New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen has firmly dismissed accusations from the Philadelphia Eagles that his team engaged in dirty play during their recent matchup, which saw the Saints narrowly defeated 15-12. The contentious game was marred by injuries and moments that left both teams at odds.
The accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct were primarily directed towards incidents involving Saints defenders Payton Turner and Khristian Boyd. A significant point of contention was a hit delivered by Turner and Boyd on Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith, forcefully dislodging Smith’s helmet and leaving him unable to return to the game. Smith has since been placed in concussion protocol, intensifying the scrutiny on the Saints' defensive tactics.
In the wake of the game, Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson did not mince words, labeling the actions as "the dirtiest shit I ever saw in football, bro.” This sentiment was echoed by several other Eagles players, who expressed their frustrations over what they perceived as excessively aggressive play by the Saints.
However, Dennis Allen has staunchly defended his team’s style of play. Addressing the media, Allen stated, “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 further emphasized that the goal is never to inflict harm. “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,” Allen added.
Despite Allen’s assurances, the game also featured other moments that led to penalties against the Saints. Right tackle Trevor Penning was penalized for unnecessary roughness after executing an excessive block that sent Eagles safety Darius Slay into the sideline benches. Allen acknowledged the penalty but remained firm on his team's approach. “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 remarked.
Gardner-Johnson’s critical views on the Saints were further encapsulated in a single word: “Pretenders.” This cutting remark comes as the Saints hold a 2-1 record for the season, a start that Gardner-Johnson evidently finds unimpressive.
The debate over what separates tough, hard-nosed football from dirty play is as old as the sport itself. While both teams may agree on the physical nature of the game, the aftermath of this particular matchup leaves little resolution between the conflicting perspectives. For now, the Saints will need to focus on moving past the controversy and maintaining their physical style within the bounds of fair play, while the Eagles grapple with the ramifications of losing a key player to injury.