DK Metcalf gives blunt take on unsportsmanlike penalties racking up

December 23, 2022 ndowd

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf said that he won’t be changing his playing style even with unsportsmanlike penalties racking up.

The Seattle Seahawks are in the playoff hunt, but they have lost three of four games since returning from their Week 11 bye. Their last showing was a 21-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football. In that game, wide receiver DK Metcalf received a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw. That was the third unsportsmanlike penalty Metcalf received this season.

While speaking with the media on Tuesday, Metcalf said that he’s not going to change his playing style rather explicitly.

For what it’s worth, DK has 3 unsportsmanlike/taunting penalties this year: exchange with ref in Munich, headbutt on Jalen Ramsey and beefing with Dre Greenlaw on Thursday. For most part, all been inconsequential penalties. ain’t like DK killing the team or something.

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) December 20, 2022

Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf says he’s not changing play style despite penalties

The penalty in question happened in the second quarter, where he exchanged words with Greenlaw. After the linebacker approached him and got held back by defensive back Jimmie Ward, Metcalf waved at him to head back in his direction. That’s when he received the penalty.

After the game, head coach Pete Carroll said that Metcalf “needs to be better” controlling his emotions but praised his intensity.

Pete Carroll acknowledges DK Metcalf “needs to be better” controlling his emotions after plays, after another unsportsmanlike penalty tonight. But the Seahawks coach emphasizes he loves Metcalf’s mentality, doesn’t want him to change playing on that “edge.” Loves his intensity. pic.twitter.com/CsZdK9rJW7

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) December 16, 2022

Metcalf’s other penalties, which The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar pointed out above, occurred in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after getting into an argument with a referee and in Week 13 against the Los Angeles Rams, where he headbutted cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

For the penalty in the Buccaneers game, Ramsey received a $29,785 fine. Then, for the headbutt to Ramsey, he earned a $10,609 fine. According to the Tacoma News Tribune, Metcalf said the refs have stopped talking to him, so he’s been unable to get an explanation for some of the penalties.

This season, Metcalf caught 79 passes for 924 yards and six touchdowns on 119 targets.

The Seahawks are looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. They sit at 7-7 on the season, behind the New York Giants (8-5-1) and the Washington Commanders (7-6-1). They will need to win out for the remainder of the season to have a shot. Their first opponent in the final three game stretch are the AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Seattle will need a big performance from Metcalf and the offense to keep up with the Chiefs — without any penalties.