BY DAVE BIRKETT DETROIT FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Jim Schwartz’s exuberant post-game fist pump became a symbol of the Detroit Lions during their five-game win steak to start the season, but Schwartz showed a different side of his emotion in his team’s first loss today.
Schwartz chased 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh off the field after he said Harbaugh “shoved (him) out of the way” during their post-game handshake following San Francisco’s 25-19 victory over the Lions at Ford Field.
Harbaugh, who played at Michigan, took blame for the altercation – which escalated with players shoving on their way into the tunnel.
“I was just really revved up,” Harbaugh said. “It was totally on me. I just shook his hand too hard. It was a kind of strong, slap kind of handshake. It's like what I've done with (linebacker Blake) Costanzo and a few of the other guys. That was on me. It was a little too hard of a handshake."
It's like what I've done with (linebacker Blake) Costanzo and a few of the other guys. That was on me. It was a little too hard of a handshake."
Schwartz explained the exchange this way: “Went to congratulate Coach Harbaugh and got shoved out of the way and then didn’t expect an obscenity at that point so it was a surprise to me at the end of the game.”
Who did the shoving and shouting? “I’ll just leave it right there,” Schwartz said. “I’m sure it’s on video.” Video showed Harbaugh jumping up and down in excitement as the Lions’ final play ended with a fumbled lateral 70 yards from the end zone. He shook Schwartz’s hand hard with his right hand and slapped him on the back with his left and appeared to shout, “Whoo," as he walked away.
Schwartz turned and appeared to say something to Harbaugh, then chased the first-year coach about 25 yards to the back of the end zone with players from both teams separating them.
Harbaugh, who played one season with the Baltimore Ravens when Schwartz was an assistant there in 1998, said he apologized to Schwartz in the tunnel after the game, and Schwartz said he didn't expect that reaction from Harbaugh.
"Like I said, I didn’t expect (it) after the game," he said. "Went to shake an opponent’s coach’s hand and obiously you win a game like that you’re excited and things like that, but I think there’s a protocol that goes with this league." Lions receiver Nate Burleson said that's the first time he's seen a post-game coaches' handshake get physical.
"But I’m gonna ask you this: is there two more passionate coaches in the NFL?" Burleson said. "Both of those guys are high energy and love to show emotion on gameday. So it didn’t surprise me." Burleson, who wore boxing gloves around his neck during pre-game introductions last week, joked that he should have kept them in his locker for today.
"I should have brought all my boxing gear because there was some testosterone flying around after the game," he said. "But what do you exect though? You’ve got two good teams, they’re excited, obviously, and they played a good game. And I’m not going to get mad. I’m not going to sit here and talk bad about the 49ers. I give them credit, they played a good game, they beat a good team and I’m not mad for them showing emotion for a win. It’s just tough cause this is our backyard." The Lions (5-1) fell a game behind the Packers with the loss, their first since Dec. 5 of last year.
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