With a 20-13 lead in the final seconds, the New York Jets lined up in victory formation to run out the remainder of the clock, but Pittsburgh Steelers safety Mike Mitchell wasn't quite ready to take the loss on the chin and instead tried to dive over the offensive line and hit quarterback Michael Vick.
Rex Ryan, Nick Mangold unhappy with ‘dirty play’ by Steelers to end game
Mike Mitchell attempted to launch over the offensive line and hit Michael Vick in victory formation. It didn’t go as planned, but the Jets still didn’t appreciate the effort.
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Things don't go quite as Mitchell planned -- center Nick Mangold saw the safety coming and tossed the defensive back through the air. Still, it wasn't a move that was appreciated by the offensive line and Jets head coach Rex Ryan earned an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for something he said to officials on the sideline.
That exchange continued after the final whistle, and Ryan said after the game that he didn’t feel the officials did a good enough job protecting Vick, via ESPN’s Jane McManus:
“I got a little upset,” Ryan said in reference to the unsportsmanlike call. “In this league, they put a huge emphasis on protecting the quarterback and all players, as they should. I’m not so sure our quarterback was protected the same as the other quarterback today.”
He wasn’t the only one that was a little upset, as Mangold and other offensive lineman weren’t happy with Mitchell’s attempt to get one last shot in against Vick. The five-time Pro Bowl center called it a “dirty play” by Mitchell, although he was glad he was able to see it in time to protect Vick some.
Willie Colon, who played his first six seasons with the Steelers before joining the Jets in 2013, was quick to defend Vick and was in the middle of a scrum with Pittsburgh players after the play.
“I think it was B.S.,” Colon said. “I love that team, I was birthed into that organization, but I thought it was uncalled for. That’s why I reacted the way I reacted.”
The sole penalty issued on the play was given to Ryan for his comments on the sideline, and officials managed to separate the players on the field without flags.
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