Jake Locker receives dirty hit after scoring against Browns

There are not many hits in the NFL much dirtier than standing in the end zone, and cracking an opposing quarterback in the head with a forearm after he has scored.

Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey had little problem doing it.

Kirksey was standing in the end zone as Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker scored on a run. Locker was hit before he crossed the goal line and was going down when Kirksey unloaded with a forearm to the head that seemed to knock Locker a bit woozy. He was tested for a concussion on the sideline. Locker stayed in the game after that hit, but left to the locker room later holding his right hand after he was hit on a blitz later in the second quarter and was ruled out for the ballgame. 

He was replaced by Charlie Whitehurst.

There were fights after the touchdown, after the extra point and after the ensuing kickoff, and for good reason. The Titans couldn’t have been happy about seeing their quarterback take such a dirty hit. Kirksey stayed in the game, however, and his act didn’t even cost the Browns any yards. He was penalized, but so was Titans offensive lineman Michael Oher for unnecessary roughness in sticking up for his quarterback, so the penalties offset. Seems more than a little unfair.

The NFL is a violent game, but there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Kirksey crossed practically every one of them on one play.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab