Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields claimed that the Bears’ division rival, the Detroit Lions, have dirty players on their team on the St. Brown Brothers podcast hosted by Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and Chicago Bears wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown.
The Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions split their two games this year, which they played less than a month apart. The Lions won the first game 31-26 and the Bears took home the victory in the second game 28-13.
Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields said he should flop more, especially against the Detroit Lions
In the podcast with the St. Brown brothers, the idea that the Detroit Lions have dirty players arose from the conversation about referees. It started with Fields saying that referees are just human, but that he doesn’t get the same calls other quarterbacks get.
“You kind of always want one team to win, you’re just human.”
Justin Fields and the St. Brown Bros contemplate what’s going on in a refs mind during a game 👀 https://t.co/kaHNU7Qs3P pic.twitter.com/TVoALrmXCM
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) February 23, 2024
Towards the end of the 2022 season, Fields fumbled the ball on what looked like a hit with helmet-to-helmet contact when the Chicago Bears were playing the Detroit Lions.
NFL needs to do better for Justin Fields
Both players lead with helmet. No call for Fields. Greenlaw got ejected for hitting Herbert. #Bears #BearDown pic.twitter.com/ZOxkpYhxgR
— Tony Clements (@TonyCMKE) January 1, 2023
A similar helmet-to-helmet hit on Justin Fields occurred when the Chicago Bears were playing another division rival, the Minnesota Vikings.
There is no quarterback in the NFL that gets less calls than Justin Fields pic.twitter.com/pDlG2Uaem2
— Jeremy Layton (@JeremyLayt0n) October 15, 2023
Another instance this season occurred when Justin Fields attempted to give himself up in a game against another division rival, the Green Bay Packers.
Owens would have been thrown outta the league if he made this same hit on Patrick Mahomes
But on Justin Fields it’s a no call pic.twitter.com/0TZVr8yZYE
— Adam Samuels (@SamuelAdams_12) January 7, 2024
The supposed “dirty players” on the Detroit Lions came into the spotlight in the playoffs
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph entered the spotlight and earned a reputation as a dirty player after a low hit on Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee.
Rams believe TE Tyler Higbee tore his ACL after absorbing a low hit from Detroit safety Kerby Joseph, per sources. There will be additional testing to confirm the initial diagnosis. pic.twitter.com/ZnojOTMwci
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 15, 2024
Joseph responded to the negative attention by saying that football is a dangerous game, but he had no intention to hurt anybody.
ALL SERIOUSNESS…. THIS GAME WE PLAY IS VERY DANGEROUS…. I’m praying for bro and his family I don’t have no intention to hurt no body and or harm their career I been a mf dog since I came out my mama womb and nun of y’all on here gone take that away from me 👌👌💯💯💯 #GODBLESS
— ZUPER BOWL KERB💤😎 (@JKERB25) January 15, 2024
The hit tore Higbee’s ACL and caused many fans to show instances of other similarly dirty hits from Joseph.
Reminder Kerby Joseph also tried to rip Justin Jefferson’s head off in the same game he tried to ruin TJ Hockenson’s career with ACL and MCL.pic.twitter.com/9GowfDSCDJ
— Bull Run (@defiisthelife) January 15, 2024
Kerby Joseph with the hip drop tackle on Puka Nacua and rolls over his ankle. pic.twitter.com/xbKpQoxqwX
— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) January 16, 2024
If Higbee’s MRI confirms what is expected, this will be the 2nd torn ACL to a TE (Hockenson) this season as a result of a hit from Lions S Kerby Joseph. Dirty? https://t.co/AOv9ijNj0P pic.twitter.com/tu6XnD7iLd
— ACL Recovery Club (@ACLrecoveryCLUB) January 15, 2024
Detroit Lions players like linebacker Alex Anzalone came to the defense of Joseph in an article from Sports Illustrated, saying that it was a legal hit. The main argument for defending plays like that suggests that a smaller player like Joseph has no chance of tackling a bigger player like Higbee if he doesn’t go for the legs. Not to mention the NFL’s strict stance against hitting up high on defenseless receivers.
“My point is that it’s a legal hit,” Anzalone says. “It’s a dangerous, violent sport. It’s legal to cut block DEs full speed while he’s blinded on run plays. The QB should know not the throw this ball and protect his own player. And like I said, I do not want anyone to get hurt out there.”
If Kerby Joseph tried to “wrap up” pic.twitter.com/o9QqG9BH6J
— Josh 〽️ (@UMFanJosh) January 16, 2024
Justin Fields and Equanimeous were speaking in jest directed towards Amon-Ra, but many argue there is truth to their statements.
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