There is No Defending Danny Trevathan

Danny Trevathan’s hit was dirty and he deserves to be suspended.

If this was still 1985, there wouldn’t be a conversation. Danny Trevathan’s hit on Davante Adams was a hit of yesteryear. As Bears fans, we remember vividly the Wilber Marshall hit on Detroit Lions QB Joe Ferguson. It was a hit that was applauded. It was the type of hit that brought Bears’ fans off their sofas and on their feet with high fives all around. If you don’t recall the Marshall hit, or are too young, check it out below (skip ahead to 1:15).

Times have changed. This style of play is no longer acceptable. Thirty years ago, nobody really knew the extent of the damage that players were doing to their brains. Those type of hits are not practiced in today’s NFL, or at least they shouldn’t be.

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Danny Trevathan’s hit was dirty. It may not have been dirty as recently as ten years ago, but it’s dirty now. The Trevathan defenders aren’t recognizing how the game has changed. The bottom line, Trevathan came in with the intent to crush Adams.

The game was slipping away (or perhaps already gone), he was frustrated with how the team was playing, he saw an opportunity and came in, head first, and came in high, and laid into him.

Did he intend to hit him in the head? Not necessarily. But he definitely came in high and he definitely led with his head. His intention was clear. His play was reckless, not to mention stupid.

The Bears weren’t winning that game, but he cost his team four points with that move, the Packers were about to settle for a field goal. Trevathan deserves a fine and a suspension. He doesn’t necessarily deserve a three or four game suspension, but he should not play against the Minnesota Vikings.

When a play is slowed down as much as it is in the Charles Robinson tweet, many times the intent looks more vicious than it might have been in real life, however, in this case, what becomes so evident is the fact that Trevathan is leading with his helmet all the way. That is not how you tackle and Trevathan knows it.

Bears fans can defend him, Trevathan can play the innocent card all he wants, but his intent was to blow up Adams’ world. No, it wasn’t to end his career and there have been plenty of hits dirtier than that one, but stop defending him. When the NFL levies the fine and most likely suspension, Bears fans shouldn’t complain, because Trevathan will get exactly what he deserves.