Vikings coach Mike Zimmer talks about safety Harrison Smith’s ejection

Minnesota got a close win with timely defensive stops on Sunday, but it had to do so without one of its best defensive players for much of the game.

Vikings safety Harrison Smith was ejected in the second quarter of the Texans game for using his helmet to initiate contact on this play.

After the win, Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer spoke with reporters about the ejection:

“QBs can throw the ball in the middle of the field and no repercussions whatsoever. Harrison (Smith) is not a dirty player, has never been a dirty player. They told me the league office ejected him. Want to give us a penalty? Give us a penalty but don’t eject him,” Zimmer said, via Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune.

Here’s what Al Riveron, Senior Vice President of Officiating, said about the hit to the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain (H/T Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press).

“After we looked at it, there was nothing clear and obvious for us to overturn the ruling on the field, therefore the ruling on the field stood,” Riveron told McClain, via Tomasson.