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Once is a one-time thing. Twice is a trend.
Three times is "you've oversold your point for the sake of currying favor." And now, the Giants are simply agitating a much more physical unit than the one they'll put on the field for their offense.
Not coincidentally, the NFL just issued a memo telling players to not use the media as a platform to complain about officiating.
Giants defensive end Justin Tuck set the example followed recently by wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, who essentially said the Steelers defensive backs are grabbing receivers.
According to Jenny Vrentas of the New Jersey Star-Ledger:
"It's pretty blatant how they do it," Cruz said of the Steelers defensive backs. "Some of it's not being called, and some of it is, so we just have to be prepared to fight through it no matter what happens. And no matter what the down and distance is, expect to be held, expect to be grabbed and just continue to fight."
Apparently, Cruz is hoping the league ignores the whole violation of the spirit of the memo thing. Considering Steelers wide receiver got fined $10,000 for showboating, (and Emmanuel Sanders is under mandate to visit the league offices at some point to discuss a leg cramp) it would seem Cruz would be in line for something along the same lines.
Since we know that won't happen (Salsa dancing goes without penalty or fine), it'll be interesting to see how quickly Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor and either Nicks or Cruz get into it.
Nicks and Taylor were the players ejected in the Steelers' preseason game in 2010 for a brawl early in the game. Taylor's not going to let this one go.