Vikings' O'Neill Regrets Not Taking Shot After Bullard's 15-Yard Hit on Murray

Q: Why did Vikings tackle Brian O'Neill publicly regret not physically retaliating against Javon Bullard after the controversial collision?

Brian O’Neill publicly regretted not retaliating more forcefully because he believed Javon Bullard’s hit on Kyler Murray was dangerous, likely illegal, and insufficiently punished in the moment. O’Neill said the play unfolded so fast that he initially hesitated, not wanting to “freak out” if he had misread a legal hit. But after seeing Murray go down with a concussion and show signs associated with head trauma, he felt he had underreacted. That is why he later told ESPN he wished he had “taken a shot” at Bullard. His comments also reflected a broader sense inside Minnesota that Bullard escaped with too little on-field consequence. Bullard drew only a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty and was not ejected, even though the hit is expected to be reviewed by the NFL and could bring a fine or possibly further discipline. O’Neill made clear he thought the punishment should have been harsher and that the Vikings did not deliver the kind of immediate physical response teammates often expect when a quarterback is hit that way. In short, O’Neill’s regret was rooted in two things: his instinct to protect Murray and his belief, after seeing the severity of the injury, that he had shown too much restraint in the moment.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Sep 14

Brian O'Neill said after Sunday's game he wishes he had done more than shove Javon Bullard after the Packers safety's hit knocked Kyler Murray out with a concussion.
A 15-yard penalty was the only in-game punishment for Bullard, and O'Neill said the play happened so fast that he hesitated because he did not want to overreact if he was wrong.
O'Neill later said that restraint was a mistake, adding he "kind of wish[ed]" he had taken a shot at Bullard after the hit on Minnesota's quarterback.
Bullard could still face league discipline beyond the flag — at minimum a fine and possibly a suspension — but O'Neill's comments underscored the Vikings' frustration that no on-field retribution followed.