tuck. "We're not thinking like that right now. We're thinking Sept. 4, No. 72 [is] going to be right there at his normal spot at right end."
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