The shove and the tackle that rocked NFL: Bobby Wagner and Davante Adams in hot water for 'assaults'
Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams is being investigated by police and facing a possible suspension after shoving a photographer to the turf after the loss in Kansas City on Monday, October 10. Adams is the NFL's second-highest-paid receiver at $28.2 million for the 2022 season.
On Monday night, he was seen storming off the field after the Raiders' final drive fell short. An unidentified man with photography equipment was seen crossing Adams' path as the star approached the tunnel visibly distressed. This is when Adams shoved the man to the ground and casually walked into the Arrowhead Stadium tunnel. Security eventually help the man back on his feet.
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The unnamed man, identified by ESPN as a freelancer for Monday Night Football, filed a police report, a department spokesperson told the Daily Mail. "The victim is a photographer at the Chiefs/Raiders game," the police narrative read. "At the end of the game, he was pushed to the ground causing injury. He made arrangements for private transport to the hospital for treatment at which time he called police." It added, "The injuries are preliminarily thought to be non-life threatening. The incident will be investigated by our Assault Unit detectives, upon completion they will coordinate with the applicable city or state prosecutor to determine any applicable charges."
The investigation is expected to last one or two days. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said a suspension remains a possibility. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo said, "this one feels like more than a fine". It is expected that the NFL will rule on the matter early this week.
Davante Adams was visibly upset after the Raiders’ loss to the Chiefs. pic.twitter.com/XW2fmx6adJ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 11, 2022
Adams later apologized through the media. "He jumped in front of me coming off the field," he said. "I kind of pushed him. He ended up on the ground. I want to apologize to him for that. That was just frustration mixed with him really just running in front of me. I shouldn't have responded that way, but that's the way I responded. I want to apologize to him for that."
Davante Adams apologizes for the shove. pic.twitter.com/eLJ74uqvKo
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 11, 2022
Adams also offered an apology on Twitter. "Sorry to the guy I pushed over after the game. Obviously very frustrated at the way the game ended and when he ran infront of me as I exited that was my reaction and I felt horrible immediately. Thats not me..MY APOLOGIES man hope you see this," he wrote.
Sorry to the guy I pushed over after the game. Obviously very frustrated at the way the game ended and when he ran infront of me as I exited that was my reaction and I felt horrible immediately. Thats not me..MY APOLOGIES man hope you see this.
— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) October 11, 2022
Meanwhile, LA Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner is in hot water for hitting an animal rights activist during the LA Rams-San Francisco 49ers matchup on Monday Night Football at the start of the month. The victim, Alexander Taylor, who is part of the group Direct Action Everywhere, reportedly suffered a concussion from the hit. He filed a report with Santa Clara Police Department October 4, a day after the incident took place at Levi's stadium.
Taylor told police he suffered several injuries after Wagner rammed into him with his upper body and helmet. "Mr. Taylor had a headache," authorities said in a report, according to the Daily Mail. "A concussion without loss of consciousness and a burn on his inner right bicep."
Bobby Wagner stopped the fan who ran onto the field 😳
— ESPN (@espn) October 4, 2022
(via @cameronsalerno1)pic.twitter.com/xWNQCPjliC
TMZ reported that Santa Clara Police is investigating the incident. Taylor filed a police report for a "blatant assault" not only by Wagner but also by another Rams player who joined from the sidelines. The team member is possibly Takkarist McKinley, according to the footage. Neither of them has been arrested or charged with a crime.
Wagner, meanwhile, said he tackled the fan keeping "safety in mind". "That's not making a play. That's just keeping it safe. You don't know what that fan got or what they're doing," he said. The fan had a smoke bomb in his hand as he ran across the field. Wagner added, "You see it all the time, and we don't know what they're carrying in their pockets. It's whatever that little smoke stuff is, but that s*** could be dangerous."
He further said, "One of the guys on the other side, it looked like he got hurt, and security looked like he was struggling, so I was frustrated, so I took it out on him." Rams head coach, Sean McVay, said after the incident, "We all know where Bobby's intentions were, and I support Bobby Wagner. That's where I'm at with that. I don't think anybody would disagree."