A hit delivered by St. Louis Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree on New York Giants rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. drew a flag and immediately devolved into a brawl on the sideline that resulted in the ejection of three players. It was one of a few plays Sunday that left many Giants players unhappy with the play of the Rams.
Giants’ linebacker calls Rams ‘dirty ass team’
Multiple personal fouls, including one against Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree that sparked a brawl on the sideline, left Jameel McClain of the Giants fuming about St. Louis.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Giants wide receiver Preston Parker, Giants defensive tackle Johnathan Hawkins, Giants defensive end Damontre Moore and Rams defensive end William Hayes were all ejected following the scrap, but it was Giants linebacker Jameel McClain who had the most to say about the Rams after the game.
McClain made sure reporters heard what he thought about the Rams as he ran off the field at the Edward Jones Dome before telling reporters in the locker room that he’s “not interested in dirty stuff and chippy play.”
Jameel McClain walking into locker room: 'that dirty s**** don't make them tough' #giants
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 22, 2014 More McClain: "God damn that is a dirty ass team. They suck as an organization" #giants
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 22, 2014 Neither Ogletree nor Beckham, the two at the center of the initiation of the brawl, were ejected, but both the Giants’ and Rams’ head coaches seemed to suggest Beckham played a small part in the instigation of the Rams’ defense.
St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher said Beckham told players he was going to set records against the Rams’ defense, while Tom Coughlin of the Giants took issue with the rookie’s celebrations and said after the game Beckham needs to “tone it down,” although the receiver said that a ball spin that drew a personal foul penalty “wasn’t directed at anybody.“
Regardless, the Rams took issue with Beckham early and often. St. Louis safety T.J. McDonald drew a taunting penalty after running the rookie out of bounds in the second quarter, setting up a Giants touchdown:
Later in the second quarter it was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from Ogletree that sparked the brawl:
Beckham finished the game with eight receptions, 148 receiving yards and two touchdowns despite the shots he took from the Gregg Williams-led defense. Shots Giants safety Antrel Rolle believed were intended "to take Beckham out of the game."
Fisher, who has coached many chippy teams in the past with players like notorious instigator Cortland Finnegan, didn't defend his team's actions much either. He said after the game he was "very disappointed" with his team's actions on the sideline and "there's no place for that in the game."
The Rams dropped to 6-9 with the loss and finish the year with a road game against the Seattle Seahawks, while the Giants improved to 6-9 with a third straight win and will try to make it four in a row at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.
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