Cleveland Browns defensive end Jared Verse talked some major trash about the Pittsburgh Steelers before last Sunday's game. The defensive end paid for that trash talk when the Steelers smacked the Browns around in a decisive 27-6 win, which also saw Verse get body-slammed, headfirst, by Pittsburgh guard Mason McCormick.
It's the sort of "viral" clip you certainly don't want to get caught up in after you were putting down a bitter rival all week.
Days later, Verse tried to add additional context to the sequence in question. Beyond being unhappy with McCormick's dangerous slam, Verse said he couldn't believe none of his Browns teammates came to his defense immediately after it happened.
You know what? It's still kind of on Verse for drawing the Steelers'
ire with obvious bulletin-board material, but, at face value, he does make a good point about none of his "brothers" coming to his defense over it in an important game. If they can't back up a teammate after a heated moment like that, then what's the point of competition?
#Browns DE Jared Verse says he was upset his teammates didn’t stand up for him after #Steelers G Mason McCormick threw him to the turf—and he had that conversation with them.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 5, 2026
“That honestly could have put me in a position to not be able to finish the season, put me in a position… https://t.co/8eKpqrPf2T pic.twitter.com/KcBMKgM3ZX
In Verse's teammates' defense, when I watch the clip again, I'm unsure if any Brown notices what happened to Verse. In fact, watch it for yourself, and you'll see every visible Brown's head is turned around as McCormick throws Verse to the ground. Hmm:
#Browns DE Jared Verse has been talking plenty of trash about the #Steelers....
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 1, 2026
Well, Steelers G Mason McCormick just did this to him. 😳😳pic.twitter.com/OP1iknS4JP
This is a sentiment backed up by Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, who was on the field during the Verse slam. He claimed he literally didn't see it happen until later. He noted that he would've defended Verse if he had seen it. The footage of the sequence, as noted, backs Schwesinger's claim up.
It stands to reason that no one on the field for the Browns saw it:
#Browns Carson Schwesinger on why he didn’t defend Jared Verse when #Steelers guard McCormick body-slammed him, head first: pic.twitter.com/Uijnyx4Kev
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 5, 2026
Whatever happened with this miscommunication, something tells me the Browns' defense won't miss an opportunity to back up one of their own again. It's just unfortunate that this lesson came at Verse's expense.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Jared Verse was upset about Browns' reaction to Steelers' slam. Footage shows why he's wrong
