NFL teams
ESPN 6y

No Seahawks players will be suspended for actions vs. Jaguars

NFL, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars

No Seattle Seahawks players will be suspended for their actions at the end of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, although the NFL is still reviewing the melee under the standard process, a league official told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The episode occurred during a heated finish to the Jaguars' 30-24 victory over the Seahawks. It included fights on consecutive plays as Jacksonville was kneeling to run out the clock and Seattle's defensive linemen continued their rush at full strength.

After the first play, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett and Jaguars center Brandon Linder wrestled each other on the ground. Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette shoved Bennett during the ensuing melee. Those two were also flagged for unnecessary roughness, while Seattle's Sheldon Richardson was ejected for throwing a punch.

Seahawks defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson was ejected on the next play. It isn't clear what Jefferson did to earn the ejection.

Jefferson was running off the field after being ejected when a drink was thrown at him from the stands. He turned back and began arguing with fans who were wearing clothes with Jaguars logos.

When more drinks were thrown at him, including one that nearly hit his head, Jefferson rushed toward the railing separating the field from the stands and briefly began climbing it. A member of the Seahawks' equipment staff pulled him off. Several other Seahawks staffers escorted him into the tunnel.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll did not agree with Jefferson's actions.

"I thought that was wrong. Wrong. He was wrong. I've talked to him [Jefferson] about it. Professional athletes, people can say whatever they want to say and that's kinda just what comes along with it. You have to be able to deal with it professionally and he lost it. He feels terrible about it. It's not the kind of kid he is. He just emotionally got overrun and he lost it. Fortunately, people restrained him and all that. It's a tremendous learning opportunity for him and any other young guys."

The Jaguars -- in conjunction with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the stadium's management company, and the stadium's security company -- have determined there were four individuals who threw objects at Jefferson and are in the process of identifying them.

The team says that if the individuals in question are season-ticket holders, they will immediately have their season ticket member privileges revoked indefinitely. If they purchased single-game tickets they will be banned from attending Jaguars games at EverBank Field, the team said.

"We're grateful for the immediate response by stadium security personnel to the situation," the team said in a statement. "The Jacksonville Jaguars and our stadium partners are firmly committed to creating a safe and enjoyable experience for all who visit EverBank Field, including fans and members of the visiting team. It is unfortunate that the actions of a few would tarnish the reputation of the Jaguars fan base and the positive, electric game day atmosphere at yesterday's game."

Carroll ran all the way to the middle of the field after the second fight, which he said was to "make a statement to our guys so we didn't finish with any more garbage happening out there."

"I really, really don't like the way the game ended for us," Carroll said. "We never want to see football games look like that. The level that we play at, that's not an excuse for going over the top like that. So all these guys have heard that, they understand that and we don't ever want to look like that. But it was a very hard fought game, a lot of intensity and a lot of emotion and when it gets down to the end of the year, guys are going for it. I think that's exactly what you saw on both sides of it, both teams, they were very feisty and very though and aggressive as well, so it made for a really good football game."

Carroll received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for running onto the field. He said he realized the game was decided by that point.

ESPN's Brady Henderson and Michael DiRocco contributed to this report.

^ Back to Top ^