Cleveland Browns players did not hold back when discussing San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings after Sunday’s matchup. Two Browns defenders expressed frustration with comments they say Jennings made during the injury stoppage for defensive tackle Maliek Collins.
Browns defensive tackle Shelby Harris was the most direct, delivering a harsh critique from the locker room.
“He’s a hoe,” Harris told reporters. “I want that known. I see why he got punched in the nuts, because he said some things that you should not say to another man—ever. But I don’t respect it because you say that, and then run behind your O-line [for protection].
“That’s some real soft s–t, and I want that known. I see exactly why they punched him in the nuts. I’m surprised nobody has punched him in the jaw yet.”
Star pass rusher Myles Garrett also weighed in.
“So, he had a lot to say that was demeaning and disparaging towards some of our players,” Garrett said. “And I was just trying to separate everybody. And I tried to go up and ask for what the problem was, and then he started coming at me and, I mean, some guys just roll like that.
“I don’t feel like that belongs in the game. But, hey, if that works for him and them, then more power to him.”
On Monday’s conference call with reporters, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the postgame accusations.
“My understanding was it had nothing to do with Maliek,” Shanahan said. “We’ve got so much love for Maliek. It just sounded like there was players standing around for a while because of the injury, and then they got chirping at each other.
“I don’t know what words were said, but it sounded like he offended some guys with the words. But it was just about words during an injury timeout.”
Shanahan confirmed he spoke with Jennings about the incident.
“I asked him about it, but I love how Jauan plays,” Shanahan said. “I think Jauan plays to the whistle as well as any player in this league. He is extremely aggressive and plays as hard as he can to the whistle, and he’s been doing that—as Niner fans know, and you guys know—since he’s been here.
“I think sometimes that offends other players and rubs people the wrong way because they’re not used to people going that hard to the whistle. But I think what J.J. is very good at is not breaking rules.”
Shanahan referenced last season’s matchup against Arizona, when Jennings’ physical style provoked a reaction from Cardinals defenders.
“It’s just like at Arizona last year, when he went to the whistle so hard, it offended some of their corners, and they started throwing punches,” Shanahan said. “And unfortunately, J.J. got kicked out, too. But not because he didn’t throw a punch or anything. I think J.J. has been real good at not breaking rules that way, and he gets other guys to break them a lot on him.”
As for whether Jennings crossed a line with his comments to Browns players, Shanahan said he couldn’t judge until he knew exactly what the frustrated opponents were accusing the receiver of.
“I think we all have a respect level and things that we stay away from,” Shanahan added. “And until I hear what he said, I believe Jauan did. I mean, he didn’t tell me anything that he said like that. I’d have to hear it to have an opinion on it, but I haven’t heard what he said that offended them so much. Until I do, I don’t have much of an opinion on it. That’s just trash talk between a couple of people out on the field, and I kind of leave it at that.”