EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Neither Captain Munnerlyn nor Robert Blanton of the Minnesota Vikings was fined for the third-quarter hit on New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees that ended with a 15-yard penalty for Munnerlyn and a few shoves from Brees for Blanton.
Munnerlyn and Blanton both blitzed Brees on a third-and-14 play from the Saints' 32 at the end of the third quarter on Sunday, and after the 5-foot-9 Munnerlyn had Brees in his grasp, he took him to the ground with a "suplex" move, bringing Brees down on his shoulders and neck. Brees, who landed with Blanton on top of him, thought the safety hit him, but Munnerlyn said told Brees after the play he was the one that tackled him, adding he wasn't trying to throw Brees on his head.
Munnerlyn has said all week he didn't think he should have been flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play, which Brees called a "straight Hulk Hogan 1985 WrestleMania suplex.
"He said that wasn't a penalty. I said, 'Of course it was, you suplexed me,'" Brees said. "'But listen, I like you, I think you're a good football player. I appreciate the 15 yards, thank you.'"