Kansas City Chiefs rookie outside linebacker Breeland Speaks had New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady nearly wrapped up by the goal line on a third-and-goal play late in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s game. Brady pump-faked
Daniel Sorensen Color Rush Jersey , and Speaks appeared to hold up from moving forward with the full tackle, which would have been for a key sack.There was a defensive holding called on the play (the Patriots declined), which would have negated the sack anyway, but asked after the game, Speaks said he held up because he was afraid of being called for a roughing-the-passer penalty. We have seen referees calling any quarterback-related penalties especially tight throughout the 2018 season, so the reaction made sense.But NFL executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent doesn’t buy it, according to ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio.I’ve only gotten to know Speaks a little bit this year, but my gut tells me he would admit it if he was just flat-out beat by Brady on the play. The potential for a penalty had to be going through his mind, because how could it not?In my opinion, the rookie wanted to be extra careful not to spoil such a big game on a silly penalty in his first career start. Speaks later told old friend Terez Paylor, now of Yahoo! Sports
Kendall Fuller Color Rush Jersey , that he should have finished the play.The Patriots went on to win the game, 43-40, and Speaks learned a valuable lesson. Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill scored three second-half touchdowns on Sunday night, including a 75-yard catch-and-run with a burst the NFL hasn’t seen since Randy Moss took a short pass down the left sideline on Thanksgiving Day 1998 and blew past every player who thought he had an angle on the then-rookie.Hill, now in his third year, made his mark two years ago as a return specialist, but he’s now anything but that, contrary to the misplaced wisdom of Jalen Ramsey. Hill may already be the best receiver in the entire NFL.Chris Simms made the case for Hill on Monday’s
PFT Live, and I agree with Simms (for a change). The strongest argument is this: Of all the great receivers in the NFL right now, and there are more than a few, which one would you want on your favorite team?And in answering that
https://www.thechiefsfanshop.com/Anthony-Hitchens-Jersey , considering not only production but impact. Hill must be accounted for, everywhere he goes. Hill must be double-covered, everywhere he goes. Hill, who will still get his catches, yards, and touchdowns even with the extra attention, opens up the offense like no other player currently in the NFL.Simms will be back on Wednesday, and he’ll list his top 10 receivers in the league. But we already know No. 1. After Sunday night, it’s hard to imagine much of a debate.