TJ Ward, please accept my man-crush

[BernietheKid]

Big hit will cost Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward $15,000, but will he profit by a reputation for intimidation?

Published: Wednesday, October 06, 2010, 1:13 PM Updated: Thursday, October 07, 2010, 10:02 AM

Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer


UPDATED: 6:05 p.m.

Associated Press
The Browns' T.J. Ward has been fined $15,000 for this hit against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

BEREA, Ohio -- What's the price of intimidation?

In T.J. Ward's case, $15,000.

That's how much the rookie safety was fined by the NFL, according to a league source, for his vicious hit on Cincinnati receiver Jordan Shipley. The Associated Press also reported the fine on Wednesday.

Confirmation from the NFL will come on Friday. Ward may also receive a warning of steeper penalties for future infractions of the league's "defenseless receiver" restrictions.

Shipley was hit in the front of the helmet by Ward's right shoulder and partially by the right side of his helmet. Shipley suffered a concussion on the play, perhaps from the impact his head made with the ground on the way down. Shipley missed practice in Cincinnati on Wednesday.

"I just want to let it be known that it wasn't malicious intent to knock him out or to get him hurt," Ward said. "It was just part of the game. I just reacted to what I saw and tried to make a play.

"The way it happened, I didn't really try to hit him with everything I had, but still it was a pretty violent hit. I wasn't trying to aim for his helmet in any way. I just hit what I saw. It all happened so fast."

Ward said the negative effect of the hit will be the "repercussions from the league." The positive effect will come if the video of the hit enhances the reputation he brought from Oregon as an intimidating hitter in the middle of the field.

"That's kind of been my M.O. since college, as a big hitter," Ward said. "But I never was called a cheap-shotter in my four years in college. Now to be labeled, I guess, a
cheap player or dirty player is kind of surprising."

Ward never had a nickname in college, but he's already hearing labels "The Hit Man" and "Trauma Ward" by Browns fans.

Not surprisingly, cornerback Sheldon Brown approved of the hit. Brown talked to Ward and fellow rookie Joe Haden in training camp about putting good hits on video to show opponents what they're facing when they play against them.

"It does set the tone and tempo for him and his career because all the great guys that play the position, like the Brian Dawkins' of the world, those are the type of hits they're known for," said Brown. "Creating a little fear."

Ward joins a good list of Browns safeties who have done that.
Roadell Hickman / The Plain Dealer
Eric Turner (celebrating a playoff season in 1995) was just one of several Browns safeties known for their physical play.

THEY MADE AN IMPACT
Thom Darden
Browns 1972-81 (missed 1975, knee surgery)
Browns first pick -- 1972
Browns career all-time INT leader (45)
NFL INT leader (10), 1978
1978 season Pro Bowl
1st team All-NFL, 1978
2nd team All-NFL, 1976, 1979

Felix Wright
Browns 1985-90; Vikings 1991-93 Hamilton Tiger-Cats of Canadian Football League 1982-84 (All-Star, 1984)
NFL INT leader (9), 1989
29 career INT (26 with Browns)

Don Rogers
Browns 1984-85
Browns first pick, 1984
AFC defensive Rookie of the Year, 1984
214 tackles in two seasons (one INT each year)

Eric Turner
Browns 1991-95; Ravens 1996; Raiders 1997-99
Browns first pick, 1991
Tied for NFL INT leader (9), 1994
30 career INT (17 with Browns)
1994, 1996 seasons Pro Bowls
1st team All-NFL, 1994

Brian Russell
Vikings 2002-04; Browns 2005-06; Seahawks (2007-08); Texans/Jaguars 2009
Tied for NFL INT leader (9), 2003
16 career INT (four with Browns)
Started all 16 games five seasons

In a 2006 game, Brian Russell rammed his helmet into the facemask of Chad Johnson (now Ochocinco) while defending a pass, drawing plenty of blood from the receiver's chin. Russell wasn't penalized. His own teammate, Braylon Edwards, later criticized Russell for the hit.

In his first Browns game as a rookie in 1991, Eric Turner's first tackle dented the facemask of Cincinnati running back James Brooks.


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In a 1989 playoff game, Felix Wright upended Buffalo receiver Don Beebe soaring for a pass, sending Beebe head over heels. Beebe landed perpendicular to the ground. His head bounced off the semi-frozen ground with his legs straight up in the air.

The most vicious hit by a Browns safety might have been delivered by Thom Darden in a 1980 game against -- naturally -- the Bengals. Darden speared Pat McInally helmet-to-helmet, leaving the receiver unconscious briefly. McInally was taken off the field on a stretcher.

Ward counts renowned NFL hitters Jack Tatum, Ronnie Lott and Steve Atwater among his role models. He said he didn't know of Turner until he saw video of him and would put him in the same class.

"We're trying to be a physical defense and impose our force on the offense," Ward said. "So anytime you have a receiver or quarterback worrying about throwing the ball to a certain area or if the guy's going to be there, of course it's a good thing for a defense."

Browns coach Eric Mangini likened Ward to big hitters he previously coached, such as Lawyer Milloy, Rodney Harrison, Tebucky Jones and Atwater.

"I don't think it's going to be really just that hit," Mangini said of the effect Ward brings. "I think it's going to be a body of work. He's had some big hits on a lot of guys, and that's a good thing.

"Legally, you want guys to think, 'OK, if I catch this in cut, there's going to be a price to pay for catching this in cut.' If you can establish that, then sometimes guys will get alligator arms or they won't run those angles quite as deep or as tight. No one will ever talk about that. No one would ever admit, 'Man, I don't really want to go in there.' If you can get an understanding with receivers, it helps."

Brown said the impact Dawkins made in the Philadelphia defense was profound.

"You would study and watch receivers all week doing different things in the middle of the field and then when they'd play us in Philly those routes and how hard they ran them wouldn't occur," he said. "Sometimes the effort of them trying to get that route in the middle of the field wasn't there. It takes a body of work to do that."

Big hit will cost Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward $15,000, but will he profit by a reputation for intimidation? | cleveland.com

[Danamal]

"The most vicious hit by a Browns safety might have been delivered by Thom Darden in a 1980 game against -- naturally -- the Bengals. Darden speared Pat McInally helmet-to-helmet, leaving the receiver unconscious briefly. McInally was taken off the field on a stretcher."






I remember that game like it was yesterday.
You didn't go across the middle in those days the rules just weren't in a receivers favor to do so and Darden leveled McInally on that play.
The amazing part of that was he came back(McInally) and played in the second half of what was a real blood bath kind of game.
I miss those days.
Drafting Ward and getting Haden has laid the foundation for an identity that has been sorely lacking and long overdue on a team that is long overdue to shine.

[OconRecon]

Originally Posted by Danamal

"The most vicious hit by a Browns safety might have been delivered by Thom Darden in a 1980 game against -- naturally -- the Bengals. Darden speared Pat McInally helmet-to-helmet, leaving the receiver unconscious briefly. McInally was taken off the field on a stretcher."






I remember that game like it was yesterday.
You didn't go across the middle in those days the rules just weren't in a receivers favor to do so and Darden leveled McInally on that play.
The amazing part of that was he came back(McInally) and played in the second half of what was a real blood bath kind of game.
I miss those days.
Drafting Ward and getting Haden has laid the foundation for an identity that has been sorely lacking and long overdue on a team that is long overdue to shine.

Advance to 2:20 mark in this 6 minute clip:

YouTube - 1980 Browns at Bengals 1 of 3

[nmills]

here's a quick video I put together, I'll finish it as more video comes available.

I like "The Warden"

YouTube - TJ "The Warden" Ward

[OzDawg]

bout time we got a snot bubble causer ty warden

lotta people on daft day said...wtf??? tj who?
. no no typos

[AdaM]

If he shows some ballhawking skills then we hit the jackpot. As is he's a good enforcer but I'd love to see him take that step and start making a pick 6 in the 4th to preserve a win once in a while.

[OconRecon]

Originally Posted by AdaM

If he shows some ballhawking skills...

Funny you mention it. I rewatched the ESPN draft commentary right after Jim Brown announced his TJ's name, and his only reservation was his ball handling skills. We've seen him miss a pick-six interception. I'm thinking he can improve. He's just a kid.