Pair to Sit for Overtime Punches

by John B on Oct 21, 2009 3:13 PM EDT

James Ihedigbo and Marques Murrell will not be active against the Raiders as punishment for throwing punches after the overtime kickoff against the Bills.

A source in the know has told The Post this morning that Ryan will bench special teams players, S James Ihedigbo and LB Marques Murrell for their irresponsible actions Sunday. Neither will play against the Raiders Sunday in Oakland.

Both Ihedigbo and Murrell threw punches at Bills TE Derek Fine during a scrum at the end of a Leon Washington KO return to start overtime. Ihedigbo was penalized and ejected from the game and it left the Jets with poor field posisiton to start OT, their own 15-yard line.

I am glad to see Rex show this kind of action will not be tolerated. I don't think he goes far enough, though. That penalty may have cost the Jets the game. Take away the 15 yard loss, and the 50 yard prayer the Jets lined up to attempt becomes a 35 yarder. There was so much pressure on a kick like that into the wind that it's not surprising the snap was bad. Everything had to be executed perfectly. We may look back on that loss as a decisive moment in the season.

Both of these guys are on the roster to play special teams. They showed the team they cannot be counted on to do so in a huge spot. This wasn't a mistake by players trying hard. It was guys letting down their teammates by saying getting a punch in was more important than winning the game. I think Rex should release both.

Do you think the punishment fits the crime?

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It fits

I say it fits because I believe all players should be punished the same way for the same behaviors. Since a one game suspension is what I expect for a star player with kind of poor behavior, I think it should apply to everyone. I think they should be fined on top of the benching, but we would never talk about cutting one of our premier players for this behavior so let’s keep the same standards for the role players.

by JetsFan1991 on Oct 21, 2009 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

It is little things like this that are unfortunately going to haunt the Jets all season long. Building the team on free agency has yielded a great starting core but very little depth. So while benching Ihedigbo and Murrell is justified, it unfortunately also puts the Jets in a pinch.

by CuseJetsFan on Oct 21, 2009 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

I think it is excessive,Rex was all for fighting in the beginning,“you hit one of ours,well get two of yours”….Fine them and moved on.The loss on Sunday was because of a lack of offensoive consistency.Just as Miami was defensive shortcomings.Discipline is important but lets keep the tam concept and not pin losses on individual players

by dreaux on Oct 21, 2009 6:16 PM EDT reply actions

Lets also just murder their families

and then send them to the chair. Come on, it’s football, shit happens sometimes, they made a mistake and are being punished for it.

"It's like the old phrase goes.....The balls in your court now Mr.Church, so you take that ball, you dribble it up the court and....................................... get a layup"
- Keith Hernandez

by nrmax88 on Oct 21, 2009 7:51 PM EDT reply actions