Buffalo Bills players Shaq Lawson and Jordan Phillips responded Monday following a Sunday sideline confrontation with a Philadelphia Eagles fan that ended with Lawson shoving the fan.
Both players wrote on Instagram that the fan threatened them and their families in a situation that escalated throughout the game.
Lawson apologized for the shove while writing of the fan that
“certain lines should not be crossed.”
The incident was captured on video from multiple angles during Philadelphia’s overtime home win over Buffalo.
A view from the stands shows Lawson, Phillips, Ed Oliver and Greg Rousseau — all Bills defenders — approaching an Eagles fan in the front row.
Lawson then shoves the fan before security intervenes and the Bills players walk back to their bench.
The fan appeared to be fine and continued to heckle the Bills players.
Another angle from the field confirms that it was Lawson who shoved the fan.
Lawson wrote on Instagram Monday that the fan made
“life threatening remarks toward us and our families”
before the game started and that,
“eventually our emotions boiled over.”
“Before the game started yesterday, there was a fan behind our bench who was making life threatening remarks towards us and our families,”
Lawson wrote.
“We asked Philadelphia security to remove the fan, but he was allowed to stay for the entire game.”
Phillips wrote on Instagram that he won’t tolerate
“someone threatening me or my family.”
“I love the crowd I love rowdy fans it makes the game fun,”
Phillips wrote.
The NFL had not responded to a Buffalo News request for comment on the situation as of Sunday night.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott addressed the incident Monday while speaking with reporters.
“Obviously, a very unfortunate situation,”
Sean McDermott said.
A league source stated that Lawson faces a likely fine and potential suspension for his role in the incident.
It is unclear what the fan said but several Bills players went over to the stands during the game to confront the individual.
Jordan Phillips (No. 97) can be seen having a heated exchange with the Eagles fan. Shaq Lawson (No. 90) appears to shove the Philly fan during the altercation.
Sports leagues frown on things turning physical between players and fans.
“Three recent incidents involving players verbally exchanging threats and insults did not result in fines or suspensions, but they didn’t involve any shoving or striking, either.”
An Eagles fan noted that the altercation happened in the first quarter of the November 26 NFL showdown.
Becca Cavalier, an Eagles fan who shot the video that went viral Sunday night, told The Buffalo News that she believes the incident occurred in the “first quarter.”
Phillips ‘and the fan in the video were chirping at each other a lot the whole game, but I couldn’t really hear what was being said.
“She said the players returned to the bench and the fan remained in the stands for the rest of the game.”
Things are not going well for the Buffalo Bills on and off the field. The Bills lost 34-37 in a thrilling Sunday game of Week 12. However, the Eagles emerged victorious, and the Bills suffered another loss.
The DT got so frustrated by the attitude by one of the Eagles fan that he went straight up to his face and had some heated words.
Luckily, Phillips’ teammates took him away from the fan, who continuously taunted the Bills team.
