EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore was still heated after Sunday’s win over the Jets about what he called a “dirty” play by Jets right tackle Armand Membou as time expired in the first half.
Membou jumped on Barmore as the Patriots’ defensive tackle lay on the MetLife Stadium turf during the final play of the first half. Barmore said he could have been hurt on the play.
“What happened was sorry ass number (70) do dirty a** (expletive) behind my back,” Barmore said. “People want to talk (expletive), but he ain’t out there on this field. I’m just saying, bro. They want to act tough, you go in the locker room. …
“The play was already over. I heard the whistle blown. Bro came behind me and literally landed his whole body on my back.”
Barmore appeared to brush away Vrabel while the Patriots’ head coach was talking as they walked off the field.
“Just reminded everybody to keep their composure,” Vrabel said about the moment. “We have an identity that we show and put out there on the football field. Make great decisions for the football team. We don’t want to give people free yards. That was just a reminder. Christian, they did a great job. The referee came over there and told me that both him and Cory Durden and everybody else were doing a good job of doing anything after the whistle, after the play. I appreciate that.”
Barmore believed that Vrabel helped to settle him in the moment.
“Listen to my coach. Coach helped me calm down, because he saw what happened,” Barmore said. “He told me to keep my head in the game, because they was doing dirty stuff.”
The fifth-year pro said after the game that he kept his composure for the good of the team.
“We got to keep calm for the team. We already knew what they were doing, so we had to keep cool for the team,” Barmore said. “We got the win. Look at the scoreboard. I’m proud of my team, proud of us, proud of the D-line. We’re just going to keep getting better.”
Barmore had two pressures, including one QB hit in the 42-10 win. The Jets didn’t score their first touchdown until after Patriots starting defenders left the contest.