Dante Wesley Hit on Clifton Smith Is Both Nasty and Illegal

Dante Wesley of the Carolina Panthers nearly caused a full-on fight Sunday, after an a sickening cheap shot on Clifton Smith of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The hit, which saw Smith laid out on the field for minutes afterward, was enough to get Wesley ejected from the game.

Dante Wesley: not afraid to get cheap. (Getty Images)
Wesley rushed at Smith as Smith attempted to catch a punt, driving his forearm into Clifton's throat. Smith is now said to have a concussion, and will be evaluated later on today. 

According to one trainer, Smith is "up and moving around a little bit" today, but still sounds like he's very much questionable for next week's game. It was part of a dispiriting day for the Bucs, who dropped to the Panthers 28-21.

You can see the video of the hit below. It's not for the faint of heart.