During the Jacksonville Jaguars’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, there was a funny little moment during a punt return in which Jags running back and special-teamer Bernard Pierce turned around and blocked for Bucs return man Bobby Rainey. Pierce should have been trying to, you know, tackle Rainey — what with them being on the opposing team and all. It got a good chuckle from everyone, enough to be included in Monday Night Countdown‘s “C’Mon, Man!” segment (apologies for the yawping of buffoons):
When asked about the play after the game, Pierce was at a complete loss:
Jaguars RB Bernard Pierce on his special teams gaffe: “I can’t really explain it. I really don’t have an answer for it.”
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) October 11, 2015
Well, Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley may have an explanation for the play, and it’s exactly the one you were dreading and the one that kills all the laughter: Pierce might have had a concussion. From Big Cat Country:
“It is. It’s not a good play at all. When I saw it I couldn’t believe it, but I know he’s in the concussion protocol. I know after the game he had concussion symptoms. That’s where I’ll leave it at that, the play itself if you watched it.”
When Bradley was asked if Pierce was concussed before the play, he responded, “I imagine so.”
This is obviously distressing. The NFL is more aware of the dangers of brain injuries than ever before (thankfully), but still can’t seem to prevent players from taking the field when they’re experiencing concussion symptoms. Pierce may have made a silly mistake, but if he did it because his brain was literally damaged and misfiring, it ceases to be funny and becomes a chilling reminder of the violence of football.
(Via Big Cat Country)
