Matthews' Helmet Hit

The glaring no-call on the helmet to helmet hit on Jordan Matthews perfectly encapsulates everything that is wrong with today's NFL and the absurdity of its "new" player brain protection and concussion protocols.

First, the play was such an obvious helmet to helmet hit the fact that no penalty was called is simply astounding. I mean, the Falcons Keanu Neal lowers his head and the crown of his helmet smashes directly into Jordan Matthews' face mask. It's as clear an example of helmet to helmet as you'll likely see. Yet somehow, the refs determined it wasn't a penalty.

Worse, after the hit Matthews is laying prostrate on the ground and grabs his helmet/facemask with both hands in what appears to be reaction to the pain and the hit. As far as viewers could tell, Matthews did not undergo concussion protocol testing after coming to the sideline (or at least the Fox sideline reporter never mentioned it). 

Indeed, Matthews was back out on the field for the Eagles very next possession and nary a word was spoken again about whether Matthews was cleared to return or whether he had been checked at all.

Again, these are just further indications that the league and its referees are clearly not capable of policing helmet to helmet hits. And the league - with the complicity of its broadcast partners - would prefer not to discuss the issue at all even when so obvious examples and subsequent oversights occur.