Jim Harbaugh to Clay Matthews: Fight like a man

Mike Vandermause | USA TODAY Sports

GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- He didn't come right out and say it, but San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh strongly implied Monday that Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews is a dirty player.

Harbaugh's comments came in the aftermath of Matthews' personal foul against 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in Sunday's game at Candlestick Park, and compelled Packers coaches to rush to their star outside linebacker's defense.

Mike McCarthy even brought up Harbaugh's comments in a team meeting Monday.

"I have no idea what his intent is," McCarthy said of Harbaugh's comments. "Clay Matthews is not a dirty player, by no means. So I addressed Harbaugh's comments in the team meeting, and as always, we'll stay above it."

Harbaugh didn't like the clothes-line tackle Matthews made on Kaepernick out of bounds, which drew a personal foul penalty in the second quarter. Harbaugh also accused Matthews of throwing punches at 49ers left tackle Joe Staley on the sideline after the late hit on Kaepernick.

"I could see two punches thrown to Joe's head," Harbaugh said. "Well, one punch and one open slap."

Harbaugh chided Matthews for the alleged slap.

"If you're going to go to the face, come with some knuckles, not an open slap," Harbaugh said. "That young man works very hard on being a tough guy. He'll have some repairing to do to his image after the slap."

Harbaugh's remarks were an indication of the bad blood between the Packers and 49ers. The simmering rivalry came to a head on Matthews' late hit, which incited a skirmish.

Staley received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the play when he confronted Matthews on the sideline, but NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino told USA Today Sports on Monday that Staley shouldn't have been penalized, presumably because he didn't throw any punches.

Harbaugh was adamant that Matthews' late hit on Kaepernick was a blatant cheap shot.

Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers said he doesn't believe Matthews is a dirty player.

"I think Clay is an aggressive player that's going to play with a lot of emotion," Capers said. "I thought he played a good football game (Sunday). You saw him come and make minus-yardage plays. You saw him sack the quarterback. It was unfortunate that the sideline play, I think he just misjudged where he was really. We have to make sure that doesn't happen, but I like the aggressiveness Clay plays with. He plays with his heart and a lot of emotion. I've been here with Clay now — this is five years and I certainly don't believe that."

Matthews said after the game it wasn't a smart play, but he didn't have malicious intent. He said he was joking with Kaepernick later in the game.

"I thought it was a bad decision by Clay," McCarthy said. "I think he was overzealous. I know he left his feet and, you know, playing hard. I think it's football. I think much is blown out of proportion. Clay played very well in the game. That was probably one of his couple of bad plays."

The league is expected to fine Matthews for the incident. McCarthy said he talked to the head of NFL officials on Monday about the late hit and its aftermath.

Kaepernick's feet went flying in the air on the play and he landed on his back. But Kaepernick's performance was unaffected as he threw for a career-high 412 yards and three touchdowns in the 49ers' 34-28 victory.

Harbaugh defended Staley for coming to Kaepernick's defense on the sidelines.

"We're not going to back down and just get pushed all around after the whistle," Harbaugh said. "When it's not being called after the first offense, you have to have a plan, and for us, it's not to go pushing and throwing punches. It's to lock up and protect yourself. Joe did that as well as you could do it."

Harbaugh said several Packers players left the bench area during the incident, a violation of NFL rules. "All in all, there were a lot of things going on in that stretch," he said.

Harbaugh declined comment when asked if he respected Matthews, a four-time Pro Bowl player.

Capers said he wouldn't want Matthews to change his aggressive demeanor on the field.

"We've got a lot of young players we put on the field, so those guys are going to look to the older guys for direction," Capers said. "I feel confident pointing out, 'Watch (Matthews),' the kind of emotion he plays with. I think he's normally a pretty good example to point to."

Mike Vandermause writes for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, a Gannett property.