The Redskins' DeAngelo Hall said he was only trying to help a teammate. The Falcons' Mike Smith said he was trying to restore order. If that's the case, how did they end up in the middle of such an untidy scrum?
The NFL is trying to answer that very question as it investigates the altercation that happened in the second quarter of Atlanta's 31-17 victory against Washington at the Georgia Dome on Sunday. It's anyone's guess what fines or suspensions will result from the sequence of events that found former Falcons player Hall on the wrong sideline surrounded by a throng of wrong-color jerseys.
"That was a crazy deal," Redskins running back Rock Cartwright said. "There was a lot going on over there. I see their head coach (Smith) got involved, which I think was not right. I see a lot of their players got involved. I'm sure DeAngelo will get a fine for it, and I hope those guys get fined, too. There was a lot more of their guys than there was our guys."
A review of the video doesn't help much. The commotion started when Redskins safety LaRon Landry was whistled for a late sideline hit on quarterback Matt Ryan. While Landry and Ryan were walking back on the field as if nothing major had happened, Hall -- he wasn't even involved in the play -- was quickly surrounded by Atlanta players, Smith and Jeff Fish, the Falcons' director of athletic performance.
Hall said after the game that he went to the sideline to come to Landry's aid. He accused Fish of trying to "get some licks in." Of Smith, he said: "When a coach comes over there to put his hands on you in a harmful way, something needs to be done."
Hall said he would file a complaint with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but he doesn't have to bother. League spokesman Randall Liu said yesterday that "any altercation of that nature is always reviewed for possible discipline."
The replays show plenty of physical contact involving Hall, Smith and Fish.
Smith said after the game he was merely playing peacemaker. He maintained that stance yesterday.
"I can tell you this. Our quarterback was hit late out of bounds on the sideline," Smith said. "We were trying to restore order on our sideline."
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