Jared Verse says he addressed the team after guard Mason McCormick threw him to the ground on a point-after attempt during Pittsburgh's 27-6 win.
Jared Verse said Thursday he has talked with his Cleveland Browns teammates about failing to defend him after Steelers guard Mason McCormick caught him in the air and slammed him to the ground following a point-after try on Sunday. McCormick drew a 15-yard penalty on the play during Pittsburgh's 27-6 win.
Verse said the moment sent his frustration with the game to another level. "To be quite honest with you, that was the play that made me really angry," he said. "I was already upset about the game, the way things were moving, but at that point it became deep. You're doing dirty shit, you're trying to sweep my legs out." He added that the hit could have ended his season or worse.
Verse also acknowledged his own role in the aftermath, saying he never warned teammates he planned to speak out publicly against the Steelers. "I didn't put them in a position to let them know beforehand I was going to talk the way I talked to the Steelers and Steelers Nation or whatever they are. I got to be better than that. I didn't do enough on my part. We all got to pick it up." McCormick has said he did not know who Verse was during the incident.