Boomer Esiason 'Repulsed' By Talib's Eye Poke: 'It Reeks Of Stupidity'
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Denver Broncos' defense had been the best defense in the league heading into Week 9. But they lost their cool against the Colts, and cost their team a chance to come back on Sunday.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the Broncos down 27-24 just ahead of the two minute warning, Denver linebacker Von Miller and Indianapolis tight end Dwayne Allen had some words for each other. Denver corner Aqib Talib came in to help, or so it appeared, and did so by poking Allen in the eye. That drew an unnecessary roughness penalty and gave Indy an automatic first down.
Not really a smart play as the Denver defense was trying to get the ball back to Peyton Manning for one last chance to steal a win and remain unbeaten. Instead of holding Indy to a field goal and having that final shot, the Colts were able to kill the rest of the clock and walk away with the win, handing Denver their first loss of the season.
Talib tried to explain his poke after the game.
"I tried to poke his head, then he kind of went back or something," Talib told reporters. "S*** happens fast. I don't know."
Of course, no one is buying that excuse. That includes Boomer Esiason of WFAN and The NFL Today, who joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich Monday morning for his weekly call into the show.
"I was repulsed by that," Esiason said of Talib's Three Stooges impression. "[Talib is] a guy you guys know well, a really talented football player and one of the best players on one of the best defenses in football. It's reprehensible. It's a suspendable situation because there was intent to injure and seems like there was no regard for player safety. It reeks of stupidity. If it's not a suspension, there will be a very hefty fine levied by the NFL."
That wasn't the only instance of Denver losing their cool on the field. Just a few plays later, Miller put his knee on the throat of Indianapolis tight end Jake Doyle. Officials didn't see it, so no flag was thrown on the play.
"It's surprising because I don't think of Denver being that way," said Esiason. "They've been a professional organization with everyone lauding how great their defense is week in and week out. It goes to show that when they face a little adversity, it unravels. It was disappointing sitting there and watching it."
Sunday was a big day for "dirty plays" in the NFL. Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer called out the St. Louis Rams after Rams corner Lamarcus Joyner took a late shot on Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater as he slid on the field. Former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison said Sunday night that St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher "breeds a culture of dirty play," and Boomer points the finger at Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
"He was the architect of Bountygate with the Saints and was on Fisher's staff in Tennessee. He was doing this crap in Washington and Buffalo. There's a reputation when you play the Rams knowing they play through the whistle or after the whistle is over," said Boomer. "[On The NFL Today], even Bart Scott said the same thing as Rodney, that you have to buckle your chinstrap and be ready to go because you know there is going to be all this stuff after the whistle is over.
"Gregg Williams is always going to be stained with the reputation that came with Bountygate with the Saints," he added. "Whenever there is any questionable play by anyone who plays under him, the guys or teams who are the victims, their coaches are always going to go back to that and that's what Mike Zimmer is doing.
"He was trying to embarrass the rams after that game was over," Boomer said of Zimmerman, agreeing that Joyner's hit was "100 percent a dirty hit."
Boomer also touches on the potential loss of Dion Lewis in New England, and Colin Kaepernick's reputation in the San Francisco locker room.