Steelers Push Back as Jared Verse Renews Cheap-shot Criticism

WHO:

ESPN - Cleveland Browns defensive end Jared Verse criticized Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen as “dirty” and said he “couldn't wait to get my hands on them again.”

ESPN - Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker criticized Verse after the game, saying: “He should have kept his mouth shut.”

ESPN - Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward said Verse’s comments “will be addressed,” then said the Steelers were “Not motivated by that.”

ESPN - Steelers guard Mason McCormick said he did not know who he had knocked down, explaining: “Just felt somebody jump, and we're told to get jumpers' hands down, and that's really it.”

Heavy NFL - Browns head coach Todd Monken defended Verse after the loss; the article provides no further details of his remarks.

Heavy NFL - Steelers running back Jaylen Warren responded to Verse’s trash talk; the article provides no quote or further detail.

WHAT:

ESPN - Pittsburgh defeated Cleveland 27-6. The Steelers rushed for 200 yards, and Verse recorded one tackle and one quarterback hit.

ESPN - Brisker said Verse had “zero tackles” and had not stood behind his words; he urged Verse to “look himself in the mirror and get better.”

ESPN - Verse said, “I stand by everything I say,” and added, “As a man, you have to naturally do that.”

ESPN - McCormick swept Verse’s legs as Verse leapt during a point-after try and slammed him to the ground. McCormick received an unnecessary roughness penalty.

ESPN - Verse said, “To do something like that, I don't have respect for anything like that.”

ESPN - The win gave Pittsburgh sole possession of first place in the AFC North and extended the Steelers’ regular-season home winning streak against Cleveland to 23 games.

Heavy NFL - Articles described Verse as standing by his pregame remarks after the Steelers’ 27-6 win and reported that he renewed a claim about dirty play. One Heavy NFL headline said the incident was likely to result in NFL punishment; the article excerpt does not confirm a punishment.

WHERE:

ESPN - The game was played in Pittsburgh; the earlier Steelers-Browns matchup referenced by ESPN was a Cleveland home game.

WHY:

ESPN - Heyward said Pittsburgh was focused on getting a win before its bye: “We were motivated because we wanted to get this damn win before we got to the bye. So there's bigger fish to fry.”

HOW:

ESPN - Verse’s trash talk began after Cleveland’s 27-24 home win over Pittsburgh in Week 4. Before the later game, Heyward discussed Verse’s comments on “The Rich Eisen Show”; Verse subsequently said he was not concerned about Heyward and planned to “make Pittsburgh ours.”

Pittsburgh beat Cleveland 27-6, taking sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Steelers guard Mason McCormick was penalized for sweeping Browns defensive end Jared Verse to the ground. Verse stood by calling Pittsburgh’s linemen dirty, while Steelers players sharply criticized his remarks.