DeAngelo Hall and Brian Orakpo Are Miffed About Brandon Meriweather's Suspension

Brandon Meriweather has been suspended for the first two games of the NFL season after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Torrey Smith in Saturday’s preseason game. Though this was the Washington safety’s sixth similar offense since 2011, his teammates have his back.

Long snapper Nick Sundberg went there with Ray Rice:

Sketchyyyyyy... Seems a bit excessive, I mean it's not like he knocked out his wife in a casino elevator... On video...
— Nick Sundberg (@NickSundberg) August 25, 2014

Brian Orakpo wasn’t thrilled either:

And then my boy Meriweather gets suspended for playing in these MEANINGLESS preseason games damn shame I'm so pissed right now
— Brian Orakpo (@rak98) August 25, 2014

DeAngelo Hall went with the never-played-the-game card:

@nfl SMH Most of the guys making the rules never played the game before but they want to tell us what's best for the game.... Yeah right
— OG aka CAPTAIN 23 (@DeAngeloHall23) August 25, 2014

Bleacher Report writer Michael Schottey thought that was a red herring, and Hall fired back at him:

@Schottey I've graded your skills too. I'm here too 21300 Redskin Park Druve Ashburn VA 20147. Come holla at me
— OG aka CAPTAIN 23 (@DeAngeloHall23) August 25, 2014

While Hall would probably win that hypothetical fight, Troy Vincent, who announced Meriweather’s punishment, was an NFL defensive back for 15 seasons. Brandon Marshall, who was the recipient of a helmet-to-helmet blow from the Washington safety last season, said that there was “no place in the NFL” for a guy like Meriweather.

Given the pace at which these things happen, new rules emphases, and the unprecedented level at which quarterbacks are dialed in with their receivers, it must be nearly impossible to play defensive back in today’s NFL. Nevertheless, Meriweather has repeatedly proven himself to be the least adept in the league at abiding by player safety regulations.

[H/T PFT Commenter]