Browns punter suggests J.J. Watt intentionally dove late on two punts
Comments from Cleveland Browns punter Spencer Lanning suggest that the Browns viewed J.J. Watt's actions on two punt plays as intentional dives at Lanning, Mary Kat Cabot of Cleveland.com reports.
Watt's collisions with Lanning on two second-quarter punts led to a pair of roughing the kicker penalties for the Houston Texans defensive end.
"I'd like to think that he thought he could make a play at the ball, but it sort of seemed late -- a late dive -- because I felt like I was almost coming down with my foot," said Lanning. "We looked at the sideline copy and he wasn't anywhere near it when I struck the ball."
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Watt's actions led to 15-yard penalties that on both occasions gave Cleveland a fresh set of downs. The Browns' only points in the 23-7 loss came off the second penalty, when quarterback Brian Hoyer threw a 32-yard touchdown to Andrew Hawkins.
Lanning would not go so far as to call Watt's play unsportsmanlike.
"I wouldn't call it dirty," he said. "I haven't seen it on film. All I can say is from the cut-ups we have on the sideline, he wasn't even close. So for him to come through twice and not be close..."
Lanning added that on any play in which he feels players falling at his feet or underneath him, he picks his legs up and falls, rather than risking injury to his knees or ankles by landing on someone.
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Watt said he regretted the outcome of the two plays, but defended his actions.
"Obviously there's two plays I wish I didn't do, but I'll never apologize for trying to make a play," said Watt. "My number was called and I tried to go out there and make a play."
The defensive lineman also caught a touchdown against the Browns, his second touchdown reception of the season.
After beating the Browns, the Texans move to 5-5 and will host the Cincinnati Bengals in Houston next week. The Browns, now 6-4, travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons next week.
- Christopher Woody
