EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants linebacker Jon Beason got run over by 49ers running back Carlos Hyde and left Sunday night's game with a concussion. But Beason said Friday that there was more to the story, and that an Alex Boone block he described as "a coward move" is what led to the concussion.
Beason said Boone, the 49ers' offensive lineman, shoved him in the back as he was lining up to take a run at Hyde. As a result, Beason said, he had to duck his head, and the result of the awkward tackle was a concussion.
"I can honestly say that if I hadn't been pushed in the back, I wouldn't have been concussed," Beason said. "It's unfortunate when another player can reach out, grab you from behind and deliberately push you in the back. I think it was a coward move. It's hard enough to stay healthy in this league. I never saw Hyde, because I was too busy trying to keep my balance from being pushed from behind. So I just wanted to get that out there, and I hope it gets back to him."
Beason said the Giants submitted the video of the play to the league for review. Hyde, the running back, was fined $23,152 for initiating contact with the crown of his helmet on the play. But Boone was not fined, because illegal blocks in the back generally do not rise to the level of fineable offenses and this one wasn't deemed egregious enough to be an exception.
"I don't think he was trying to hurt me," Beason said, "but it was a coward move."
49ers coach Jim Tomsula was asked about Beason's accusation Friday.
"I don’t recollect that," Tomsula said, according to ESPN 49ers reporter Paul Gutierrez. "Quite frankly, you’re catching me a little off guard there. I don’t know. No, I don’t think so, I mean we were blocking, tackling and running."