Like pretty much every other Jets-Patriots game in the Bill Belichick era, the Week 2 matchup at Gillette Stadium featured some fireworks.
Toward the end of the Pats’ win, cornerback Aqib Talib — who had just intercepted a Geno Smith pass — was hit near the sideline by Jets center Nick Mangold. The low, somewhat-late hit sparked a nice little shoving match between the teams, as some Patriots took exception to the hit. On Wednesday, however, Talib told ESPN that he didn’t think the hit was dirty.
“I thought he kind of dove a little early. He started to dive when I was in bounds and I kind of went out of bounds at the end of his dive. I didn’t see it as dirty,” Talib said. “I haven’t seen it too many times, but I’m good. I ain’t worried about it.”
Talib missed Monday’s practice, which caused media and fans to assume he was injured from the play. Talib was actually tending to a family emergency and was even back on the field on Wednesday.
“I came out of the game healthy,” he explained.
