Aaron Rodgers has condemned online death threats against one of his wide receivers, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, after the Green Bay Packers’ 34-31 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on November 22.
Valdes-Scantling fumbled the ball in overtime against the Colts, which led to their winning field goal. He received death threats soon after the game and told ESPN he wanted to “get people to understand that we’re humans, too, we’re not just some number on a jersey, that we’re people first.” It was the first fumble of the 26-year-old’s NFL career.
Death threats over a football game? Jesus you people need help. It’s actually sick. I’m good. My team got my back. ✊🏾
— Marquez V-S (@MVS__11) November 23, 2020
On November 24, Rodgers defended Valdes-Scantling. “I would say [the threats] are extremely unnecessary,” the quarterback said during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show. “I understand the rooting interests in the game and how important it is to so many people, and it’s really important to us, too. But I think that’s very unnecessary. I’m sorry he had to go through that. I’m sure if I was checking social media, I’m sure there would be plenty of games where that happened to me.”
The defeat dropped the Packers to a 7-3 record, but they still have a healthy lead in the NFC North over the second-placed Chicago Bears (5-5).
Tоm Lυtz
Portions originally published on The Guardian as Aaron Rodgers defends Valdes-Scantling after Packers fans’ death threats
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