December 05, 2008

Video: Rutgers Running Back Tackled By His Hair: In Rutgers' 63-14 demolition of Louisville Thursday night, a play occurred that doesn't happen as often as it probably should. Rutgers' running back Jourdan Brooks was caught from behind on a breakaway 62-yard run by tackler Travis Norton, who pulled him down entirely by his dreadlocks. When asked by sideline reporter Erin Andrews how much it hurt, on a scale of 1 to 10, Brooks said "8." See the video

posted by rcade to football at 12:09 AM - 12 comments

The irony is that the player that tackled him also was sporting the over-flowing dreadlocks.

Given how popular this hair style seems to be lately, I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often.

Gotta hurt!

posted by dviking at 01:35 AM on December 05, 2008

Norton's run was amazing. Great effort to even catch Brooks at all.

posted by BoKnows at 01:53 AM on December 05, 2008

I spent more time watching one of the Louisville guys get smoked on a borderline clip right at the sidelines.

Man, those blocks are awesome.

posted by wfrazerjr at 08:40 AM on December 05, 2008

Given how popular this hair style seems to be lately, I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often

Dreads have been around much longer than "lately" but that's really besides the point. That has got to hurt. Ouch!!

posted by BornIcon at 10:52 AM on December 05, 2008

Hey someone tackled Troy Polomalu by his last year too. Its a risk you take. How long till the NFL has a hair length policy? Any takers on a bet?

posted by Debo270 at 11:22 AM on December 05, 2008

I think they do have a policy for hair. If it covers the name on the back of the jersey, the player gets fined. But then again, they get fined for socks, pants, jerseys not being tucked in, etc.

posted by dbt302 at 12:15 PM on December 05, 2008

The following scenario must happen soon:

A running back shows up for the season with shoulder-length hair. During a game, he has broken away, and the last defender in desperation grabs his hair, only to find that it is a wig. The only thing that I would wish for then is a close-up shot of the defender's face as he stands there, rug in hand, watching the runner cross the goal line.

posted by Howard_T at 02:51 PM on December 05, 2008

There was another funny play later in the game. A Rutgers defender pulled the quarterback down by the towel hanging at his waist.

posted by rcade at 05:12 PM on December 05, 2008

BornIcon, I guess lately is a relative term. Since I can remember the Viking's Bill Brown and his crew cut being the norm for running backs, the flowing dreadlocks hanging a well below the helmet is a trend that has developed "lately"

Of course, I never said it was new...just that the trend has become more popular lately.

After Polamalu was tackled by his hair in 2006, he said it felt good! That's a tough hombre.

posted by dviking at 05:23 PM on December 05, 2008

What guys will do to get close to Erin Andrews...

posted by MeatSaber at 07:12 PM on December 05, 2008

Are most of those 'dos really dreadlocks? they look more like braids to me, which are very different (one being maintained at tremendous time and expense, the other being considerably less) When I think dreds, I think of Marley, rastas and lazy white kids who stink of patchouli and amber. Those guys (both of them) had nicely maintained braids, I think.

posted by tahoemoj at 07:58 PM on December 05, 2008

I love the camera shot after the run/tackle, showing the lone dread laying on the field. Kid looked pretty happy on the sideline, though, for somebody who'd just been through an 8 on the 1-10 pain scale. Musta been Erin Andrews.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 10:46 AM on December 08, 2008

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