DK Metcalf: Rams coaches yelled at him on latest taunting penalty; ‘I let that get to me’
Yet again, particularly with a game not going his Seahawks’ way, DK Metcalf lost his cool. The NFL knows well by now that Seattle’s 25-year-old star receiver is quite capable of that. On the first play after the underdog Los Angeles Rams humbled the Seahawks by taking a 27-13 lead with 5 minutes left in L.A.’s victorious NFL season opener Sunday at Lumen Field, Metcalf kept blocking Rams cornerback Akhello Witherspoon after a short pass play to tight end Colby Parkinson. Witherspoon, a one-time Seahawk teammate, stayed down injured following the play. Metcalf stayed fired up on the field during the injury time out. Coaches and players on the Rams’ sideline yelled at Metcalf. Metcalf yelled back. Officials then flagged one of the league’s leaders in penalties the last couple seasons for his latest penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, this one for taunting well over a minute after the previous play had ended. “Well, I was blocking, and I guess I blocked him a little too hard and pushed him to the ground,” Metcalf said. “He got all mad because he felt like I blocked him in the back. I mean, that’s just how I play. I block every play, and when I don’t have the ball, I’m never taking a play off or jogging trying to take a play off. “So, that’s what transpired.” What did officials tell him was unsportsmanlike about his actions? “I saw their coaches yelling at me or saying something to me and their players,” Metcalf said. “I let that get to me, and I retaliated. “You know, the second man always gets called, so, just have to be better in that aspect.” Instead of second and 2, the Seahawks were backed up to second and 17 at their own 28-yard line. Geno Smith then got sacked on consecutive plays. On a gross fourth and 34, the Seahawks punted down 14 with 3 1/2 minutes to go. Two plays later, defensive captain Quandre Diggs lost his steadiness. He got called for unnecessary roughness and another 15-yard penalty on the Seahawks. Third and 10 for the Rams became first down, and the Seahawks’ last hope to get the ball back was gone. Much like Sunday for Seattle.
