An unexpected source shows strong support to Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick after controversial hit against Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns lost rookie WR KC Concepcion to a concussion after a hit from New York’s veteran safety. The reactions coming out of Cleveland’s locker room did not line up.
Was New York Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick’s hit on Browns rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion dirty? In my eyes, not a chance. Fitzpatrick drew an unnecessary roughness flag in Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns after making contact with the head area of Concepcion. The rookie went down on the turf in serious pain and left the game with a concussion.
Fitzpatrick was ranging over to make a play on the ball in the passing game, and he made it. The penalty still cost the Jets, though, and the hit quickly became one of the biggest storylines of the day.
Dawand Jones and Todd Monken see the hit differently
The play sparked a strong reaction from Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones after the game. Jones said he confronted Fitzpatrick about the hit.
“I just told him that s***;s f***** up. He just told me it’s football, and I’m not down with that s***. That s***s not football,” Jones said.
It’s safe to say Concepcion’s teammate did not take kindly to the play. Jones was clearly protecting a young teammate, and I understand that.
Here’s what makes this so notable, though. Browns head coach Todd Monken saw the hit very differently than his own offensive tackle.
“That’s just a bang-bang play. Minkah has been in this league a long time. He’s not a dirty player,” Monken said.
When the opposing head coach is defending you after you knocked one of his players out of the game, that tells you plenty.
Why Fitzpatrick’s hit wasn’t dirty
Look, I’m not trying to be biased here, but I do not think the hit was dirty at all. Fitzpatrick did exactly what defensive backs are taught to do. He led with his shoulder instead of his helmet.
I believe he was truly targeting Concepcion’s shoulder. It was just like Monken said, a bang-bang play. On impact, Fitzpatrick’s shoulder happened to land on Concepcion’s helmet after the receiver braced, and that caused the injury. Nobody wants to see a rookie leave the field like that, but there was no intent behind it.
Minkah Fitzpatrick has also been a great addition for the Jets. He nearly came up with another interception in the same game. He ranged over to undercut a go ball from Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson in spectacular fashion, but the ball slipped through his hands.
Had he held on, Fitzpatrick would have had an interception in back-to-back weeks, after last week’s play against the Bears to break the streak. Maybe with better weather, he comes down with it. Either way, the range and instincts on that play show you exactly why the Jets wanted him in that secondary.
What comes next for Fitzpatrick
It is unfortunate what happened to Concepcion. We all hope he’s okay and gets back on the field soon. Still, that’s how things go in a violent sport played at full speed, where split-second contact doesn’t always land where a defender aims.
Don’t get me wrong, I fully expect Fitzpatrick to take a hit to the wallet. He will likely receive a fine from the league this week, which is typical after penalties of that nature. We’ve seen the NFL dish out a lot of wild fines already this season.
A fine doesn’t make him a dirty player, though. Fitzpatrick made a good, aggressive play on the ball, and his own opponent’s head coach backed him up. Expect him to keep flying around the field for the Jets, and expect this one to fade quickly once the fine is handed down.
