‘Throat-slash gesture’ – NFL head coach reveals full extent of fan clash during national anthem before Packers-Lions
A great game was preceded by one of the oddest moments of the NFL season. Backed by two emotional touchdowns from Tim Patrick and Dan Campbell’s fiery passion, the Detroit Lions overpowered the Green Bay Packers 34-31 on Thursday Night Football. GettyMatt LaFleur had to deal with Detroit and a Lions fan in a tough loss[/caption] But before Detroit used a gutsy fourth-down call and game-winning field goal to win, Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur had his own heated battle on the field. During the pregame national anthem ceremony, which featured the American flag unfurled on Ford Field, the Packers leader noticed something that troubled him. LaFleur said a fan wearing a Lions jersey was calling out Green Bay, and doing so in what the coach viewed as an over-aggressive style. “He was yelling at our players and giving the throat-slash gesture,” LaFleur said. “I’ve never seen anything like that. “I would just like security to step in there and get him off the field.” With security standing back, LaFleur took matters into his own hands. The coach approached the fan, started yelling, and appeared to scream curse words at the person wearing a Lions jersey. The fan fired back and both sides eventually had to be separated. Lions and Packers supporters were split on how LaFleur handled the odd moment, which quickly became charged and could have spilled over into something worse. x@awfulannouncingThe Green Bay coach saw something he didn’t like[/caption] x@awfulannouncingLaFleur confronted a fan on the field wearing a Lions jersey[/caption] x@awfulannouncingThe fan was standing next to the American flag during the national anthem[/caption] Green Bay fans loved the heat. “People really think they play, SMH,” one fan posted. Lions fans believed that Detroit gained an early edge by LaFleur overreacting to simple taunting. “First coach to cry before, during, and after the game,” one fan tweeted. “Congratulations Matt on breaking a record all by yourself!” “Not a ‘flex’ for us Lions fans, but sure does add more notch to the ‘LaFleur is soft narrative,” one fan tweeted. “Detroit Vs Everyone,” a second fan posted. “LaFleur got rage baited by a drunk fan,” a third fan posted. “Welcome to Detroit punk.” talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, and you can stay up to date with all the latest from around the league via our dedicated ‘EndZone’ YouTube channel.
A great game was preceded by one of the oddest moments of the NFL season.
Backed by two emotional touchdowns from Tim Patrick and Dan Campbell’s fiery passion, the Detroit Lions overpowered the Green Bay Packers 34-31 on Thursday Night Football.
But before Detroit used a gutsy fourth-down call and game-winning field goal to win, Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur had his own heated battle on the field.
During the pregame national anthem ceremony, which featured the American flag unfurled on Ford Field, the Packers leader noticed something that troubled him.
LaFleur said a fan wearing a Lions jersey was calling out Green Bay, and doing so in what the coach viewed as an over-aggressive style.
“He was yelling at our players and giving the throat-slash gesture,” LaFleur said.
“I’ve never seen anything like that.
“I would just like security to step in there and get him off the field.”
With security standing back, LaFleur took matters into his own hands.
The coach approached the fan, started yelling, and appeared to scream curse words at the person wearing a Lions jersey.
The fan fired back and both sides eventually had to be separated.
Lions and Packers supporters were split on how LaFleur handled the odd moment, which quickly became charged and could have spilled over into something worse.
Green Bay fans loved the heat.
“People really think they play, SMH,” one fan posted.
Lions fans believed that Detroit gained an early edge by LaFleur overreacting to simple taunting.
“First coach to cry before, during, and after the game,” one fan tweeted. “Congratulations Matt on breaking a record all by yourself!”
“Not a ‘flex’ for us Lions fans, but sure does add more notch to the ‘LaFleur is soft narrative,” one fan tweeted.
“Detroit Vs Everyone,” a second fan posted.
“LaFleur got rage baited by a drunk fan,” a third fan posted. “Welcome to Detroit punk.”
talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, and you can stay up to date with all the latest from around the league via our dedicated ‘EndZone’ YouTube channel.
