Controversy is already swirling just one game into the NFL season, and it centers on Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter. You might want to read the rest of this on an empty stomach…
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Not even one minute into the season opener Thursday (Sept. 4), Carter was ejected for spitting at Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The Pro Bowler didn’t log a single snap before being tossed, drawing ruthless criticism from Eagles and football fans overall.
“As an Eagles fan I’m going to be the one to say it. Jalen Carter needs to be handled on my soul,” TikToker @itsbandznem said. “I’m confused as to why he was even on the field. We were six seconds into the game. Not even on the defensive play yet. Like what are you doing? He needs to be handled immediately.”
“Now me personally, I’m a diehard eagle, but that one right there, I don’t know nothing about him. I don’t want any parts in him. I ain’t no fan of that. That was some distasteful stuff. That’s trifling. Pure evil.”
Some social media users pointed to Carter as an example of why Black players are often judged with harsher scrutiny than others.
“It’s always Jalen Carter,” TikToker @jordansayso_ said. “You need to calm your big black [expletive] down. I ain’t going to lie. When other people talk about how black people be like thugs, they think of you. You are bad as hell for black people.”
NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe chimed in as well, noting that spitting has historically been used to demean Black people during the civil rights era.
After the Eagles’ 24-20 victory, it was revealed that Prescott had actually spit first…though not directly at Carter. As the saying goes, officials usually catch the reaction, not the action.
“Yes, Dak spit first but did Dak spit on Jalen Carter,” Sharpe asked? Answer me this. Did Dak spit on Jalen Carter? It doesn’t matter who spit first. Did he spit on Jalen Carter? If you can answer yes to that, then we can have a further discussion. Other than that, what are you talking about?”
Following the Eagles’ 24-20 victory, Carter apologized to fans, vowing never to repeat such behavior.
“It was a mistake that happened on my side. It won’t happen again,” Carter emphasized.
“I feel bad for just my teammates and fans out there,” he continued. “I’m doing it for them. I’m doing it for my family, also. But the fans — they showed the most love.”
Still, given Carter’s history — including a 2023 fine for putting a 49ers player in a headlock and multiple unnecessary roughness penalties over the years — it wouldn’t be surprising if another incident arises.
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