Bills WR Jones sustains hit

Associated Press

DENVER

Safety Rahim Moore’s vicious hit on Buffalo wide receiver Donald Jones drew outrage and shoves from the Bills and kudos from his Denver Broncos teammates.

Moore’s hit resulted in a 15-yard penalty Saturday night and could produce a fine if the NFL deems the hit crossed the line, although the rookie from UCLA didn’t launch himself at his opponent and led with his shoulder as taught.

Jones’ head bounced off the ground and his chin strap was pushed up over his mouth. He stayed down for several minutes before getting to his feet and heading to the locker room. Bills coach Chan Gailey said after the Bills’ 24-10 loss that Jones, who played for Youngstown State, wasn’t seriously injured.

Moore said he was sorry Jones got hurt but he thought it was a clean hit. If it was dirty, he said, he apologizes.

Jones had cornerback Cassius Vaughn beat by a-half step down the Bills’ sideline on a deep pass, but Ryan Fitzpatrick’s throw glanced off his fingertips and Moore sliced in and hit him under the chin with his right shoulder.

Moore was flagged for a personal foul on the hit that fired up both teams.

Teammate Brian Dawkins’ slapped Moore’s shoulder pads in commendation just before Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson shoved Moore in disgust.

Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams gave Moore a helmet-to-helmet tap, then jawed with Johnson, who was held back by Buffalo teammate David Nelson.

The Broncos waved Moore off the field so the scuffle wouldn’t escalate.

“At the end of the day, I mean no harm to nobody. I don’t want to hurt anybody,” Moore said. “I prayed for the dude afterward.

“Because I really didn’t know what was going on. People were tapping my head. People were hitting me. I wasn’t sure what was going on.”

The Bills found inspiration in the way they stood up for their fallen teammate.

“We are a tight unit and you saw it right there. For someone to come after, take a shot at our guy, that didn’t sit well with us,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’re a team that doesn’t like to be pushed around, we’re not going to be pushed around by anybody.

We thought that was inappropriate the way it went down and we reacted to it.”