Fletcher.
Did.
Not.
Fling.
Himself.
Brady was completely upright when Fletcher entered his tackling motion, Brady went into his slide late (even the announcers noticed). Look man, I played a year at the CB position, and I can tell you it's far more difficult to alter your trajectory at real-time speed than you seem to think. Fletcher did not have time to "control himself and not hit Brady". He followed all the rules and hit the QB in the chest, with his shoulder.
The only thing I can think of Fletcher doing wrong is not realizing that he was about to hit the biggest pussy in football, so he should have KNOWN Brady would slide. *shrug*
I still can't believe you're arguing this so vehemently, unless you're just trolling.
Holy shit, what is your fucking point here?
Fletcher had no control over his trajectory, which meant he had to hit Brady while he was sliding. Is your point that you HAVE to lose control of your body to tackle someone? If it is you're an idiot and aren't worth arguing with. Fletcher's torso was fully horizontal to the ground TWO STEPS before he hit Brady. He didn't attempt to get any base under him (like you're supposed to), nor did he attempt to wrap Brady up and drive through him (like you're supposed to). He attempted to lead with his forearm and hit Brady square in the stomach going full-tilt, for a high-impact play. If he didn't chose to do that, WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. The lack of control of trajectory does not stop this from being a penalty.
Further, there is no time frame for a QB to start a slide (what is this, the fifth, maybe sixth time I've said this?). It doesn't matter how many people say it, they are all still
wrong. You cannot be hit in the process of a slide or else you get 15 yards for unnecessary roughness. THIS. CANNOT. BE. ARGUED.
What you're trying to say is what the moron announcers said, "Brady's not on the ground, so it's not a penalty." Problem is, if you slide and are on the ground, you're already down at that spot, and any person who hits you there would get a late hit penalty, not a penalty for hitting a sliding player.
I argue so vehemently because you, like ther others, just don't get it. It doesn't matter how Fletcher hit him, it's still a penalty. It doesn't matter when Brady starts the slide it's still a penalty. It doesn't matter who the player sliding is, or what position they play, or even who hit them, IT'S STILL A PENALTY. Yet everyone here continues to try and say it's NOT a penalty. So I'll keep outlining why they're wrong.