As if the AFC East rivalry between the New England Patriots and New York Jets needed any more juice, there was a skirmish between the two sides at the end of the Patriots 13-10 victory at Gillette Stadium Thursday night, and three members of the Jets offensive line could be hearing from the league for their conduct.
Jets center Nick Mangold, left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and right tackle Willie Colon were all involved in the scuffle as the game was nearing a close.
After the Patriots' Aqib Talib essentially put the game away with his second interception of the night off of Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith with just 38 seconds remaining, Mangold went low to tackle him as Talib appeared to be heading towards the sidelines.
The Patriots sideline was up in arms and ready to fight, and the fracas broke out between several players from each side.
A video of the altercation can be seen here.
Mangold stood by the play, saying he was just making a football play and trying to bring Talib down.
"I made the tackle," Mangold told The New York Daily News. "He was obviously along the sideline and I thought he was still in inbounds. I thought it was a good tackle and apparently it was not and that's how they saw it and it started a little ruckus. Obviously it's an intense game and an intense rivalry and tempers flare."
Tempers definitely did flare as Ferguson was caught on camera throwing multiple punches, and Colon made contact with a referee, leading to the possibility of fines and/or suspensions for all three Gang Green players.
Colon admitted that the frustration of losing definitely factored into it.
"I was tired of losing, and we just can't have it," Colon said per The New York Daily News. "I don't really remember [what happened] I saw Nick in there and a lot of guys running. I was trying to get in there and help my brother and that's why I reacted the way I reacted."
On the prospect of possibly getting suspended for his actions?
"I hope I don't get suspended. I hope it's not the case," Colon told The New York Daily News.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was very heated over Mangold's play and the ensuing melee, and yelled at the Jets center.
"He got a little heated about it, and I was a little surprised by that," Mangold said to The Daily News. "I figured he'd have a little more poise...There was decent amount of yelling, but I guess you'll have to go to the NFL [microphones]. I'm sure they got plenty."
The Patriots went to 2-0 with the victory while the Jets fell to 1-1. The team's will have 10 days to cool off as their next games don't take place until Sept. 22 with New England facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home while the Jets are also home in a clash against the Buffalo Bills.
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