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nick wagner
Santa Clara, California – a few moments later san francisco‘S win 20-9 Above carolina Monday Night, 49ers Wide Receiver john jennings contacted panthers security trayvon mohrig and fired a fast, open-handed right cross into Möhrig’s face.
Both players immediately separated with the Panthers linebacker chris barnes And Austin Moss II, the 49ers’ senior director of player engagement, intervened to keep them apart.
As for the beginning of the altercation, television cameras showed Moehrig punching Jennings in the groin area at the end of the game. Jennings did not immediately retaliate and was seen making his stand in front of officials for the flag on Moehrig.
“I was just responding to some childish behavior,” Jennings said of his actions after the final whistle.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan described Moehrig’s move as a “cheap shot.”
“I was really proud of Jauan that he didn’t lose his mind and get to the sideline,” Shanahan said.
Jennings said he did not expect a punch from Moehrig during the game, but acknowledged that it was likely a result of his interest in playing past — and sometimes with — the echo of the whistle.
“It was just out of the blue,” Jennings said. “I think it’s probably like I was saying, just my ball-playing history. I work hard. I’m physically stronger than a lot of DBs and a lot of stuff happens between the whistles. At least with me.”
As Jennings suspected, Moehrig and the Panthers objected to his blocking style that often frustrated opponents and sometimes instigated physical altercations with them. Jennings was eliminated from last season’s final Arizona Cardinals After taking a couple of unnecessary roughness penalties.
Moehrig, for his part, said that Jennings was pushing him back and saying “crazy things” to him during the game.
“He was doing some extra work after the game,” Moehrig said. “I’ll take that. It wasn’t just frustration. It was isolation.”
Asked if his reaction was appropriate, Moehrig said, “It is what it is.”
panthers cornerback mike jackson Adding, “I don’t have anything nice to say [No.] 15.
carolina coach dave canales He said he needed to review the film and talk to Moehrig about what happened.
“I’ll get to the bottom of it,” Canales said. “I want to see what really happened. I haven’t had a chance to talk to Trey about it yet. That’s a conversation to have.”
Moehrig acknowledged that he would “probably” be fined for the punch he threw at Jennings.
Both players may also face suspension. detroit lions Security brian branch Was suspended one game for striking earlier this season kansas city chiefs RECEIVER juju smith-schuster After a game is over. Branch appealed but league official Jordy Nelson upheld his suspension.
NFL vice president of football operations John Runyan said in a letter to Branch that his “aggressive, non-football act was completely inappropriate, posed a serious risk of injury and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players.”
ESPN’s David Newton contributed to this report.
