Dud No. 2 – T.J. Ward
Apparently T.J. Ward wasn’t paying attention while the replacement (Kayvon Webster) for his fellow Pro Bowl defender (Aqib Talib) was getting flagged by the refs and repeatedly beat by the Kansas City wide receivers.
Talib was absent from Sunday’s festivities because he let his temper get the best of him. His absence was noticeable and certainly avoidable.
Down 22-0 in the fourth quarter, Ward decided to take what is now the stupidest penalty of the season in a year that has been marred by stupid defensive penalties. After Charcandrick West left him grasping at air, Ward leveled a totally unnecessary blow to the head of Jeremy Maclin, who was laying a somewhat unnecessary block on Ward.
Ward was subsequently ejected and will very likely be suspended for at least one game. It would mark his second suspension of the year.
To make matters worse, Ward tried to defend his actions postgame with a “he started it” line of reasoning. What Ward needed to do was apologize to his fans and teammates. It’s a penalty that never should have happened in the first place.
