Fansided

Bruce Irvin says he didn’t intend to throw Jimmy Graham off his game with altercation

By Stu White

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Dec 29, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Malcolm Smith (53) celebrates with outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Malcolm Smith (53) celebrates with outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports /

Before Saturday’s playoff game began, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin had a small confrontation with New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (video here). When asked about the altercation afterwards, Irvin said he didn’t intend to psych out Graham — who finished the game with only one catch for eight yards — or throw the tight end off his game.

Per The Seattle Times:

"It wasn’t the intention. I just felt disrespected and I tried to stand up for what I believe in. My intentions were not to get his mind off his game. Fortunately, it happened like that. So I’m not complaining, but that was not my intention."

Irvin also said he could tell Graham was frustrated during the game:

"Yeah Jimmy [Graham] is the guy who wants to get open in zones, find windows, and make easy catches. He doesn’t want to be physical. So our biggest thing was to put our hands on him and make him be physical. That’s something that he didn’t want to do and I think it was successful."

Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett also weighed in on Graham’s lackluster performance, calling the tight end overrated.

[Source: The Seattle Times]

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