Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith was subjected to some pretty heavy criticism following the team’s final game against the Cleveland Browns. His routine sack spread like wildfire for its highly inappropriate celebration.
After sacking Browns’ quarterback Deshaun Watson in the last quarter of the game with 39 seconds left on the clock, Highsmith laid flat on his back, and his teammate DeMarvin Leal did a fake compression on his chest.
This celebration caught criticism from everyone on social media because it came a week after Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin had suffered a horrific injury in Week 17 and was administered CPR on the field.
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Alex Highsmith clarifies his celebration during the Steelers’ final game of the season
While this celebration has been done many times, the timing of the Steelers LB doing it happened to be quite unfortunate. Alex Highsmith was unaware of the social media bashing he was receiving until he reached the locker room after the Steelers’ 28-14 win over the Browns. He made it abundantly clear that the celebration had nothing to do with Damar Hamlin.
“I just don’t want people to think of me that way and think I was doing anything [intentional],” Highsmith said via Pittsburgh Post Gazette. “Because I would never, ever, ever, ever want to do that intentionally, and I never ever would do that.” Alex Highsmith has had a breakout season this year as he finishes with 14.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. The Steelers’ defense is going to be a formidable one with the current Highsmith and T.J. Watt.
Pittsburgh has nominated the 25-year-old linebacker for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. This award is given by the NFL to the player “who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.” Highsmith defended himself, saying that he has nothing but love for Damar Hamlin.
“When that happened, I was shook for a couple days. Me and my wife, we were watching the game, we immediately saw it and intentionally started praying, intentionally prayed for him, his parents, the doctors, the nurses,” Highsmith added. He further said that he is thankful for God saving Hamlin’s life and reiterated that the ‘CPR simulation’ was not intentional and wasn’t planned at all.
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