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Rams' Fisher defends club against accusations of dirty play

Jasen Vinlove / USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher defended his club Tuesday against accusations that his team has been playing dirty throughout the year.

In recent weeks, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh voiced complaints about the Rams' dangerous brand of football.

Predictably, Fisher was irate about the allegations.

"I'm kind of intrigued by some of the stuff - and I can't verify it - the insinuations or whatever of, that we were a dirty team coming out," Fisher said on 101 ESPN Radio, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "Then I've got plays I've got to send the league office where their players are hitting us in the mouth after plays. With fists."

Fisher was particularly incensed about the Ravens delivering a late hit on punt returner Bradley Marquez long after the play was over during Sunday's game.

"Let's go back to the Bradley Marquez catch," Fisher said. "That's a huge play for us. So Bradley is on the ground tackled and is getting up and almost going to give the ball to the official, and he almost has his neck broken because he's hit by their player. So boom, it's unnecessary roughness, but our guys are not going to put up with that and you saw them come to his defense, which is appropriate. I had no problem with those offsetting fouls.

"But we're a dirty team and they're hitting us two or three seconds after the play is over, and they hit Tavon (Austin) out of bounds? We had six penalties and they averaged about five yards apiece. ... They need to take a look in the mirror."

The Rams are ranked 18th in penalty yardage, so it's unlikely they'll draw the ire of the league, and Fisher could've been justified in defending his team.

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