Football is obviously a physical game, but Washington Commanders defensive tackle John Ridgeway may have taken things too far Sunday.
The big lineman stopped Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce for no gain on a short pass early in the third quarter. Ridgeway then grabbed Pierce around the midsection, picked him up, upside down, and slammed him shoulder first into the turf.
To make matters worse, the whistle had already been blown when Ridgeway pulled off his WWE-worthy move.
Officials flagged the Commanders defender for unnecessary roughness.
John Ridgeway with the seldom-used powerbomb tackle. pic.twitter.com/CuMKiBpsWr
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 20, 2022
“You could clearly hear the whistle, it was over,” Fox play-by-play announcer Chris Myers said. “That’s kind of a wrestling move, I’d say.”
“Almost like that full suplex, that’s just so dangerous,” added analyst Robert Smith.
While the Fox broadcast booth seemed in agreement the tackle went too far, fans on Twitter were in disagreement.
“I don’t really understand what’s so bad about this. The guy is wrapped up and won’t stop pushing. Gotta tackle him somehow,” tweeted one fan.
“Literally 0 reason to be doin that,” tweeted another fan.
“I don’t think big people should get flagged for doing things big people do! I mean so what John Ridgeway belly yo backed suplexed him. What else is an extremely large man to do?” tweeted Ryan Clark.
In one play, John Ridgeway has scaled the ranking of "Most likely Commander to turn to WWE after football."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 20, 2022
I don’t think big people should get flagged for doing things big people do! I mean so what John Ridgeway belly yo backed suplexed him. What else is an extremely large man to do?
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) November 20, 2022
Wow. Just wow. #Commanders DT John Ridgeway to #Texans RB Dameon Pierce this drive. Still can’t believe I just saw that 🤣 pic.twitter.com/ZlwddRRigG
— Shaun Bijani (@ShaunBijani) November 20, 2022
I don’t really understand what’s so bad about this. The guy is wrapped up and won’t stop pushing. Gotta tackle him somehow
— plasticono (@plasticono215) November 20, 2022
Literally 0 reason to be doin that 😭😭
— Cloak (@CloakOneil) November 20, 2022
They called the same thing on Albert Haynesworth when he did the same thing to MJD in 2007 and he was fined for it.
— Grover Whittington (@GoWiggles) November 20, 2022
Debate apart, this one certainly led to a flag. But it did also perhaps get Ridgeway on the pro wrestling radar. If he does wind up there someday, he’ll be one of many, many football players to move to wrestling.
[The Comeback on Twitter]
