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Derek Wolfe Q&A: ‘Where Is the Player Safety There?’
- Updated: September 11, 2016
DENVER – Denver defensive lineman Derek Wolfe got through Thursday night’s season opener despite suffering a stinger and a series of hits to the face that made this the dirtiest game he has ever played in.
As he starts his fifth season in the NFL after earning a four-year, $36.7 million contract extension, Wolfe talked about what happened in the game and the need for the officials and the NFL to do a better job of protecting players.
Bleacher Report: You were pretty upset with how the game was officiated on Thursday night, particularly the lack of calls against the Carolina offensive linemen.
Derek Wolfe: Cutting out legs, grabbing the facemask, grabbing our pads, tackling our legs … they just let these offensive linemen get away with murder. Von (Miller) was in a full-Nelson one play, being blocked with a full-Nelson on one play. It was just on a random pass-rush play, the guy has him in a full-Nelson. That’s not holding? That’s not anything? There’s no call there whatsoever?
They talk about player safety, they have to start calling holding calls. If an offensive lineman has you inside, he won, OK, great. But whenever he is outside of my (stuff) or grabbing the back of my shoulder pads and getting thrown down and dragged down, that’s when people get hurt. You’re not protecting us at that point. You’re not looking out for our best interests and that’s not just me.
It’s around the whole league. If you watch film, you will see it all around the league. There are offensive linemen who get to do whatever they want.
B/R: I haven’t reviewed the game and most of that stuff is difficult to see from the press box, but I understand your point. But how much worse was this game than any other?
DW: There was one facemask penalty against me. If there was one, trust me, there were plenty of others.
B/R: That’s the one where Ryan Kalil got you?
DW: Yeah, grabbed me by the face, damn near ripped my helmet off, cost me a sack.
B/R: Because you’re right there next to Cam Newton.
DW: Oh yeah, I’m right there, it’s a sack.
B/R: So how many times did you get hit in the eyes Thursday night?
DW: At least five or six times. Guys were coming up with both hands right to my face. But it’s obvious there going to do it until somebody tells them to stop. Why wouldn’t you? If you can keep getting away with it, why wouldn’t you do it? So that’s why I’m saying there has to be someone protecting us as players.
B/R: The game Thursday night was as physical as I’ve seen in a long time.
DW: And I love physical games. That’s a fun game. It’s not fun when a guy is grabbing you by the back of the jersey when you’re trying to run to the ball and the play is over and he finishes you over the pile because he’s yanking you by the shoulder and you’re running on one leg, basically. Then he’s throwing you over …
