There are a million ways to measure big hits. But we’re pretty sure we’ve never judged one by whether a player’s decal was dislodged from his helmet.
Times are changing. Watch as Green Bay Packers linebacker Joe Thomas just smashes — helmet to helmet, by the way — Chicago Bears running back Ka’Deem Carey.
First things first: The dangerous hit should have been a penalty. None was called and it went as a 1-yard gain for Carey.
That also probably speaks to how cold it is at Soldier Field. Kickoff temperature was 9 degree, and it could fall to below zero by game’s end.