Put Up Yer Dukes!

Things happen pretty fast in the NFL, and we’ve gone to the tape several times now on this one and still can’t exactly figure out what happened.

Of course that could just be crappy YouTube resolution.

At issue is whether or not NFL ref Garth DeFelice should be suspended … or offered a spot as the San Francisco 49ers starting middle linebacker.

What happened?

Well, DeFelice appears to drop St. Louis Rams’ running back Kenneth Darby with a wicked right cross during the 49ers’ 17-16 over the Rams victory yesterday afternoon.

Or, maybe he was just effectively absorbing a hit? Very effectively, we might add.

You can watch the video and judge for yourself, but several media outlets (including AOL’s Fan House) are already comparing this incident to the infamous hit by NCAA umpire Wilbur Hackett, Jr. on South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia earlier this season.

For one of the funniest assessments of the Darby-DeFelice “collision,” here’s Robert Littal’s take from Black Sports Online:

The Rams are a disgrace, but when a NFL Umpire is taking out your running back like he is Ray Lewis you know it is time to close down shop. I understand Kenneth Darby is just trying to make a living, but come on homie that is an old man who just laid you out with a forearm shiver.

Too funny.

It’s been a controversial couple of weeks for DeFelice, who mistakenly tossed a San Diego player from a game last Sunday for … you guessed it … throwing a punch. Video evidence later confirmed the ejection was erroneous.

DeFelice has gotten into it with players in the past, including an incident with Dancing With The Stars runner-up Warren Sapp last season.

Oh, and in yet another example of why people read websites like this one, the Associated Press recap of the game made no mention of DeFelice’s hit on Darby.

The NFL also officially recorded the play as a tackle for 49ers’ linebacker Patrick Willis.

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