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Late in the Kansas City Chiefs comeback blowout of the Houston Texans on Sunday, defensive back Tyrann Mathieu had a chance to sack Deshaun Watson with a very hard hit. Instead, he pulled up and barely touched the QB.
Much like when a baseball player bunts when his team is being no-hit, a handful of “purists” came out of the woodwork to complain that Mathieu wasn’t “paying the game the right way.”
Strange seeing blitzing DB let up. This used to be an ear-holing. Good for QB health. pic.twitter.com/a0oAIv1pFM
— Mike Sando (@SandoNFL) January 12, 2020
the game is soft now old football was way better
— DILLIGAF (@DILLIGA01380311) January 13, 2020
Most (normal) people didn’t have a problem with it, but because this is the world we live in now, Mathieu felt the need to defend himself for not taking Watson’s head off with the win already in hand.
“The game was over. Yeah that’s my boy , but I’m not fake tough, I don’t have to hit you to make me feel like imma big beast. This is football, but every act isn’t violent,” he tweeted in response. “Maybe I’m built different.”
The game was over. Yeah that’s my boy , but I’m not fake tough, I don’t have to hit you to make me feel like imma big beast. This is football, but every act isn’t violent. https://t.co/KmNl7zDEhF
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) January 13, 2020
Maybe I’m built different.
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) January 13, 2020
Not that his message didn’t go completely ignored by the “purists.” Because of course it did.
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1216728717524897792I prefer the Ronnie Lott era when real men played football. Nobody went into the little blue tent for a bump on the head.
— Scott Davis (@ScottDinflorida) January 13, 2020
You play till 000
— Sports Dudes🎙🎙🎙🎙/#webelong (@SportsD24733772) January 13, 2020
Not gone lie. I would have blasted him. Make a statement. I don’t give a damn if you my friend.
— Political Scientist De’Sean (@deseanskii) January 13, 2020
i agree w not hitting dw4 but there’s definitely some physicality that you’re lacking in your game
— 👨🦯 (@816coleby) January 13, 2020
LOLOLOL! Tyrann Mathieu isn’t physical enough? Tyrann Mathieu?
Man, those guys better not read these tweets then. They’ll have a stroke.
Love you too 5! 4life 🤞🏾 https://t.co/SN7kxEHD9A
— Deshaun Watson (@deshaunwatson) January 13, 2020