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Pastimes : The new NFL -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Augustus Gloop who wrote (8466)	12/20/2004 5:45:42 PM
From: Augustus Gloop	Respond to of 89628

STEP 1 DONE! THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO SAY AND WAS A GOOD PR MOVE! WAY TO GO DEL RIO Jags coach says Darius didn't intend to injure Ferguson Dec. 20, 2004 SportsLine.com wire reports JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio defended hard-hitting safety Donovin Darius on Monday, saying he never intended to hurt Green Bay receiver Robert Ferguson with a clothesline tackle. Del Rio also said he expected Darius to be fined but not suspended for the shot that temporarily paralyzed Ferguson and knocked him unconscious Sunday. "It was a nasty shot, but I don't believe his intent was to headhunt the guy," Del Rio said. Ferguson was taken off the field on a stretcher and temporarily paralyzed below the waist following the hit. He regained feeling and movement on his way to the hospital, where he spent Sunday night. He will remain there at least one more night for tests and observation. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Robert Ferguson," Del Rio said. "My understanding is he's doing OK up there and everything's going to be all right. But it was a scary situation and a very serious situation." As Ferguson made a leaping, 31-yard catch at midfield, Darius hit the defenseless receiver across the neck with a left forearm. The shot ripped off Ferguson's helmet, stunned the crowd at Lambeau Field and infuriated the Packers with 4:41 remaining in a 28-25 loss to the Jaguars. Darius was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected by referee Ed Hochuli. "He plays a physical brand of football, but he plays within the rules," Del Rio said. "He did not go helmet to helmet. He did not project himself or launch himself into the guy. He attempted to club at the football and ended up clubbing the guy in the head. It should be flagged and it was. I'm sure it will be fined and it should be. "If he really wanted to hurt the guy, he would launch himself or he would go helmet on helmet and really kill the guy." Packers coach Mike Sherman called the hit "a cheap shot," and some players said there probably would have been retaliation had Darius stayed in the game. Del Rio said he was initially upset with the ejection because he thought it was a response to the 10-minute delay, the numerous replays on the scoreboard and the partisan crowd's reaction. But he said Monday it was "probably the wise thing to do." "They have to do what they can to control the game," he said. Del Rio also said he thought it was "highly unlikely" the league would suspend Darius. AP NEWS The Associated Press News Service Copyright 2004, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved