LOS ANGELES -- The defensive line's attempt to rush Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford on the last couple of kneel-down plays during Sunday's 31-28 loss "did not come from the sideline," Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher said on a conference call Monday.
The Lions were in victory formation with just over a minute left, after Rafael Bush's clinching interception of Case Keenum. But Aaron Donald and Dominique Easley tried to create a turnover and penetrated the line of scrimmage on the first snap. The rest of the Rams' linemen jumped in on the second one, sparking a shoving match that was quickly broken up.
Stafford was animated during the incident, and Fisher apologized to Lions coach Jim Caldwell afterwards, telling him he would "get to the bottom of it."
"This approach did not come from the sideline," Fisher told reporters from London, which is eight hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. "It was not a call. It was not something that we practiced, or that we preach. I think it was a byproduct of frustration, some things that Aaron endured during the game, and the players took it on themselves to do it. We'll address it."
Fisher did not specify what Donald went through during the game, but said, "You guys don't realize all the stuff that goes on inside, up front, between the offensive linemen and the defensive linemen."
Two Lions offensive linemen were pushed backwards into Stafford on the first snap of their victory formation, prompting the veteran quarterback to momentarily hobble around in pain. Caldwell was asked repeatedly about the altercation on Monday, but did not want to get into a back-and-forth. Asked if playing physical against offenses that are taking a knee creates unnecessary danger, Caldwell said: "That's their business. Ask those guys that question."
The approach was popularized by former Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano, who instructed players to blow up the opposing team's kneel-downs at the end of close games in an effort to create last-ditch turnovers. His colleagues frowned on the approach, and it never really stuck.
Fisher apparently doesn't buy into it, either.
"The game's over, the game's over -- pay respect to your opponent," Fisher said. "... We'll address it, and it's unlikely it'll happen again."
Lions reporter Michael Rothstein contributed to this report.
