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DK Metcalf, the standout receiver for the Seahawks, remains unmoved in his approach to the game, even as penalties stack up against him. His physicality and aggression on the field, though at times straying from league guidelines, define his unique playing style.
Each week, Coach Pete Carroll presents a "penalty board" during Monday meetings, showcasing the players with the highest penalty counts. Metcalf's name has found its way to the top more than once. Carroll explained to the media, "He was up there with another guy. We all have to acknowledge it and recognize what our issues are." He further emphasized that while Metcalf's aggressive nature is evident, there's a need for him to be more careful. "He draws attention because of that. We've got to be cleaner. He knows it and he's got to get it done."
DK refuses to clean up his play
However, the board has had little effect on Metcalf's perspective. Defiantly, he remarked, "It's just a board to me, I'm not going to change the way I play." He went on to list the various penalties attributed to him, from taunting to holding, suggesting that he sees them as a byproduct of his intense playstyle. "I'm not going to change who I am as a player or a person," Metcalf added.
When questioned about possibly getting carried away during a game, Metcalf compared it to a typical day at work, saying, "Have you had a bad day at work sometimes? I'm my own person... I'm not going to shy away because he put a penalty board on the screen. I'm just going to continue to be me."
The young receiver didn't shy away from defending his stance. "I don't feel like I was a problem or I need to make progress in a certain area," Metcalf explained, emphasizing his view of football as an inherently violent sport.
The league is clear about avoiding "unnecessary roughness," but the definition seems subjective to players. Metcalf's recent penalty for a hit on a Bengals player stands testament to the thin line that players navigate. While the league is pushing to eliminate unnecessary , players like Metcalf believe it to be an integral part of the game.