deangelo hall

Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall will receive a hefty fine but won't be suspended by the Falcons.

ATLANTA -- Cornerback DeAngelo Hall will not be suspended by Atlanta officials, ESPN.com has learned, but will be sanctioned with what one league source termed a "pretty steep" fine for his actions in the Falcons' 27-20 loss to the Carolina Panthers last Sunday.


Sources said the fine will be for less than one full game-check, which based on Hall's base salary of $3.11 million for 2007, would have amounted to $182,941. But the penalty levied by the Falcons will still be in the low six-figure range.

Coach Bobby Petrino said Monday that the Falcons would impose "substantial discipline" on Hall, who lost his composure during a third-quarter sequence in which the fourth-year veteran drew three penalties for 67 yards. The meltdown came with the winless Falcons leading 17-10 and it contributed to Carolina eventually scoring a tying touchdown.

All three flags were a result of Hall's encounters with Panthers' star wide receiver Steve Smith. The sequence included a defensive pass interference penalty of 37 yards, a personal foul for 15 yards and a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

It also featured Hall engaged in a verbal altercation with assistant secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr., and a heated conversation with Petrino. The outburst concluded when teammates pulled Hall away from the first-year head coach.

Hall could not be reached for comment late Tuesday night.

On Monday, though, Hall indicated to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he was prepared to accept whatever punishment team officials deemed appropriate.

"If it's a suspension or a fine, especially if it's a suspension, I take it in full stride," Hall said. "It don't feel good to be the reason your team loses a game."

Those words aside, it is not known if Hall will appeal the fine.

The decision on the fine came after great deliberation by Atlanta officials, including multiple discussions with the Management Council, which is essentially the NFL's labor department, and consultation with a select group of Falcons' veteran leaders. Certainly a suspension was one of the options discussed internally by team officials.

It appears as though Atlanta management was attempting to strike a balance between a penalty harsh enough to be perceived as having teeth, but not one so strident that it might have possibly been overturned by an arbitrator.

Hall, 23, was the Falcons' first-round choice in the 2004 draft and he has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the past two seasons.

The former Virginia Tech star acknowledged after Sunday's events that he often allows his emotions to get the better of him. He vowed, however, to never suffer another meltdown like the one that occurred Sunday.

"I made a mistake," Hall said. "I promise it won't happen again, no matter what."

By holding Steve Smith to one catch for 10 yards you could make the argument that DeAngelo Hall won his battle with Smith this time around. Yet his mental melt down resulted in him losing the war, not only for himself but his team mates and fans. Here are some post-game comments from both parties on this subject that I want to examine a little further.

"The things he was talking about are minute, about `I've been in as many Pro Bowls as you. I make more money.' Just real immature stuff," Smith said. "This isn't why I play this game. It ain't about how much money I make. I play this game for heart. I play the game to try to be an example for my kids.
Excuse me, we're playing football here! If you want to debate the merits of your trash talk then save it for Sports Center. After watching Smith's on-field antics and then reading his post-game comments I feel I need to qualify some of the positive statements I've posted on this blog recently about Steve Smith. I've mentioned that I think Smith has matured dramatically since his rookie season when comparing his recent statements to those in the past. He is certainly saying the right things, particularly if he is trying to be a good role model for children. Smith still has a ways to go though when it comes to his on-field antics. I get tired of seeing players celebrating every play on the field like they just won the SB. I don't know what was said between the two (I would have loved to hear it) but you could tell both were jawing back and forth repeatedly. What example are you setting with that?

My point is this: even if Smith was being respectful, not cursing and not saying rude things to Hall, it sure looked that way. When it comes to being a role model for kids, perception is just as important as reality. What's wrong with just getting up and going back to the huddle? Why the jumping up and down, the first down signal or the simulated flag throwing? Is that really setting a good example?

Hall is certainly is no victim here. He actually made a good play to prevent the catch and sure TD. He had no reason to allow himself to be baited into a penalty. He pretty much shut Smith down otherwise. I really expected him to blast the ref for not penalizing Smith but instead we get this:

Yeah, I feel like that, but we had a lot of opportunities that we didn't capitalize on," Hall said. "Mine adds to the pile. At the same time, I feel like I'm a leader and I've got to take responsibility for my penalties."
Say what you will he is at least starting to take responsibility for his actions. He's not pointing the finger at the ref's, or Smith or his team mates (though overs do it regularly).Smith could very well have gotten a flag too during the three or four plays that encompassed the melt down. Yet he sounds indignant in acting the way he did because of the petty boasts Hall was making. Knowing Smith, Hall may have never even said those things; it could just be one of the motivational ploys he uses to get up for a game. I certainly wouldn't put it past him but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Despite the tone of my criticism of Smith in this post I must say I like Steve Smith and think he will someday enter the Panther Hall of Honor. He has come a long way from his first two seasons and the infamous locker room fight he was in. Yet I think he still has a ways to go if he's going to be a true role model for our youth.
Atlanta Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall faces ''substantial discipline'' that might include a suspension after his meltdown on the field and on the sideline Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
Hall's loss of composure on the field -- he drew three penalties for 67 yards on the Panthers' tying drive in the third quarter of their 27-20 victory -- helped lead to the Falcons' third consecutive loss. His tirade on the sideline might cost him a fine or a suspension.

''I made a mistake,'' Hall said Monday. ''I promise you it won't happen again, no matter what. It don't feel good to be the reason your team lost the game, whether it's giving up a touchdown pass or you get a stupid penalty. ... Ultimately, I let the team down.''

The penalties hurt, but disciplinary actions being considered by coach Bobby Petrino might be the result of Hall confronting him in an animated sideline tirade.

''We certainly don't like the actions that took place on the field and do not like the actions that happened on the sideline, and that's something that we'll deal with,'' Petrino said. ''There will be substantial discipline. It will be handled in-house.''

When asked whether Hall might be suspended for the Falcons' game Sunday against the Houston Texans, Petrino said: ''We haven't come to any conclusions yet. We're keeping all our options open, but we certainly will do something.''

Petrino talked with team leaders Monday about the situation.

''I guess they're coming up with a plan, determining what they feel is the best thing to do,'' Hall said. ''If it's a suspension or a fine, especially if it's a suspension, I take it in full stride.''


JACKSON HURT: St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson will miss at least a week with a partially torn muscle in his left groin suffered in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rookie Brian Leonard will make his first start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

Coach Scott Linehan said Jackson, who ran 30 times for 115 yards against the Bucs, was hurt while making a cut. Jackson stayed in the game for a while after getting hurt, but Linehan said it was ''noticeable'' that he was injured.

''He's one of our best players, if not the best player,'' Rams offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. ''As we tell our players, anytime someone gets injured, the rest of us have to pick up the slack. We'll find a way to spread the ball around.''


KILLINGS BETTER: Texans defensive tackle Cedric Killings was able to stand in the hospital, and doctors are confident he soon will be walking. Killings' progress came a day after he left the field on a stretcher after a headfirst collision with Indianapolis Colts receiver Roy Hall.

Killings fractured his C-4 vertebra and was unable to move any of his limbs for a time on the field Sunday, said Dr. Rob Parrish, a neurosurgeon working with Killings. He since has regained movement in his arms and legs, though he's weak in both hands and his left arm.

''He stood for me this morning at the bedside,'' Parrish said, ''so I think he'll walk out of the hospital.''


MORE INJURIES: Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme said an MRI exam determined he won't need surgery on the strained ligament in his right elbow, but he was unsure about whether he or backup David Carr will start Sunday against the Buccaneers.

''I'll be getting a ton of treatment on it, and we'll go from there,'' said Delhomme, who suffered the injury late in the third quarter Sunday against the Falcons. ''I've never had anything like this before, so how long it's going to last, I don't know. I think my body heals pretty fast.''

? ? Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander has a broken left wrist but will continue to play with a protective cast, coach Mike Holmgren said. Holmgren didn't say when Alexander suffered the break, but he said X-rays were taken after Alexander came out of in the first half of the game Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Alexander ran for 100 yards on 21 carries against the Bengals.

? ? Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook is listed as day-to-day with a strained abdominal muscle, and his availability for the team's game Sunday against the New York Giants will be determined later in the week. Westbrook rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 111 yards and another score Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

? ? Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress said Kelly Holcomb will make his second consecutive start at quarterback Sunday against the Green Bay Packers if Tarvaris Jackson's strained groin hasn't healed. Holcomb was 14-for-28 for 165 yards Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

? ? The Buffalo Bills put rookie linebacker Paul Posluszny on season-ending injured reserve with a broken left arm suffered while making a tackle in the second quarter Sunday against the New England Patriots. He had a team-leading 23 tackles in the Bills' first two games.

? ? San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis probably will miss the next two games with a sprained ligament in his right knee after getting hurt in the third quarter Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

? ? Steelers receiver Hines Ward said an MRI exam on his bruised knee revealed no structural damage. He suffered the injury in the third quarter Sunday against the 49ers, but the Steelers declined to say which knee was hurt.

? ? The Denver Broncos sent safety John Lynch (strained groin) and quarterback Jay Cutler (sprained left ankle) for MRI exams for injuries suffered Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Falcons coach Bobby Petrino hopes team actions will speak louder than DeAngelo Hall's words.

Petrino said Monday that Hall would be disciplined for his emotional, momentum-changing tirade in Sunday's 27-20 home loss to Carolina. A suspension, fine or playing limitations have not been ruled out, Petrino said. For now, any sanctions will remain private.






Petrino met with a handful of veteran players to help determine a course of action against the All-Pro cornerback as they prepare for former Falcons quarterback Matt Schaub and the Houston Texans at the Georgia Dome on Sunday.

"If it's a suspension or a fine, especially if it's a suspension, I take it in full stride," a contrite Hall said Monday. "It don't feel good to be the reason your team loses a game. Whether you give up a touchdown pass or you get a stupid penalty, it all feels the same."

Said Petrino: "We certainly don't like the actions that took place on the field and do not like the actions that happened on the sideline. There will be substantial discipline and it will be handled in-house."

The Falcons will come down on Hall for his behavior during and after a tide-turning drive in the third quarter against Carolina.

With Atlanta leading 17-10, Hall was called for three penalties totaling 67 yards on a drive that ended with Carolina scoring the game-tying touchdown. It was the first of three unanswered scores for the Panthers.

All of the penalties stemmed from Hall's heated battle with Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith.

The first was a 37-yard pass interference call. The next was a personal foul for a hard jam on Smith. The last, and most damaging, was an unsportsmanlike conduct call that negated a third-down sack by end John Abraham and gave the Panthers a first down on Atlanta's 14-yard line.

Hall's jawing with Smith prompted the dead-ball penalty. On-field witnesses said Hall not only was yapping at Smith but also had words for the official, who called all three penalties.

"I didn't say two words to that referee," Hall said.

Hall did say two words, and plenty more, to Petrino and assistant secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. during a sideline outburst. A teammate had to escort Hall from Petrino, and others, including tight end Alge Crumpler, had to calm him down.

"We have to make sure he understands how he hurt us," Crumpler said. "And also let him understand that we still stand by him. I just want him to let his play speak for itself. If he plays the way he can in every game this season, he'll be what everybody wants him to be."

Added linebacker Keith Brooking, who was one of the players Petrino asked for input regarding Hall: "Whatever decision is made, we have to accept it. We've been through a lot this year. We've had that mentality and we'll continue to have that. DeAngelo will learn from it, be a better man, a better person, a better player for whatever action is taken."

Hall said his temperamental persona is a blessing and a curse and that opposing players have tried to unnerve him by trash-talking.

"The same things you love about me are going to be the same things you hate about me," Hall said. "The same fire and intensity I bring to the field is kind of what gets me in trouble. That was my rap coming out of college. Hell of a player but at times he can have a hell of an attitude.

"Like I told Coach Petrino, this is my fourth year in the league and I've had some heated conversations with several receivers in this league and never received a flag for it. I was not thinking I was going to get one in this situation. Now, I've got to approach it differently.

"I made a mistake. I promise it won't happen again, no matter what."