PITTSBURGH — The game was already out of hand when DeAngelo Hall lost his temper. The veteran Washington Redskins cornerback ripped off his helmet to yell at an official late in Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and was ejected from the game.
It remains to be seen what kind of supplemental discipline awaits Hall, who was flagged twice and thrown out for berating head linesman Dana McKenzie.
“I’m not going to discuss that particular play,” Hall said. “I’ve got a meeting set up with commissioner [Roger] Goodell on Monday. Me and him will talk about it, watch the film, figure out what went down and hopefully get to the bottom of this.”
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said he did not have any knowledge of a formal hearing; Hall said he had his agent calling the league office “trying to set something up.” NFL offices are closed Monday because of Hurricane Sandy.
The incident occurred with just less than four minutes remaining in the Redskins’ 27-12 loss to the Steelers at Heinz Field. Hall got tangled up with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and went to the ground. As he got up, took his helmet off — warranting an automatic penalty — and began yelling at McKenzie.
Hall did not appear to make physical contact with McKenzie or any other official, but he had to be restrained.
When trying to pull Hall away, middle linebacker London Fletcher’s message was simple.
“I just really was just telling him at that point in time he wasn’t going to win that battle,” Fletcher said. “They had already thrown two penalties; I think they had already decided they were going to kick him out [of] the game. So I just didn’t want the situation to get any worse for him, even though he was out of the game.”
It certainly could have gotten worse, seeing as how Hall did not show any restraint on his own in yelling at McKenzie.
Afterward, the 28-year-old refused to talk about the play except for his brief statement about meeting with Goodell.
“I’m not going to discuss that,” he told reporters. “Next question. Any question about the actual football part of the game.”
Some defensive players who were on the field at the time said they didn’t know exactly what happened.
“You just don’t know what really transpired through the whole conversation or whatever. Sometimes the officials, they let you get away with some things,” Fletcher said. “I don’t know exactly what was said between to warrant them throwing the penalties on D-Hall.”
Coach Mike Shanahan knew more but was not forthcoming about what Hall said.
“I wouldn’t share it with anybody anyhow, but it was enough to draw a flag,” Shanahan said.
Hall was given two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the play. And while it didn’t have an impact on the result of the game, it could hurt the Redskins if he’s unable to play next week against the Carolina Panthers.
Shanahan said he was “very disappointed” in Hall losing his cool.
“We talk about that all the time: keeping your composure regardless what happens, regardless what the situation is,” he said. “You never put your team in that type of situation. Any situation, you can’t do it.”
Fletcher’s streak alive
Fletcher’s active NFL record streak of consecutive games played appeared to be in jeopardy as the linebacker dealt with head and hamstring injuries. But he practiced Friday and played against the Steelers, his 232nd straight game dating to 1998.
“I felt [hesitant] a little bit on some stuff, but overall I think I was happy that I was able to get through the game,” Fletcher said. “That was the main thing. I don’t feel like I set myself back any.”
Fletcher, who had six tackles, noted that the hamstring was not 100 percent.
“I was well enough to play,” he said. “I don’t know that anybody’s 100 percent at this point in time.”
Cooley a nonfactor
Chris Cooley was a starter in his first game back with the Redskins, but he made no real impact in the loss at Pittsburgh. Playing alongside Logan Paulsen to begin the game, he was used in a very limited role. Cooley had no catches Sunday.
“It did feel good for me to be back in the game, but at the same time, it was hard watching them play,” he said. “I think this is our worst performance as a team. So it’s frustrating for me to be back there and watch that happen.”
Extra points
Linebacker Perry Riley strained a hamstring in the fourth quarter and did not return. … Steelers safety Ryan Clark, who spent two seasons with the Redskins, suffered a concussion in the third quarter and did not return.
• Stephen Whyno can be reached at swhyno@washingtontimes.com.
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