Richard Sherman thought Barry Church's hit on Rob Gronkowski was fine

Senior writer

Sun, Jan 21, 2018, 11:20 PM

The hit that knocked New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was penalized and seemed like a textbook helmet-to-helmet hit, but Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman had no problem with it.

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Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church hit Gronkowski in the head on a seam route, and Gronkowski immediately went back to the locker room as part of the concussion protocol. He was officially ruled out early in the fourth quarter. But Sherman voiced a common complaint: Church either had to hit him high, or go low and risk taking out Gronkowski’s knee.

The hit on Gronk is the only way Church could have done his job without just obliterating Gronks knee. If he would have just hit him low most ppl would calm him dirty. So there is nothing he can do to make everyone happy and do his job. Unless you think he should let him catch
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) January 21, 2018

Would love to see some of these fans play the game. They all have such great perspectives . Couldnt even imagine playing at the speed and intensity that these men are playing at. Split second decisions.
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) January 21, 2018

Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback Tre’Davious White also chimed in. You might recall that White was the player who Gronkowski delivered a cheap shot to in the regular season, triggering a one-game suspension.

42 Laid That Hat …
— Tre'Davious White (@TreWhite16) January 21, 2018

There’s no question that defenders are put in a tough spot when it comes to defending plays like the one Gronkowski got hurt on. As Sherman said, the decision has to be made in a split second. And there’s a small area to aim for that’s legal. But the NFL doesn’t want hits to the head anymore, and it is going to penalize them.

And the debate about what defenders should do is never going to go away.