Packers' T.J. Lang takes shot to groin — again
GREEN BAY, Wis. – It had been five years, but T.J. Lang probably could have done without another shot below the belt.
The Green Bay Packers’ veteran guard confirmed after a 38-10 rout of the Seahawks what he seemed to be motioning on the field during one of many dust-ups Sunday – that Seattle end Cliff Avril hit him in a, uh, rather sensitive area.
“I can’t remember the whole play,” Lang said. “We kind of got in a little shoving match and the ref came and separated us. It happened, and it’s not the first time it’s happened to me.”
Of course, Lang is the same guy who took an infamous kick to the groin from Minnesota Vikings defensive end Brian Robison during a 2011 game.
Lang and Avril were seen barking at each after a third-down throwaway by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the first half Sunday, and tensions mounted. Packers receiver Randall Cobb and Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane had words twice as they left the field for halftime. And several Packers – including Rodgers and Lang – jabbered at Seattle defenders after the touchdown proceeding a high hit by linebacker K.J. Wright on tight end Richard Rodgers that drew a flag in the third quarter.
Unlike Robison, Avril wasn't flagged.
"The ref was standing right there and he said he didn't see it," Lang said.
In the Seattle locker room, Avril said of his interactions with Lang: "Just fun competition, I guess. He don't like me. I don't like him. ... We don't really know each other, but on Sundays ... it gets chippy sometimes."
Avril later took an unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth quarter as the Packers drove for another score on a tough day all around for the Seahawks.
“It is what it is,” Lang said of the alleged low blow. “I think frustrations boiled over there a little bit a couple times. I’m not going to make a big deal about it.”
So … everything OK?
“I’m doing all right,” Lang said, smiling. "It’s not the first time it’s happened."
Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.
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