One of the stranger moments in the Dallas Cowboys’ 20-19 win over the Cincinnati Bengals came during the third quarter, when defensive coordinator drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for running onto the field to have a chat with Bengals’ tackle Andre Smith.
Ryan and other Cowboys coaches, we learned later, thought the Cowboys’ defenders were being held.
"There were a couple of times we felt like when their quarterback moved in the pocket our guys were getting held, and as a reaction on the sidelines, guys were emotional about that," said head coach Jason Garrett, per ESPN Dallas. "One of their players came over and kind of hollered at our sidelines and Rob hollered back. We can’t do that. We have to keep our emotions in check. That was the scenario there about a potential call and their players reaction to us and Rob had a reaction. That felt like it was justified to call that penalty there."
Ryan has always been, shall we say, emotional. But his running onto the field crossed the line, certainly in the official’s mind.
"I think the bigger issue was he was out on the field," Garrett said. "That was the explanation they gave me."
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