Buckeyes in the No Fun League, Week Three: Hartline Penalized for Practice Putt

By Mike Young on September 22, 2014 at 10:10 am
Brian Hartline wants to shave strokes off his handicap, but the NFL won't let him
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Among the least of the NFL's current problems is how out of control players are – on the field.

Yet, in the league's twisted logic, men like former Buckeye wideout Brian Hartline are disrespecting the shield with their antics and must be stopped. The NFL needs to be mindful of Hartline's workload – he works at a convenience store in the offseason and much of his summer is consumed by mini camp, training camp and preparing for the NFL season.

So, when does he have time to practice his putting stroke? Only following third quarter touchdown grabs. Naturally, Hartline was then flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct (via Deadspin):

A flute with no holes is not a flute, And a doughnut with no hole is a Danish.

Alex Boone's Rant

Someone else who would take issue with Hartline's penalty is his college teammate, Alex Boone.

The 49ers guard unleashed a solid diatribe on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco. To put it lightly, he's not happy with the current state of officiating in the NFL.

"We’re not out there to be friends, we’re not out there to play patty cake. We’re out there to hurt each other and have fun doing it," Boone said. "So get the hell out of our way. There’s so many of these refs that think that they’re so tough now because they have a flag in their pocket, and they get to walk around and just throw it. It’s out of control." 

Check out his full rant (beginning at the 4:53 mark):

We Waited All Day For Sunday Night?

While it was worse for Panthers supporters or anyone who dislikes the Steelers (read: everyone), Sunday's primetime game between Carolina and Pittsburgh was not enjoyable for Ohio State fans.

First, Ryan Shazier left the game due to a right knee injury and did not return. Head coach Mike Tomlin did not elaborate on it after the game.

Following Shazier's injury, fellow rookie and former teammate Philly Brown did something that should not come as a surprise to any Buckeye fan (via Bleacher Report):

Clearly the Panthers did not watch tape of him in college

Excluding punt returns, Brown had a solid stat line. Neither Derek Anderson nor Cam Newton looked his way in the first two weeks, but Brown caught seven passes on nine targets against the Steelers. 

In more positive news, Cam Heyward and the Pittsburgh defensive line harassed Newton all night, as Heyward hit the Carolina quarterback twice. He also laid out former Steeler linebacker and current defensive assistant Joey Porter.

Play of the Week

Last week, Ted Ginn Jr. led the Arizona Cardinals to victory with his go-ahead punt return for a touchdown. 

This week, he provided something a little more unorthodox. To those of you who watched the 2004 Alamo Bowl and remember the "Shot-Ginn" formation, perhaps you won't be shocked by this (via Fansided):

Ginn > Stanton

How They Fared in Week Three

Player team position stats/Notes
Mike Adams Pittsburgh Steelers OT Backup right tackle in win over Panthers and this is not a compliment
Will Allen Pittsburgh Steelers S Backup free safety in win over Panthers
Alex Boone San Francisco 49ers OL Fans still angry about his holdout, missing blocks in loss to Cardinals
Philly Brown Carolina Panthers WR/KR/PR A muffed punt, but 7 receptions, 66 yards in loss to Steelers
Chimdi Chekwa Oakland Raiders CB Inactive in loss to Patriots due to knee injury
Kurt Coleman Kansas City Chiefs S 3 tackles in win over Dolphins
Nate Ebner New England Patriots DB/ST 2 tackles in playing a walkout linebacker-type role on third downs
Ted Ginn Jr. Arizona Cardinals WR 1 reception, 8 yards, 1 carry, 4 yards, 1 pass, 10 yards in win over 49ers
Johnathan Hankins New York Giants DT 4 tackles, 1 pass defended, 0.5 sack in win over Texans
Brian Hartline Miami Dolphins WR 3 receptions, 25 yards, 1 touchdown in loss to Chiefs
A.J. Hawk Green Bay Packers LB 7 tackles, not exactly adept in pass coverage during loss to Lions
Boom Herron  Indianapolis Colts RB 1 carry, 1 yard in blowout win over Jaguars
Cameron Heyward Pittsburgh Steelers DE 1 tackle, 2 QB hits in win over Panthers
Santonio Holmes Chicago Bears WR Plays tonight at Jets
Carlos Hyde San Francisco 49ers RB 3 carries, 13 yards, 1 touchdown in loss to Cardinals
Malcolm Jenkins Philadelphia Eagles S 4 tackles, 2 passes defended, 1 clutch interception in win over Redskins
James Laurinaitis St. Louis Rams LB 9 tackles in come-from-ahead loss to Cowboys
Corey Linsley Green Bay Packers C Tough match-up against Nick Fairley in loss to Lions
Nick Mangold New York Jets C Plays tonight vs Bears
Jake McQuaide St. Louis Rams LS Named Rams' "community player of the week" before loss to Cowboys
Jack Mewhort Indianapolis Colts OL Colts dominate Jags, Mewhort demands respect from Taylor Decker
Andrew Norwell Carolina Panthers OL Inactive in loss to Steelers
Mike Nugent Cincinnati Bengals K 1 field goal, 4 extra points in win over Titans
DeVier Posey Houston Texans WR Inactive again in loss to Giants
Bradley Roby Denver Broncos CB 5 tackles, subject of Bronco-fan hyperbole in OT loss to Seahawks
Dane Sanzenbacher Cincinnati Bengals WR Active in win over Titans
Ryan Shazier Pittsburgh Steelers LB 3 tackles, then left with knee injury and did not return
Rob Sims Detroit Lions OG Not drawing rave reviews, but Lions still win
Donte Whitner Cleveland Browns S 7 tackles, blown coverage with Joe Haden on last-second drive
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