Baltimore Ravens quarterback, Joe Flacco, suffered a concussion during Thursday night's game against the Maimi Dolphins, after enduring a brutal hit by Dolphins' linebacker, Kiko Alonso. Alonso launched a harsh tackle on Flacco during the first half of the game, causing the Ravens quarterback to be carried off the field, bloodied and disoriented.
Flacco was playing his best game of the season when the Maimi Dolphins linebacker tackled him so hard, Flacco's helmet flew off. Teammates and fans were outraged after the unnecessary injury occurred, resulting in fighting on the field.
The confused quarterback was escorted to the locker room, where medical staff assessed his injuries.
Kiko Alonso received an unsportsmanlike penalty for the brutal hit
Ravens coach John Harbaugh immediately stormed the field to yell at Alonso, who had engaged in fights with Flacco's angry teammates. In addition to the concussion, Flacco also suffered a cut on his left ear which required stitches, and he was officially announced out of the game due to injury during halftime. Ryan Mallett took over as quarterback for the Ravens.
During the post-game interview, Alonso told reporters that it, "got to a point where I thought maybe if he slid a second sooner, I was anticipating him sliding and I was going to not hit him, but I think it was like, you know, a second late, which is why I hit him." The Dolphins linebacker claims that there was not any malicious intent, and he did not mean to injure Flacco, but since Flacco had already begun to slide, fans are not buying Alonso's story.
This is the first time in Flacco's 10-year career that he has received a concussion.
Was Alonso's slap-on-the-wrist penalty adequate punishment?
Although Kiko was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play, fans do not seem to think that the punishment fits the crime.
Fans on social media are speaking out against Kiko Alonso's ridiculous display, including Will Brinson of CBS Sports, who took to Twitter on Thursday night, expressing his opinion on the situation, "Omg Joe Flacco.
Toss Kiko for that." When being asked if he thought he would be suspended, Alonso said he had no control over that decision; he then finished the interview with, "I hope he's all right. I truly do."
During that same interview, Coach Harbaugh said that the unsportsmanlike penalty was," penalized correctly, I would say." However, Ravens teammates do not agree. According to ESPN.com, Ronnie Stanley, an offensive lineman for the Ravens, said Alonso should have been ejected from the game.
