Seattle Seahawks fans encounter rude sign directed at QB Geno Smith during his return, prompting a middle finger response from the Raiders player.
Raiders and Smith-Crosby Incident Highlights Preseason Opener Against Seahawks
In a dramatic turn of events during Thursday's preseason opener, the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks game ended in a tie, but not before an unexpected incident involving Raiders quarterback Geno Smith and defensive end Maxx Crosby.
As both players ran onto the field, they were seen making obscene gestures towards Seahawks fans. The provocative sign held by one fan, reading "Bigger Bust - Geno Or JaMarcus Russell?", seemed to have sparked the reaction.
Geno Smith, the former Seahawks quarterback who was the starting quarterback for the team for the past three seasons, failed to come to terms on a new deal and joined the Las Vegas Raiders this year. Maxx Crosby, a Raiders star defensive end, also appeared to be responding to the same sign.
Several videos of the actions by Smith and Crosby made the rounds on social media Friday. The potential fine for Smith's gesture is not yet known, but it is suggested to be similar to the $10,128 fine imposed on Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch for a similar incident last November.
The game itself was a close contest. In the second half, the Raiders led a late comeback, with Daniel Carlson kicking a 51-yard field goal with about a minute left. Carlson had a long of 56 yards during the game, but missed a 55-yarder to end the first half. The game ended in a tie (23-23) when Jalan Gaines blocked Daniel Carlson's 55-yard field-goal try for Las Vegas as time expired.
Pete Carroll, the 73-year-old coach of the Raiders, coached the Seahawks for 14 years, going 137-89-1 and leading the team to its only Super Bowl victory in 2013. Carroll, who was coaching his first preseason game with the Raiders in his return to Seattle, stated that the team started poorly and did not run the ball well in the first half, but they stayed close and were able to come back in the second half.
The incident involving Smith and Crosby is not the first time such behaviour has been seen in the NFL. In 2007, former first-overall pick by the then-Oakland Raiders, JaMarcus Russell, famously flamed out of the NFL after going 7-18 as a starter over two seasons.
As the NFL continues to monitor player conduct, both Smith and Crosby may face penalties for their actions. The league and the Raiders have discouraged such gestures, and fines are expected to be issued.
References:
- ESPN
- NFL.com
- The incident between Geno Smith and Maxx Crosby during the Raiders' preseason opener against the Seahawks, sparked by a fan's provocative sign, has sparked a conversation about player conduct in the NFL.
- After the altercation with a fan's sign, videos of Geno Smith and Maxx Crosby's obscene gestures quickly spread on social media, leading to potential fines and penalties.
- The NFL has a history of addressing player conduct issues, such as the fine imposed on Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch for a similar incident last November, and the incident involving Raiders' former quarterback JaMarcus Russell in 2007.
