After DeAndre Hopkins snagged the football out of the air with one hand and secured it for a touchdown in the Sunday Night Football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills, a frustrated Bills fan took the opportunity to shove Hopkins’ helmet, and with even more aggression shoved Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s helmet too, as they walked along the back end zone area to head back to their bench following the touchdown.
The fan shoved Jackson’s helmet with some force, causing Jackson’s head to snap back. Reacting with instinct, Jackson shoved the fan back with both hands and the fan flew back totally out of sight. And now there is controversy over whether or not Jackson was out of line
I understand that if you’re a Bills fan living in Buffalo your life might be frustrating. The Bills have not been in the Super Bowl since 1994, when they lost to the Cowboys. It’s COLD AF in Buffalo and you live in the hometown of The Goo Goo Dolls. Yes, living in Buffalo might be tough and then the Ravens are kicking the Bills’ ass with another touchdown and you see the helmet-covered heads of Hopkins and Jackson pass by you in the stands and you reach out and shove them and you get shoved back by Jackson - why are you surprised?
First of all, the fan was wrong to shove their helmets and I think the fan deserved to be shoved back by Jackson. There is no reason for fans making aggressive actions towards players. Secondly, consider that Lamar Jackson is in player mode - he’s in a game and people are hitting him and he’s hitting them during play and Jackson gets a serious shove to the head and he instinctively reacts by shoving the fan down. I think that is totally understandable.
I don’t think the NFL should fine Jackson, who after the game expressed regrets. I thought that was classy. I’m sure lawyers got in touch with the fan, who remained nameless as I wrote this, and will convince him to sue. I’m sure the lawyers will claim the fan was injured, even if he wasn’t injured as a result of the shove. The lawyers will claim emotional distress and Jackson, who has money, might be tempted to settle out of court. That’s what the lawyers will hope for because they would have a hard time defending this frustrated punk fan who was aggressive first.
If the fan tries to sue Jackson, he should hold out and not let this stupid punk win anything. Go to court and let’s hear the case where the lawyers are trying to make Jackson seem like the bad guy when it was their client that asked for what he got.