Dolphins linebacker
Akin Ayodele on Monday accused New England of taking ''malicious,'' potentially injurious shots after the whistle, helping to provoke the Dolphins into the late-game emotional meltdown. And Ayodele wasn't just talking about Sunday.
Ayodele, who faced the Patriots in a high-profile game last season while with Dallas, said big-game emotions run high, ``but usually this only happens when you play the Patriots. I know every time I've been in games like that, it's mostly when you play those guys.''
Ayodele told reporters to watch the broadcast of the game and see what happens after the whistle. He said he thought officials let cheap shots after the play go to the point that players believed they had to take action to defend themselves or teammates. Dolphins nose guard
Jason Ferguson said officials didn't try to take control of the game until it was too late.
According to both teams, players on both sides kept up a steady stream of trash talk throughout the game. Several Miami players weren't happy the Patriots didn't just sit on the ball once 24 yards worth of unnecessary-roughness and unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties on linebacker
Joey Porter gave New England first-and-goal on the Dolphins 8-yard line with 2:38 left.
''When you get out there on the field, using certain words and saying some things, it's part of football,'' Ayodele said. ``When you start having malicious intent to end somebody's career and somebody's game, that's when you go overboard