Cowboys teammate shuts down Amani Oruwariye interviews after special teams blunder on MNF

One player was of high interest to the media after Monday’s game at AT&T Stadium in which the Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) picked up a 27-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys (5-8): Cowboys cornerback Amani Oruwariye, responsible for the special teams gaffe late in the fourth quarter.

According to Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com, a handful of reporters approached the 28-year-old in the locker room but were waved off by special teams veteran C.J. Goodwin.

“But I’m doing my job, too,” said Goodwin, while acknowledging the media for doing their job by trying to speak with Oruwariye.

With the game tied at 20 apiece, the Cowboys’ defense made a timely stop, forcing the Bengals to punt the ball away with two minutes remaining. Linebacker Nick Vigil made what looked to be the play of the game, coming in untouched to block the punt. The ball took a big bounce and rather than allow a Bengals player to touch the ball to bring an end to the play, Oruwariye attempted to catch it off the bounce.

Amani Oruwariye makes critical mistake on blocked punt late in 4th quarter

Oruwariye failed to bring the ball in. It was recovered by a Bengals special teamer, giving Cincinnati possession and a chance at redemption. Cincinnati did not waste its gifted opportunity. Three plays later, quarterback Joe Burrow found receiver Ja’Marr Chase for a 40-yard game-winning score.

Goodwin later explained why he shut down any interview with Oruwariye.

“Ya’ll think it’s football… but there’s life outside of football,” Goodwin said. “When I see my man going through something mentally, I’m not going to have [the media] bringing up the play over and over. We’re not going to do that.”

Oruwariye, a six-year veteran with 58 games under his belt, was added to the roster before kickoff after being activated from injured reserve. In that moment, he had a clear lapse of judgement reminiscent to that of former Cowboy Leon Lett and his special teams blunder on Thanksgiving Day in 1993 against the Miami Dolphins.

That play defined Lett’s career; Jourdan Lewis doesn’t believe this one should define Oruwariye’s.

“Big plays happen and everybody sees it,” the cornerback said. “We have to stay with him and keep encouraging him. Don’t want that moment to define him. We have to stay behind him. That’s just football. Some things roll your way and some things don’t. I can’t blame him trying to make a play.”

Jerry Jones reacts to Cowboys loss after Amani Oruwariye punt block sequence

If not for the mistake, the Cowboys would have been a few plays away from a Brandon Aubrey field goal attempt to win the game. Instead, they were losers at home for the sixth time in seven games at AT&T Stadium this season.

Team owner Jerry Jones watched it all unfold from his suite, and later commented on the play that ultimately decided the outcome.

“Really devastated by the turn of events on the blocked kick,” Jones said. “Obviously, we had a blocked kick called and made the play. … I don’t know that we say anything to him [Oruwariye]. Just, we made the mistakes out there — that mistake we made at the end was very impactful is all I can say.”