With a week to go before the 2023 NFL season kicks off, and longer than that to reach the apex of the weekend (Giants-Cowboys on Sunday Night Football), that means it's prime beef season.
Football fans need something to focus on that falls between "football" and "offseason," and NY Giants defender Jihad Ward's simmering feud with Aaron Rodgers, WWE-style, fits that bill pretty plainly.
Ward and Rodgers' fiery moment on this past week's episode of Hard Knocks went viral; Rodgers called Ward out for tracking him several steps after the play, then retorted that he "didn't know who was" when the two started going nose-to-nose.
Rodgers won Round 1 with a preseason touchdown that means nothing, but Ward struck back in the aftermath to explain what set up the trouble. He was miffed that Rodgers, Randall Cobb and Co. were spotted on the sidelines laughing about the illegal blindside block that concussed Giants cornerback Bobby McCain, and ... well, Ward can put it better than I can, anyway.
" “There’s a reason why I acted like that from the first place,’’ Ward said. “There’s a reason why I shoved him like I did. The reason why is because I don’t let any of my mother-f–king teammates get knocked over. And Randall — what’s his name? — Randall Cobb? He knew what he did.Jihad Ward
“That was some cheap s–t. If I see anything on the field, I’ve got to do what I’ve gotta do.
“At the end of the day, I don’t want anyone out here thinking I was trying to cause a scene,’’ Ward went on. “There’s a reason why I do things. That was some sucker s–t that Randall Cobb and Aaron Rodgers did, and I’m stamping on that.
“I ain’t hiding from nothing. Laugh now, cry later."
Hopefully, there are no more crackback blocks on Oct. 29, when these two sides meet during the regular season.
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