Two players on the Washington football team threw their best punches at each other on Sunday as the club was being kicked off the field on national TV by their hated division rival, the Dallas Cowboys.
Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen took a swing at his teammate Daron Payne as players sat on the bench after the Cowboys scored their fourth touchdown in a little over a quarter.
Payne appeared to pounce on Allen’s head as the lineman discussed what was happening on the field. Allen responded by throwing a punch at Payne, which did not connect. With line coach Sam Mills Jr. coming between the two, the two opposing teammates had to part ways.
Regarding why the fight began, Allen said, “I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist.”
‘If you see how that game went, emotions are high, things are high, things happen.’
He said he would take “full responsibility” for his actions, as would Payne.
Allen said, ‘When something happens on the field, you never let it take you to the locker room. ‘Things heat up, we fix them, we grow up and sit down and we move on.’
Washington was down 28-7 at the time of the uproar and would fall 6-9 in the year to lose 56-14, making it their fourth-straight losing season. It was also the once proud franchise’s 21st loss record in the last 29 seasons.
The defeat pushed Washington out of playoff contention, while the Cowboys improved to 11–4 and won the NFC East title.
Jonathan Allen can be seen throwing a punch at fellow defensive linebacker Daron Payne in Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys
Payne described the incident as a ‘little brother’s disagreement’.
‘Maybe in the wrong place, at the wrong time, but it happened,’ says Payne ESPN‘You understand brother? you all fight don’t you? S – happens.’
Coach Ron Rivera said the disappointment stemmed from multiple players’ injuries, COVID-19 issues and a three-game losing streak. He said that no disciplinary action would be taken.
‘I spoke with him and he’ll be there as far as I’m concerned,’ Rivera said. ‘What my players tell me is nobody’s business.’
Payne, in his fourth year with the team, has 3.5 sacks, 47 tackles and one fumble recovery in 14 appearances for Washington. Allen, who is in his fifth year with the team, has 8.5 sacks and 29 tackles for this reason, and was selected for his first Pro Bowl.
The in-game incident limited an already difficult week for the team. On Thursday night, security Deshzor Everett crashed his sports car into a tree in Virginia, killing his girlfriend.
No arrests have been made, and alcohol was not thought to be a factor in the accident.
Washington football team defensive tackle Darron Payne sits on the bench in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott (4) faced Darron Payne (94) and Jonathan Allen (93) of the Washington football team in the first half of an NFL football game.
Washington football team outside linebacker David Mayo (51) sets up the game with defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (93) and defensive tackle Daron Payne (94) during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.