The Steelers didn’t have Troy Polamalu at safety on Sunday, but one of their other safeties earned the ire of the Jets for trying one of Polamalu’s moves when the Jets were in the victory formation at the end of the game.
Steelers safety Mike Mitchell tried to leap over Jets center Nick Mangold as Michael Vick took the snap before kneeling down, which earned him a body slam from Mangold when he didn’t quite get enough air to clear the Jets center. There were plenty of other Jets expressing their displeasure with Mitchell on the field and Mangold issued a verbal slam at Mitchell after the game.
“It’s a dirty play,” Mangold said, via Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com.
Mitchell may also been the target of some anger from Jets coach Rex Ryan, who was caught on video, via NJ.com, using the same four letter word that former starting quarterback Geno Smith used toward a fan to earn a fine earlier this season. Ryan also got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the game for yelling at the officials for what he perceived to be a lack of protection for Vick.