Cliff Avril ‘surprised’ over criticism of hit on Tony Romo

Seattle Seahawks lineman Cliff Avril was responsible for the hit that ultimately knocked Tony Romo out for the start of the season, and he doesn’t understand why he’s getting hate for it.

Avril told reporters that he was “surprised” by the reaction to the hit, and he has reached out to Romo after the injury.

“I’m definitely surprised,” Avril said, via Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune. “The Cowboys fans have been sending a lot of hate mail — well, not ‘hate mail’ — but a lot of crazy tweets. But I don’t pay too much attention to it.

“It’s kind of interesting to see how you just think you are making a play on the football field, and so many people think a certain way about it. But it is what it is. I don’t really care. I’m reaching out to Romo, so it is what it is.”

Avril said he didn’t even realize that Romo was seriously hurt.

“I didn’t even see him until after I celebrated and I saw him still on the ground,” Avril said. “That’s when I knew something happened to him. But after he got up, walked to the sidelines, I tapped him on his leg and whatever, talked to him for a second. But I didn’t know it was that serious.”

You can see how Romo suffered the back injury here. It will keep him out for 6-10 weeks, so you can understand why Cowboys fans are frustrated, but there was nothing dirty about Avril’s hit.