Seahawks' DK Metcalf on penalties -- 'Not going to change who I am' - ESPN

RENTON, Wash. — In past responses to questions about his ongoing penalty problem, Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf has expressed contrition while vowing to be better.

He struck a much different tone Wednesday.

A defiant and defensive Metcalf challenged the scrutiny he has received in the wake of his latest 15-yard infraction, including some that came from his own head coach, Pete Carroll.

«I'm not going to change the way I play,» Metcalf said.

The subject was raised anew after Metcalf was flagged for unnecessary roughness in the Seahawks' 17-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. It was his fifth penalty of the season (including one offsetting), which is tied with Seahawks guard Phil Haynes for 15th most among all players and tops among receivers.

A few minutes earlier, when asked about Metcalf's penalties, Carroll told reporters that he brought up the issue in a team meeting on Monday to underscore the importance of fixing it.

«We put all the penalties on the board in Monday's meetings and the guys who had the most were on the top, and he was up there with another guy,» Carroll said. «We all have to acknowledge it and recognize what our issues are, whatever they are. It happens to be in this case he's getting called.

»He knows. He's got to clean it up. We have to make sure we're aware of how they're calling stuff. He's a very aggressive player, very physical and it stands out and he draws attention because of that. So we've got to be cleaner. He knows it and he's got to get it done."

Asked about Carroll's message in the team meeting, Metcalf downplayed the issue, saying, «It was just a board to me.»

«If you look at the penalties, it was a taunting, unnecessary roughness, face mask, holding and I think it was one