Munnerlyn & Blanton Not Fined For Hit On Drew Brees
By Adam Carlson
The Minnesota Vikings secondary got some good news when the list of fines for the week was released and to players’ names were absent. Captain Munnerlyn and Robert Blanton took part in a sack on New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees that resulted in a 15 year roughing the passer penalty.
It was a call that gave the Saints a first down on a 3rd and 14 play during the third quarter of last week’s game. If the flag had not been thrown, New Orleans would have been forced to punt and the Vikings could have taken advantage of positive momentum to possibly cut into the Saints lead. Instead, with the drive being extended, New Orleans found their way into the end zone and extended their lead on Minnesota.
Sep 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (right behind) and strong safety Robert Blanton (left behind) sack New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) from behind in the third quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Vikings were penalized for unnecessary roughness on the play. New Orleans defeated the Vikings 20-9. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
The play in question looked more like a suplex than a tackle. With Brees wrapped up and no whistle blown to stop the play, Munnerlyn lifted the Saints quarterback up and dropped him on his back on shoulders with a move that would have impressed most WWE talent scouts. Brees got up and shoved Robert Blanton, who was in on the play, but did not force the quarterback to the ground as forcefully as Munnerlyn did.
After the game, Brees spoke with Munnerlyn and had this exchange according to the Saints quarterback when talking with ESPN:
"“He said that wasn’t a penalty. I said, ‘Of course it was, you suplexed me,'” Brees said. “‘But listen, I like you, I think you’re a good football player. I appreciate the 15 yards, thank you.'”"
When it came time for the NFL to hand down the fines for dirty hits and other plays, the duo of Vikings were absent from the list. This has to be some sort of retribution for Munneryln and Blanton, but sadly it doesn’t change that the flag could have altered the entire outcome of the game.
Still, the bitterness came through in Brees’ statement with ESPN. Sadly, this play will just continue to keep Vikings fans strongly disliking the New Orleans Saints.