Dislike between the Browns and Steelers has been brewing for decades, so there isn’t much need for any one player to fan the flames of the bad feelings between the two AFC North teams.
Browns defensive end Jared Verse did that after the two teams played in Week 4, however. Verse explained that he doesn’t “have any respect for anybody that plays too dirty and does too much extra s—t after the game” and mentioned double-teaming and sliding while calling his opponents “garbage.”
The two teams meet again in Pittsburgh this Sunday and Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward made it clear that Verse’s comments haven’t been forgotten during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show this week.
“Double teaming, sliding, chipping, are those not allowed in our game? Yeah, I got the bruises to prove it. But we don’t whine about it, baby. It’s part of the game,” Heyward said Tuesday. “So, I’m looking forward to this game. It’s gonna be a fun game. Both teams are in position to do a lot of work in this division, as they say. The AFC North is on fire, and I’m glad I’m in the kitchen because I like it that way. But those were words that were said, and they will be addressed.”
The distaste between the two teams is nothing new, but having both of them playing well at the same time is fairly uncommon. With both teams at 5-2 coming into this week, there will be more than bragging rights at stake for the winner.