For some reason, every game the Atlanta Falcons play gets described as a chippy game sooner or later. I don't know if this happens with all NFL games, but there's definitely something about the Birds that irritates. That's probably fine.
The latest round: Before their game against the Detroit Lions, both teams got in a hollerin' match that had to be broken up. Later, Joe Hawley toppled after a post-whistle heave by Ndamukong Suh, failing to pick up a penalty as he had against the Green Bay Packers. And in the most contentious moment of all, Suh taunted a downed Matt Ryan, according to both Todd McClure and Roddy White.
"I had respect for Suh before the game," McClure said. "But when Matt was on the ground, the things he was saying and the trash he was talking was definitely uncalled for. There are certain things you don't do. [He said], ‘Get the cart' and several other things that I can't repeat."
Roddy White said, "I lost a whole lot of respect for 90 [Suh] today, and also 92 [Cliff Avril], the [bleep] they were doing when Matt got hurt. That was unacceptable. ... Like 92 was kicking [Ryan's] feet, saying, ‘Get him off the field.' We don't do stuff like that. We don't rally over guys when they get hurt. It was just inappropriate behavior. I mean, ‘Get the cart'? Are you serious? Come on. When you compete, you never want to see a guy get hurt."
Suh really doesn't like quarterbacks. Worth noting Ryan returned from the locker room just a few plays later and led a scoring drive. And won the game. Suh has been fined before in his young NFL career, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him hit again for either that shove or for that behavior, if there's any proof the NFL can dig up there.
Mostly just amazed Nick Fairley managed to avoid beheading somebody.