Bengals coach denies Steelers kicker Boswell’s claim

Cincinnati special teams coordinator vehemently denied Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell’s assertion that the Bengals’ Josh Shaw intentionally tried to run into him on the game-winning field goal attempt at the end of Monday night’s 23-20 Steelers win.

“He didn’t run into him on purpose,” Simmons said. “He’s trying to block the kick, and he jumped the snap. He would never try to hurt somebody. That’s ridiculous to say that.”

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Shaw was so far offsides that he was standing in front of holder Jordan Berry as Boswell attempted a game-winning 43-yard field goal.

After the officials blew the play dead, Boswell’s foot hit Shaw’s foot after kicking the ball. Boswell limped around for a bit before resetting and making a game-winning 38-yarder.

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“That’s not an accident all all,” Boswell told Pittsburgh reporters Wednesday. “You’re not jumping offsides that bad without just trying to run into the kicker.”

Visibly angry when told of Boswell’s comments, Simmons referenced the hit Terence Garvin put on Bengals punter Kevin Huber in 2013, breaking his jaw and ending his season.

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“We wouldn’t try to hurt somebody,” Simmons said. “We’re above that I think. At least we are. We’re above that. I have too much respect for what those guys try to do. We’ve been on the other side of that playing that team with Kevin (Huber).”

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