Eagles linemen rip Greg Hardy: The Eagles and Cowboys engaged in an NFC East brawl under the prime time Sunday night lights in the same week that Deadspin released police photos of injuries Greg Hardy's ex-girlfriend suffered during a domestic violence incident.
So inevitably, the Hardy situation going to be a popular topic of conversation before, during, and after the game.
During interviews following a 33-27 overtime victory, two Eagles linemen shared their thoughts on the defensive end and even questioned his effort on the field.
"Any time I had a chance to put a little extra mustard on a block, I tried," offensive tackle Lane Johnson said, via the Philadelphia Daily News. "He wasn't all that emotional in the game. I guess he is in other games. I don't know if the stuff got to him on the news, but he kind of seemed out of it a little bit."
Hardy was a non-factor outside of a lone sack in the third quarter. He recorded just one other tackle and committed two penalties.
"I felt like I faced better than him," Johnson said of Hardy. "He's a guy who, when things are going good, he's great. When things aren't going good, he'll shut it down."
Center Jason Kelce joined Johnson in the Hardy bashing after the game and expressed his disgust for the defensive end.
"I'm glad he didn't have a good day," Kelce said, via CSNPhilly.com. "It's a joke a guy like that is able to play this quickly.
"[There are] three people I have zero respect for in this world, people who hit women, who molest children, and rapists."
Hardy and the Cowboys fell to 2-6 on the season and have lost six-straight games. The Eagles improved to 4-4 and are just a half game behind the Giants for first place in the NFC East.
Roethlisberger sprains foot: The Steelers will be without Ben Roethlisberger for a few weeks after the quarterback suffered a mid-foot sprain during Sunday's win over the Raiders.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Steelers initially believed the 33-year-old had suffered a LisFranc injury, which could've potentially ended his season. Luckily for the Steelers, the sprain is not serious.
The injury is the second one suffered by the three-time Pro Bowl selection this season. He was carted off the field earlier this season after spraining his MCL, an injury that sidelined him for four weeks.
"Ben is our franchise quarterback," Pittsburgh star receiver Antonio Brown said, via ESPN. "We live and die with him. … Hopefully he can be with us."
At 5-4, the Steelers can ill afford to lose Roethlisberger as they try to catch the 8-0 Bengals, who currently lead the AFC North. In Roethlisberger's absence, backup Landry Jones will assume duties as the team's starting quarterback.
Newton rips down Packers banner before showdown: Before the Panthers' 37-29 home win over the Packers, Cam Newton took the time to display his displeasure for a pro Packers banner being flaunted in Bank of America Stadium.
The banner was located near the tunnel where the Panthers enter the field and claimed the Panthers' home stadium was Packers' country.
"We take pride in having an edge in playing in Bank of America Stadium, of playing in front of the Carolinas each and every week," Newton said, via ESPN. "I feel it's my due diligence to protect this house. It wasn't just about tearing down a sign. It was respect."
The result pumped up Panthers fans in attendance, but the owner of the banner was none too pleased with Newton's actions. According to the Fayetteville Observer, the fan paid $500 to have the banner made and wants it back.
"I was just shocked, shocked," banner owner Mike Dobs said, via the Observer. The report added that the Panthers intend to make it up to Dobs.
"It just doesn't match," Newton said after the game. "No disrespect to any Green Bay Packer. It's just a respect thing."
