Seahawks’ Jefferson not wrong to be upset with Jaguars fans

Sunday’s Seahawks and Jaguars game ended with multiple altercations. While things did not totally turn to chaos, one Seattle player had a sideline issue with some Jaguars fans. Did Quinton Jefferson overreact when leaving the game?

The Seahawks lost on Sunday to the Jaguars 30-24. And the game had several heated moments. Jaguars fans did not come across as the most classy group of people. In fact, Jacksonville fans appeared to be a group of southern Georgians who did not know what it was like to win a game. Bottles were thrown on the field off and on the entire game. Stadium security did not do very much to curtail the situation.

For instance, Tyler Lockett after scoring in the fourth quarter…

Quinton Jefferson was asked to the leave the game with less than a minute to go. As the Jaguars went to victory formation, twice the Seahawks probably were too aggressive in attacking the line when Blake Bortles took a knee. Jefferson was in on the first play and Jaguars did not take kindly to Jefferson’s aggression. This led to a scuffle and then Jefferson’s ejection.

Now, Jefferson could have left the field directly and this might not have happened

Jefferson’s reaction

But Jefferson is also a human being. When a group of classless fans are throwing items at you and your teammates, it is understandable to get upset. I never felt like Jefferson was actually going to enter the stands. He seemed upset and had a right to be. In fact, that last bottle almost hit him.

Players can be guilty of creating the chaos in fan-to-player altercations. In this case, Jefferson was reacting to what the fans were doing. I kept thinking, “Goodness, if those fans really had any guts they were get down on the field with Jefferson.” Of course, that would have been ugly and not a good situation but the Jaguars fans only had the high ground in physical position only. Throwing things at players as they leave the field is childish.

The best question about what happened was probably asked after the game by Jefferson himself, “What would you do?” Because what would you do? You’re leaving the field and people are throwing things at you. Your teammates have been getting hit by items being thrown from the fans during the game. So really, what would you do?

It’s a fair question to ask.