UPDATE: Correction to team Clifton Smith plays for. Mistakenly had Jacksonville Jaguars, its the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Time left in the game before the hit occurred was 10 seconds in the first half, not 20 seconds left in the game.
With all the questionable penalties being called for hits on quarterbacks lately, it was refreshing to see NFL referees take a stance on cheap shots when Carolina Panthers cornerback, Dante Wesley pummeled Tampa Bay Buccaneers ,Clifton Smith with 10 seconds left to go in the first half. Leading with his shoulder, Wesley jumped into Smith with a hit that laid Smith out unmoving and cleared both benches in what was already a physical rivalry between the two AFC South teams. Coaches and referees worked together in on the spot officiating to keep the squads from each others throats and prevented Wesley with getting in further in trouble. The brief altercation ended in Smith being led off the field only to be diagnosed with a concussion and ultimately Dante Wesley ejected from the game.
“I was coming down the field, trying to make a play.He never (signaled for a) fair-catch, so I was just trying to make a play. It wasn’t like I deliberately tried to hurt anybody or nothing like that, that’s not even me. So it just so happened, I hit him. My prayers are out with him. I would never try to hurt anyone, I was just trying to make a play.” Wesley argued.
Its not hard to see why Wesley is declaring it an accident given that it wasn't entirely visible that Smith indeed was signaling for a fair catch however instant replay from different angles also points to the possibility of pass interference on a punt return--either way you spin it, intentional or not, it was a cheap shot punishable by a fine and a game suspension at minimum.
