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Kiwanuka says Samuels played dirty
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:50 pm
by spudstr04
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10962837
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka alleged on Friday that Washington Redskins tackle Chris Samuels made a dirty play when he fell on the back of his ankle after being beaten on a pass rush on the final play of the NFL season opener.
Kiwanuka hurt his left ankle on the play. X-rays were negative, but the ankle was still sore on Friday, and so was Kiwanuka.
Replays showed that Kiwanuka beat Samuel to the outside on a pass rush and started moving toward Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell in the waning seconds of the Giants' 16-7 victory.
Samuels quickly turned and made a low lunging tackle, wrapping his arms around Kiwanuka's legs. His upper torso pinned Kiwanuka's left ankle.
"Honestly, I thought it was a dirty play," Kiwanuka said. "There's no question about it. He was definitely beat and instead of recovering or giving up, I don't know how many options you had, but I just don't think there is any place for that in the NFL."
Samuels was not in the Redskins locker room on Friday and was not immediately available for comment.
However, replays also showed Samuels wave his arms in a move that suggested that he was upset after the play. He stood over Kiwanuka as Giants trainers came on the field.
"Samuels, I spoke to him right after and he said it wasn't intentional and I will just leave that at that," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Friday.
Kiwanuka was upset, especially after missing the final six games of last season with a broken lower leg that also caused ligament damage to his ankle.
"I don't think there is any place for that in professional football," he said.
Kiwanuka also wasn't buying the idea that Samuels was trying to protect his quarterback.
"That doesn't matter. Honestly, you take hits," Kiwanuka said. "I took a big hit during the game and at this level, this is something that happens. Even the greatest players get knocked down. You have to stand back up, be a man and line up for the next snap. Something like that, I would never do it, having been out for the end of last season I know how valuable these games are. I would never do it to anybody, and I wouldn't expect anyone to do it to me."
Drafted in the first round in 2006 as a defensive end, Kiwanuka has a big role this season in the wake of the season-ending knee injury to Pro Bowler Osi Umenyiora. It forced Coughlin to switch him back from linebacker to end a couple of weeks ago.
Kiwanuka was worried that he was seriously injured after the play, but he knew it was not serious when he was able to put pressure on the ankle. He has not talked with Samuels. He does not believe the player targeted his left ankle, but he believes he deliberately jumped on it after being beaten.
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"I don't think he thought that deep into it," Kiwanuka said. "He definitely tried to make a play intentionally that I felt was out of line."
Fellow defensive end Justin Tuck understands Samuels desire to protect his quarterback, but he did not condone the play.
"You put another players' health in the balance, that is always going to be questionable," Tuck said. "I know Chris. He is not a guy who will go out there and intentionally hurt a guy. It was just a bad judgment play."
Defensive captain Antonio Pierce said the play was not pretty.
"I don't want to label anybody, but obviously a play that should not have happened."
I love how Pierce had to put his 2 cents in about another player being dirty. That's like the pot calling the kettle black. Pierce has had it out for us since we wouldn't budge on his contract offer. What a joke!
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:56 pm
by Champsturf
Maybe Kiwanuka should've thought about a dirty play is kicking someone when you get knocked on your arse. That's what he did when Portis decleated him...
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:59 pm
by Countertrey
In Kiwanuka's defense, I doubt that he could see how upset Samuels was when he thought he was really hurt. He screwed up, and he knew it.
And, AP needs to shut his mercenary, throw your friends under the bus, mouth. He's still overated, and he's playing in our house next time. Does he really want to be irritating Mr Samuels, whom he knows is not dirty?
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:29 pm
by SKINFAN
I thought that was purely accidental, Samuels didn't purposely fall on the guys leg, I mean if that was a dirty play then Samuels is by far the softest dirty player out there, I mean why go for the ankle when you can have a season ending knee shot right there.
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:51 pm
by John Manfreda
dirty plays happen all the time, its part of sports. He should quit crying.
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:55 pm
by Countertrey
John Manfreda wrote:dirty plays happen all the time, its part of sports. He should quit crying.
I'm sure that's exactly what you'd say if it were YOUR career that had just flashed before your eyes...
When I saw the play, my immediate thought was "Chris, what the heck were you thinking?" I then saw Samuels reaction, as he clearly had just asked himself the same question, and didn't like the answer.
Not a dirty play... but, I don't blame Kiwanuka for being upset... if AP keeps his bitter act out of it, it will be fine.
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:23 pm
by JCaptMorgan12
Champsturf wrote:Maybe Kiwanuka should've thought about a dirty play is kicking someone when you get knocked on your arse. That's what he did when Portis decleated him...
very valid point, that was a cheapshot, after CP absolutely laid him out... that block by CP was just as hard as Jacobs running over Landry...
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:53 pm
by aswas71788
Just a New Yorker doing something to get his name in the paper. Maybe he should go back and look at another Giant cheap-shot...like the Giant player that hit Washington right after he got tackled. Slapped him right on the face-mask. Wonder why there wasn't a personal foul called on that?
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:47 am
by John Manfreda
Countertrey wrote:John Manfreda wrote:dirty plays happen all the time, its part of sports. He should quit crying.
I'm sure that's exactly what you'd say if it were YOUR career that had just flashed before your eyes...
When I saw the play, my immediate thought was "Chris, what the heck were you thinking?" I then saw Samuels reaction, as he clearly had just asked himself the same question, and didn't like the answer.
Not a dirty play... but, I don't blame Kiwanuka for being upset... if AP keeps his bitter act out of it, it will be fine.
Ur right I would be pissed, but I wouldn't go cry to the media about it. I would remember we got them again, I will get even and teach him a lesson. I wouldn't go cry to the media like a little baby.
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:49 am
by andyjens89
Pierce is a whiny overrated piece of crap
I wish it was him who got his ankle rolled at the end of the game instead of Kiwanuka
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 3:30 am
by HEROHAMO
The play itself was borderline dirty. I am sure if Samuels wanted to tear his ankle up it would be. Samuels has never been dirty in the past so I think we can give him a pass on this one. Kiwanuka is going to be alright so all is well in my book.
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 9:28 am
by gibbs4president
I didn't think the play was dirty, but then again, it didn't happen to me. I've never heard another player say that Samuels plays dirty.
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 9:45 am
by BossHog
OMG, what a drama queen.
Maybe this is all to deflect talk about being popped in the mouth on a chip block and being laid out like a school girl - by a guy giving up 50+ pounds.
I'm not really sure how a play can be that 'dirty' when the player that did it shows obvious remorse from the moment it happened. Sure it was a bad tackle, but being dirty definitely implies some sort of intent to injure - intent that I just didn't think was there.
Get over it Kiwanuka, before you get tears all down the front of your nice new blouse.
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:10 am
by GSPODS
I'm sure that Chris Samuels, who just lost a relative in a tragic accident, had nothing else on his mind other than malice towards Matthias Kiwanuka.
Give us a break. Wait till you play John Runyan and the Eagles. Then you'll know what dirty play really is. Whiner.
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 11:00 am
by Deadskins
Chris did the only thing he could under the circumstances. What, he should have let Kiwanuka tee off blindside on his QB? We were attempting to come back, and a turnover would have been far worse than a penalty, which has the potential to go uncalled, even if it is a cheap shot. He wasn't trying to hurt him, just stop him from getting to Jason.
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 11:32 am
by hailskins666
i think we should sit samuels, and start portis at LT. he certainly handles rushers better than samuels. if we had 11 CPs on offense we might have something
joking aside, samuels is a bum, but he'll probably make the pro bowl again this year.
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:22 pm
by VetSkinsFan
aswas71788 wrote:Just a New Yorker doing something to get his name in the paper. Maybe he should go back and look at another Giant cheap-shot...like the Giant player that hit Washington right after he got tackled. Slapped him right on the face-mask. Wonder why there wasn't a personal foul called on that?
Yeah, there were more than a few bad calls in that game, on both sides of the ball. I especially liked the "T.O. pushoff" in the endzone where Smoot got called. It should have been offset at the very least.
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:03 pm
by RayNAustin
Samuals fell on him....it wasn't a dirty play, it was an accident, as was readily visible.
But this is nothing new from the Giants, They say this all of the time.
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:33 pm
by welch
It looked as if Samuels intentionally tackled Kiw to protect Campbell. Very clear holding, clearly deserved the penalty that would have been enforced if the game had not been over.
Dirty play? That's another matter. Appeared that Samuels did not intend to injure Kiw; injury was accidental to the hold.
Years ago, one of the Brottens (Neal? Aaron?) stuck up a skate to trip Rod Langway during the second game of a Caps / Devils playoff. Brotten's skate point and blade cut down to Langway's shin bone, from knee to foot. The Capitals went wild for revenge, and Devils coach Jim Schoenfeld complained that it was unfair to toss Brotten out of the game, and to blame the Devils the injury. Brotten, Schoenfeld pleaded, was just trying to foul Langway...not trying to carve him.
I thought that Schoenfeld was the whiner, and felt that Brotten, and a few other Devils, deserved a pounding. (However, the Devils beat the Caps in game 7 on a 3rd period goal that should not have been allowed. If the Caps had continued playing hockey in game 2, rather than look for heads to kick, they would have swept the series. Caps were a far better team. So...hmmm)
Uncomfortable when "the shoe is on the other foot".
However, it still looks, for all the replays, that (a) Samuels grabbed Kiw from behind to save Campbell from a hit, and that (b) Samuels had no intention of injuring anyone. A clean, though illegal.
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:24 pm
by jeremyroyce
You know I didn't see anything wrong with this play at all. Oh and I also did forget that Chris lost a close friend to death in a tragic accident, so yeah I think that Chris had nothing else better to do with his time then injure someone. In fact from what I saw in this game the Giants were taking cheap shots on us all game long. So this guy needs to stop crying and play football.
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:59 pm
by skinsfan1963
when have you ever known the giants to NOT complain?i thought they were classy champions,what a bunch of whiners!!!!
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:04 pm
by gibbsfan
i guess the manning effect is rubbing off in new york as well.
AP just needs to shut up for once..oh thats right he doesn,t shut up....i guess the ring wasn,t enough for him.....
we will play again..
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:00 pm
by forskins
I hope I can give an objective opinion being a Cowboy fan....It was in no way a dirty play. A penalty sure, but Samuels was not trying to hurt him. And you guys are right, the Giants lately have been the biggest whiners and trash talking team ever. They act like they lost the Superbowl! Well, guess what? The stars and moons all aligned perfectly, and miracle after miracle allowed them to win a Superbowl. They are not that good. And if the REdskins DB's would have remembered how to catch a ball, Manning would have had 5 interceptions instead of 1, and showed the world what kind of chump he really is.
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:28 pm
by MDSKINSFAN
every single time antonio pierce talks i seem to hate him more and more
Kiwanuka better have a Serious Limp
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 5:09 pm
by BurgundyandGoldfaith
Chris Samuels took Kiwanuka down with a tackle that was ridiculously soft. It's literally incredible that he is on the injury report. Chris Samuels is one of the most upstanding players in the league and the thought that went through my mind when I saw it was that it looked like Chris was trying to lay a baby down on the ground. He was protecting Campell and there's no way Mathias has gone this far without being tackled by a tackle protecting someone's blindside. I've had a feeling the trash talk would be intense this year, and it has been, especially from the fans of the other teams. Someone tell Snyder he doesn't have to nickel and dime me, I'll just give him money out of my wallet for some actual bragging rights.