I wish I could embed Tweets here, but I saw one that showed Hitchens actually hitting Pettigrew's arm to get his hand off of his facemask. He has a right to do that. And he couldn't turn to look for the ball because, well, someone had his facemask.
I don't think there is any damn way he leaves here. He is getting paid very well, and he has it very easy. Also, I think he knows he can't succeed without all the help he has been afforded here, so that would be weighing on his mind as well.