Redskins Insider

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Zorn expects NFL to look into fracas

Redskins Coach Jim Zorn said Monday that he would expect the NFL would look into the sideline incident involving Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall and Atlanta Coach Mike Smith during Sunday's 31-17 victory for the Falcons. League spokesman Greg Aiello said such incidents are always reviewed but a decision about any fines or discipline won't come until later in the week, most likely Friday.

Hall was furious after Sunday's game, saying that Smith and a Falcons assistant coach grabbed him in the melee, which followed an out-of-bounds hit by Washington safety LaRon Landry on Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan. Hall said he would pursue the matter by calling NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or Ray Anderson, the league's executive vice president-football operations.

Hall did not speak with reporters Monday at Redskins Park, but he told a team spokesman he would pursue the matter through the NFL Players Association. Zorn said he agreed with Hall's assessment of the situation.

"I read what he said," Zorn said, "and it looked to me on video that's exactly what happened."

Hall, who originally entered the fray going after Landry, was not penalized on the play. Zorn, who reviewed the play Monday in detail, said he actually was pleased with how Hall comported himself during the incident.

"What he was trying to do was get LaRon off the sideline," Zorn said. "LaRon was going [away from the sideline], and then [Hall] got grabbed. And when he got grabbed, everybody came around. I think there was some emotion involved because their player just got hit out of bounds, their quarterback. That's a tough deal in itself.

"So the emotion rose, and he was the only guy in there, and he's trying to -- he didn't know what was going to happen, basically. So I started seeing things happen, and I took off and actually got out there to try to make sure that our group didn't go and enter into their sideline."

Zorn said he had a conversation with Hall as they walked back across the field.

"He seemed to have it together," Zorn said. "He was not saying superlatives or anything like that. He just had it together, and he knew what was going on."

Betts says he's ready

Backup Ladell Betts displayed a burst rarely seen in the Redskins' rushing attack the last 16 games. He finished with a team-high 70 yards on 15 carries (a 4.7-yard average) and scored Washington's first touchdown Sunday on a one-yard run on fourth down.

"Ladell ran hard and really got us going," quarterback Jason Campbell said. "When Clinton [Portis] went out, we needed someone to pick us up and help the offense get into a rhythm. We needed to slow down their [pass] rush, and the best way to do that is to run the ball. Ladell really made a difference for us."

If Portis's concussion forces him to miss Sunday's game against Denver, Betts will be ready, he said. "It feels good to come in and help, but I don't put it on anything special I did," Betts said. "The O-line took upon themselves to come out and fight."

-- Barry Svrluga and Jason Reid