re: Anatomy of a Beatdown: In One Play

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#2 should have been kicked out of the game for blatant targeting.


Except for the QB is not a defenseless player on that play.

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You don't have to be defenseless for targeting.
Lowering the head, crown to helmet, and launching is a targeting ejection every time. The penalty is to protect the defender from neck injury. It has nothing to do with defenseless player.

Edit to add: the hit doesn't look bad from this angle. Which is probably why they didn't call it. However, the sideline camera (which was the live play on TV) shows the helmet contact pretty clear.
Ejecting a player is a big deal. I like that they are not going out of the way to do so.