Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith had a message for the hometown fans who booed him after his team’s loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, November 23 — and it involved the use of one finger.
Video appears to show Smith, 35, jogging off the field at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and giving the finger to the fans who were voicing their dissatisfaction with the 24-10 loss.
The Raiders released a statement later Sunday night responding to the incident.
“The Raiders are aware of an obscene gesture made by Geno Smith towards fans following Sunday’s game at Allegiant Stadium,” the statement ready. “We are disappointed in his actions and have discussed the incident with Geno. We hold the Raider Nation in the highest regard and take this matter seriously.”
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It was a rough day for Smith all around, as he was sacked 10 times. He didn’t address the apparent bird after the game, but he did take responsibility for the team’s fifth consecutive loss.
“It’s on me,” he said in the postgame press conference. “I’ve got to make better plays and find a way.”
The Raiders’ woes extend far beyond the play of their quarterback.. Las Vegas fired first-year offensive coordinator Chip Kelly on Sunday night with six games remaining in the regular season.
“I spoke with Chip Kelly earlier this evening and informed him of his release as offensive coordinator of the Raiders,” head coach Pete Carroll said in a statement. “I would like to thank Chip for his service and wish him all the best in the future.”
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Kelly, 61, spoke to NFL reporter Jay Glazer after the news broke, and he mentioned Smith specifically as someone he enjoyed working with.
“I really loved those players. I’m a huge, huge Geno Smith fan,” he said. That was one of the best parts of this experience for me, working with Geno and those guys every day. But hey, we got to win. I get it.”
Even with the Raiders at 2-9 overall, Carroll, 74, told reporters the locker room is still optimistic.
“They ain’t giving up on each other. I’m not giving up on them, and they’re not giving up on me, I hope,” he said.
Carroll’s sentiment was backed up by Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.
“No one here is B.S.ing and stuff,” he said. “Everyone wants to win so bad, and it’s just not coming together on game day.”
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For Smith, his non-verbal outburst may result in a fine, as the NFL has previously been strict with those who extend the one-finger salute to the crowd. In October, the league fined Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones $250,000 for flipping off fans.
As a player, Smith’s fine likely won’t be quite that large, but the NFL takes its image seriously, and a quarterback making an obscene gesture likely won’t go over well in the league office.
It might not be the only middle finger fine the NFL hands down after Sunday, either. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers appeared to flip off ESPN cameras prior to his game against the Chicago Bears. ESPN was able to blur the video when it appeared on SportsCenter with SVP.
