The bad blood flowed early in Cleveland's Sunday afternoon 35-10 loss to the Cowboys.
Both Browns center Cam Erving and Dallas pass rusher David Irving were ejected from the game for unnecessary roughness after fighting with each other deep in Cowboys territory with 12:44 left in the first quarter.
"That's just being on the ground that long," Irving said after the game per NFL Network's Jane Slater. "I kinda wanted to go and I was angry. He wanted to go, he was angry. It led up to something bad."
Erving and Irving were caught tangling after a Cody Kessler pass to Browns receiver Andrew Hawkins fell incomplete in the end zone on third down. Cameras showed the Dallas defender standing over Erving before the second-year blocker ripped off Irving's facemask.
"I almost started crying," Irving said. "I was highly upset. I just had high emotions at the time. I wanted to get back out there. In my mind, I wanted to go out there and line up against (Erving) every single play from that point on. I didn't want to come out the game after that."
Operating as a rotational pass rusher, Irving's absence was filled in a hurry for Dallas. Without another pure center on the roster, though, the Browns were forced to change up their plan along the offensive line. Veteran John Greco took over at center with fifth-rounder Spencer Drango playing guard.
