Fitzpatrick "I'm not a Dirty Player"

Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick commented at length about the play that Browns running back Nick Chubb was injured.

It was a play that shocked the entire sports world in the moment and left fans of the Cleveland Browns and star running back Nick Chubb devastated at the prospect of it being his last. Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick spoke to the media for the first time since the horrific injury to Nick Chubb occurred in Monday night's 26-22 Browns loss.

In a run that Chubb found a rush lane high into the red zone, Fitzpatrick went low with his head and shoulder into Chubb's legs as another Steeler defender was attempting to tackle him high on his back. With his foot firmly planted, the angle of the hit created too much torque on the knee. 

The injury was so bad the national broadcast refused to show the replay for much of the game. In the aftermath the play drew criticism from fans, pundits and even former players. Nothing Fitzpatrick did was against the rules or particularly out of the norm. The other player being on top for the tackle was also a factor in the outcome. It was a topic of much debate and chatter but in such a physical game like football, unfortunately injuries do happen.

In fact Fitzpatrick, who was also banged up on that play, would also leave the game later and be taken to the hospital for a possible lung injury. It was later determined that he had only suffered a chest bruise and that his lungs were okay.

Fitzpatrick commented at length on the matter and had this to say: "It's very unfortunate. It's a tough, tough injury. Unfortunately, part of the game that we play. I know there's people that had ill will behind the tackle. It's not the case whatsoever. I'm a guy that's a competitor who's going to go out there and play the game. I'm chippy. I'm edgy, of course, but I'm not a dirty player. I'm not going to sit here and defend my character. I know the type of player I am. Chubb knows the type of player I am. I've played against him a bunch in the past. Five years, two times a year. I love competing against him. He brings the best out of me, and I bring the best out of him."

"No chance that I would ever try to purposefully injure somebody. Unfortunate event. We play a physical game, and people get hurt, and you know, people sit behind a screen and tell me how I shoulda done it or what they would have done and they've never played the game. It's a fast game. Things happen. Like I said, it's an unfortunate event. Praying for Chubb. I talked to him briefly as he was on the ground. Just let him know that it wasn't intentional. I was just trying to tackle him-make a football play."

He was thoughtful and detailed in his comments and seemed genuinely sincere. Fitzpatrick is a highly respected player around the league and has never really had an issue of being labeled as a player who takes 'cheap shots'.