Clay Matthews calls blindside block by Eagles player a ‘cheap shot’

Wild Card Round - Green Bay Packers v Washington Redskins

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews was not happy about the hit he took on a blindside block that Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Allen Barbre delivered in the first quarter of Monday night’s game.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Matthews blamed Barbre for the separated AC joint in his left shoulder.

“I wasn’t a fan of it,” Matthews said of Barbre’s block, via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky. “I mean, I’ve got a lot more to say about it, but I’m going to say it behind closed doors. It was cheap shot, but it is what it is. I ate it. Unfortunately I landed on my shoulder, and that’s kind of what I’ve been dealing with since.”

The hit, which sprung Eagles wide receiver Bryce Treggs for a 3-yard gain on an end around, briefly knocked Matthews out of the game.

Barbre, who played with the Packers during the 2009 season, said he wasn’t trying to take out his former teammate on the play.

“It is what it is,” Barbre told reporters Tuesday, via Matt Lombardo of NJ.com. “Everybody’s got their own opinion, but if I didn’t block him then maybe he would have made the tackle. I’m here to help us win. I don’t really value his opinion on that.

“I didn’t really speak to him or anything about it afterwards. I’m glad he’s not injured. That’s not what I’m out to do. I wasn’t trying to take a cheap shot. He wasn’t even my guy. I just took an opportunity to go make the play better.”

As for Matthews, his status remains up in the air for Sunday night’s game against the Houston Texans, according to Demovsky.

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