LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It wasn't Lamar Jackson's finest moment, and I'm not talking about coughing up a 15-point lead in the closing minutes of the Baltimore Ravens' loss at Buffalo on Sunday night.
By now you've seen the video. Jackson reaching up with both hands and shoving a fan. He responded out of instinct. A fan had slapped his teammate, De'Andre Hopkins, on the helmet and Jackson was coming along behind him after a sensational Hopkins touchdown catch and he did the same to Jackson, might've talked a little trash at the same time.
Jackson quickly shoved him and moved on.
Not a pleasant visual. The fan was ejected and has been banned from all NFL stadiums for an indefinite period. Jackson, who said afterward he regretted doing what he did, is awaiting word on whether the league will fine him. Most figure it will.
This is my annual opportunity to say a couple of things that should be self-evident: Your purchase of a ticket does not endow you with the right to say anything you want, to shout any profanity laced tirade you see fit, to make physical contact with players – no matter how misguided they are by wandering within touching distance of you.
That ticket, that seat, is not a license to behave badly, or to heap abuse of any kind on players, fellow spectators, or anyone else. No matter how much you've had to drink. No matter how caught up in the game you get.
Your ticket is a seat. To stand, cheer, scream, boo, eat, drink, enjoy the game. The minute you decide to become abusive, they can kick you out. They don't, very often. It's a reason a lot of people, particularly with young kids, don't go to games. You just can't.
The vast majority of fans in stadiums around America understand this. And they'll vent at players, coaches and refs and that's all part of it. It's all within the bounds of sports passion.
Still, there is a line that should not be crossed, and the NFL acknowledged that in its action against this fan.
But there's also a line for players. Nothing good can come from a visiting player wandering to the edge of the stands to taunt opposing fans. Not smart. Players have no less a responsibility to avoid those kinds of negative interactions than fans do. In fact, they bear more of a responsibility. You go near a young fan in the middle of a heated game, you can't be mad if there's a bit of contact.
To his credit, Lamar Jackson said he regretted what he'd done.
"He slapped me, and he was talking -- so, I just forgot where I was for a little bit," Jackson said postgame, per ESPN. "You have to think in those situations. You have security out there; let security handle it. But I just let my emotions get the best of me. Hopefully, it doesn't happen again. I learned from that."
Maybe the NFL fines him. Maybe it doesn't.
I hear the things said to players and coaches courtside. I don't know, sometimes, how they put up with it. But they are, it should be said, paid a lot to put up with it. And that line between stands and court or field of play is a hard and fast one. You don't cross it.
Jackson is lucky this wasn't worse. But I would expect the league to take this opportunity to remind players – this can't happen.
Quick sips
- Mikel Brown Jr. gave his early thoughts on Louisville basketball over the weekend. His conclusion? “We're building a beast.” Check out the rest of what he had to say here.
- Pierce Clarkson made quite a stir when he committed to Louisville and put billboards around town. He has since transferred to Ole Miss, took part in some spring workouts, then moved on to UCLA, where he was a third string quarterback before being suspended for a felony arrest. Details here.
The Last Drop
"As for Jackson, he's expressed regret. And if the NFL wants to come down on him with a bookkeeping, box-checking fine, well, sure. Whatever. But this incident should be less about the NFL punishing its players than educating its players, and what happened Sunday night provides the perfect show-and-tell exhibit."
Steve Buckley, writing for The Athletic. Read his column on the incident here.
More Sports Stories:
Pierce Clarkson, former Louisville QB, suspended from UCLA after felony arrest
Mikel Brown Jr. says Louisville basketball is 'building a beast' — and he's all in
Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
