Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu has a reputation.
The second-team All-Pro has always been known as a physical player, but he has toed the line of dirty in recent weeks. Especially when it comes to hitting defenseless quarterbacks.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is sacked by Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) during the second quarter at Northwest Stadium.
© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
And the Philadelphia Eagles are well aware of it.
Luvu was the player who knocked out Hurts with a concussion in Week 16 even when the quarterback was sliding down on a play. Luvu later hit Jared Goff after the quarterback threw an interception in the divisional round of the playoffs.
And so that D-word is coming up this week. A lot. And yes Luvu is trying to prevent a "dirty" moniker from following him around.
“On that specific play I thought Quan was behind me the whole way, he was running…I was just trying to get my boy in the end zone,” said Luvu. “By the time I looked up, Goff was right there. No intentions of me trying to block in any way, I was trying to get my boy in the end zone. Hope he’s all right.
“It’s football, we play it fast and violently and that’s kind of how I play the game.”
Luvu spoke about his comparison to former Pittsburgh Steelers edge defender Kevin Greene, who coached him in Carolina, and how the late Greene remains the player that he most wants to emulate.
“That’s how he taught me to play the game, so I play like he played,” said Luvu. “It got me this far so I ain’t gonna change anything about it.”
Washington has already stated their goals to be ultra-physical with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in Sunday's NFC Championship Game. If their words are to be taken seriously, Luvu is expected to be at the top of that physical list.
