Miami Dolphins receiver Jakeem Grant, the smallest player on the field, was waiting for a punted football to fall into his arms.
Instead, Grant landed on his back after a tackle by Cincinnati Bengals receiver Mike Thomas while the football was still in the air, setting off a chain of events that marred the Dolphins’ 19-7 win over the Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores left the sideline to meet a crowd of players tussling after the play and shouted a statement to Bengals safety Shawn Williams.
Flores, the second-year Dolphins coach in contention for NFL coach of the year this season, had no other physical contact with any Bengals player.