Though his agent has publicly complained about the size of the penalty imposed on Steelers linebacker James Harrison, Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi has opted for discretion when it comes to the illegal hit that gave him a concussion.
“I won’t really go into that,” Mohamed said, per Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I just know whenever you’re playing hard, some things happen. I think the league is doing a good job to kind of protect guys in certain situations. But things like that happen. It’s part of the game we play.”
Massaquoi also opted not to try to divine whether Harrison was trying to injure him and/or knock him out of the October 17 game. Harrison received a $75,000 fine as a result of the hit.
“I don’t know his intent,” Massaquoi said. “I know he’s a great player. . . . He does a good job at what he does for his team.”
Speaking more generally, Massaquoi suggested that no player wants to injure another player.
“I don’t think anybody’s intention is to go out there and be a dirty player or try to injure the next man because at the end of the day it’s a big brotherhood, no matter what team you play for,” Massaquoi said. “A lot of guys have played together, a lot of guys are friends. The game’s still going to be played clean and hard.”
Massaquoi missed Sunday’s game due to the concussion he received when struck in the head by Harrison while trying to catch a pass. The Browns return to action on November 7.
Eventually, the Browns again play the Steelers. And that likely explains Massaquoi’s reluctance to call out Harrison.