New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen has strongly rebutted allegations from the Philadelphia Eagles that his team engaged in dirty play during their recent clash.
On Sunday, the Saints faced off against the Eagles in a tense game that ended with a narrow 15-12 victory for Philadelphia. However, the close scoreline wasn’t the only talking point, as the game was marred by injuries and contentious incidents on the field.
Accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct were triggered following separate incidents involving Saints defenders Payton Turner and Khristian Boyd. The duo delivered a hit on Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith that dislodged his helmet, effectively removing him from the game. The hit resulted in Smith being placed in the concussion protocol.
Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was particularly vocal, branding the Saints' actions as dirty play. “The dirtiest shit I ever saw in football, bro,” Gardner-Johnson said, encapsulating the frustration shared by several of his teammates over what they perceived to be overly aggressive tactics by their opponents.
Saints head coach Dennis Allen has since defended the conduct of his team, stating that while they play hard, they do not play dirty. “I'd say our guys play extremely hard and we're going to compete until the down is over. I don't think we play dirty. I don't think we ever have played dirty. It's not the way we coach it, not the way we teach it, but we do play hard,” Allen said in response to the accusations.
Allen emphasized that no player or coach wants to see anyone get hurt, acknowledging the brutal nature of the sport while distinguishing aggressive play from malice. “Look, nobody wants to see anybody get hurt, nobody's trying to hurt anybody and unfortunately that's part of the business that we're in. No, we don't play dirty. We don't coach dirty, but we do play hard and we do play physical,” he asserted.
Among the most egregious moments of the game was an unnecessary roughness penalty incurred by Saints right tackle Trevor Penning. Penning was penalized after executing an excessive block that sent Eagles safety Darius Slay sprawling into the sideline benches. “We can't have that. You've got to have some awareness of where you're at on the field. That could've been a really costly penalty. I love the aggressiveness, but at the same time, we can't hurt the team,” Allen commented on the incident.
Despite the controversy, the Saints find themselves at 2-1 for the season. Gardner-Johnson, however, remains unimpressed, dismissively referring to the Saints as “Pretenders.”
As the season progresses, the impact of these allegations and incidents on the Saints' reputation and their opponents' perception will undoubtedly be closely scrutinized. For now, the team remains steadfast in their defense against claims of dirty play, as voiced emphatically by their head coach. Allen's statements aim to reassure fans and stakeholders that the Saints will continue to play hard without compromising the integrity of the sport.