Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley somehow doesn’t believe Derwin James is to blame for his dangerous tackle on Ashton Dulin.
James was ejected as a result of the play, having rammed his helmet into Dulin’s neck area after the Indianapolis Colts wide receiver caught a short pass from quarterback Nick Foles. Dulin was ruled out of the game with a concussion while James also appeared wobbly after the hit.
The tackle was ill-advised as it could have caused a severe injury to Dulin and has also left James concussed.
Brandon Staley Is Backing Derwin James
You’d struggle to find an analyst who didn’t agree with the decision to send Derwin off, but Staley believes he deserved to stay on.
“No, I did not (agree), because I know Derwin’s intent,” he said, per Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star, after being asked if the officials were right to boot the safety. “I thought that he tried to lead with the shoulder.”
A pretty wild take, yet it would get even wilder as Staley suggested Foles was the one responsible.
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“It’s a play where they obviously laid the guy out in a tough position, which is their fault, not ours, and Derwin made an aggressive play,” he added. “I’ve seen him make a lot of tackles on plays just like that, and I know that his target was not above the neck. I know that.”
Of course, Foles’ pass did leave his receiver a bit exposed. But to blame him for an opposing player lowering his helmet to slam into his target’s neck is a remarkable stretch.
