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Browns’ Jared Verse ‘upset’ with teammates for not defending him after being slammed by Steeler
Jared Verse said he was upset that Browns teammates did not react when Steelers guard Mason McCormick threw him to the ground during Sunday’s game. The incident matters to Verse because he viewed a similar play involving teammate Derek Barnett differently, and said he expected his team to stand up for one another.
McCormick was penalised after lifting and throwing Verse, who said the action could have left him unable to finish the season. Verse also accepted some responsibility, saying he had not told teammates beforehand that he planned to provoke Pittsburgh with his pre-game trash talk. The Browns lost 27-6; Verse, in his first season in Cleveland, has 18 tackles and six quarterback hits but no sacks in eight games.
In short
- Verse was upset that Browns teammates did not defend him.
- Steelers guard Mason McCormick was penalised for throwing him down.
- Verse acknowledged he should have involved teammates in his pre-game trash talk.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Verse can reasonably expect teammates to show solidarity when an opponent throws him to the ground, especially because he sees defending one another as part of team trust and safety. The play could have caused a serious injury, and a visible response might signal that such conduct will not be tolerated.
The case against
Teammates may have had little time to react during a fast-moving game, or may have judged that escalating the incident would risk penalties and further harm to the team. Verse also acknowledged that he had not told them he planned to provoke Pittsburgh, so they may not have understood the context or shared his expectation of a response.