The New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen has strongly denied allegations of dirty play following their contentious 15-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The game was marked by numerous injuries and heated exchanges, culminating in a storm of accusations from the Eagles.
The fallout began when Saints defenders Payton Turner and Khristian Boyd delivered a hit on Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith, forcibly removing his helmet. Smith was unable to return to the game and has since been placed in concussion protocol. The incident prompted Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to publicly condemn the Saints' actions. "The dirtiest shit I ever saw in football, bro," Gardner-Johnson remarked, reflecting the sentiment shared by several members of his team.
Allen, however, was quick to defend his players and their style of play. "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," he stated. Allen emphasized the physical nature of the sport, asserting that the unfortunate injuries were not the result of malicious intent. "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 added.
Yet, the incident involving DeVonta Smith was not the sole flashpoint in this controversial game. Saints right tackle Trevor Penning was penalized for unnecessary roughness after delivering an excessive block that sent Eagles safety Darius Slay crashing into the sideline benches. The penalty drew further ire from the Eagles and their fans, viewing it as another example of over-the-top aggression.
Allen acknowledged Penning's error, conceding that the block, while aggressive, crossed the line. "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,” he reflected.
The Saints are currently holding a 2-1 record for the season, but the aftermath of this game raises questions about their reputation. Gardner-Johnson pulled no punches, dismissing the Saints as "Pretenders." The term stings, particularly given the Saints' efforts to shake off the "dirty" label and assert their place among the NFL's elite.
The Saints' next few games will be closely scrutinized, not just for their performance, but for their conduct on the field. The incident with DeVonta Smith and the unnecessary roughness penalty on Penning have placed their playing style under a microscope.
It remains to be seen how the Saints will respond to these allegations of unsportsmanlike conduct. Their resolve and discipline will be tested as they aim to balance their hard-nosed approach with the rules and spirit of the game.