http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls10/news/story?id=5995808 Doesn't seem that smart to me, even if it's accurate and honest. Ed O.
Thomas was asked if he had seen Fairley's "dirty" plays on film. Thomas said he had, but then said "that's just football", and if he gets hit late, he just needs to get back the huddle and get to the next play. It should be a non-story, IMO.
The guy is a dirty player, and he should have been suspended for this hit this season. [video=youtube;CrP0UdJY-lI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrP0UdJY-lI&feature=related[/video]
Wow, this guy if FILTHY dirty! Calling attention to it may have been a good ploy by Thomas. The refs should be watching Fairley closely after the highlights they showed on ESPN tonight. [video=youtube;8QfSRUk0fuA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QfSRUk0fuA&feature=related[/video]
The entire team seems dirty, at least in terms of going at opposing QBs. This knocked McElroy out of the game. [video=youtube;Ntu-ObQe81E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntu-ObQe81E[/video]
I think that everyone knows Fairley is dirty... the question is whether it makes any sense/does any good for Thomas to admit it before the game. Ed O.
Well, it makes an issue at the very least. Any questionable hit on Thomas by Fairley, and I expect a flag will be thrown. Plus, Thomas didn't make an issue of it. He just said he had seen the hits, and added a "it's just football" disclaimer to his comment. Will people try to make an issue of this? Probably, considering it's even being posted on this board. Should Fairley's dirty play be an issue? Probably, and now it is.
The question was probably brought up to him. I don't think Thomas would comment without warrant. Not a good idea though, even though he was probably just being honest.
LOL where's the dirty play from Fairley in that one, he's not number 21? If it's at the beginning of the play you can't even see it.
Fairley's dirty play is something that has been discussed all year. It's why it was asked of Thomas. It's not like the refs are just NOW going to notice it. Thomas would have, IMO, been better off saying that he doesn't care if other players are dirty, and that he has a job to do, and that and he knows that the Auburn defense plays tough. Calling a player dirty is a way to get the other team riled up, IMO. Ed O.
In a sense, that is what Thomas said. Thomas identified a problem of NF hitting after the play is dead, then said it's football. Agreed, his play has been discussed this season, and I think its being further discussed because no one, including bowl officials, want the NC game associated with dirty play or an injury to an elite player due to dirtbag Fairley.
There is only so riled up a team can be. Being in the National Championship game would seem enough motivation in itself besides, I read the Thomas quote as pretty tame as far as bulletin board material. He acknowledges that Fairley's famous dirty plays were in fact dirty, and then moves on saying thats football. Fairley has been hearing much worse stuff about the same plays for much of the season... I wouldn't be surprised if his view of the same plays mirrored Thomas's STOMP
I don't think adding, "But that's just football" matters. It's like adding, "No offense" or "I have a lot of black friends" to a comment. He called Fairley's plays dirty, when there was really no need to. I'm not upset and Thomas has other things to worry about than bulletin board material, but I think that the players should be careful about that sort of thing, is all. Ed O.
