San Francisco 49ers’ DE Aldon Smith comments on Ben Roethlisberger’s remarks – NFL News
San Francisco 49ers’ defensive end, Aldon Smith, has denied deliberately targeting the injured ankle of Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, during their last season game, saying that his team was focusing just on winning the game.
Smith’s reaction has come following Big Ben’s statement in which the quarterback suggested that 49ers being aware of his injured ankle deliberately targeted it in the game.
The game took place at the Candlestick Park in week 15 of the 2011 National Football League (NFL) season on December 19.
In that game, Steelers were unable to score even a single touchdown and Big Ben was sacked three times and Smith had a game of his life.
The 49ers won the game, 20-3.
Last week, Ben hinted that there was something ‘extra’ going on in that game and said:
"I don't really complain about that stuff, either. But I think when we played San Fran, I felt like there were some things going on, some extra. Now, obviously, I did have the ankle (injury) and I was playing, so there was kind of a bull's-eye on there anyway.
But for the most part, guys play tough and you go into a game expecting it.”
Smith, on the other hand, has clearly denied having any ill intentions towards targeting the quarterback. He was of the view that every quarterback is a playmaker and the defenders always target him.
He told Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee:
“Our goal was to win the game. We don't go out and talk about hurting other players, their ankles or injuries or any of that. We were going out to win the game. The quarterback, he controls the game. So if he got hit, it happens."
Many NFL observers, players and officials have all of sudden started talking about deliberately injuring opponents because recently an investigation carried out by the league revealed the existence of an illegal bounty programme at the New Orleans Saints.
The Saints, particularly their then defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, encouraged their defensemen to injure their opponents and earn monetary rewards in return. The league later suspended Williams, some other officials and players by awarding separate
punishments.
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