It’s been a long time since the New York Giants and Jets have had a feud worthy enough of keeping an eye on.
On Tuesday night’s episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” Jets’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Giants’ linebacker Jihad Ward were seen exchanging smack-talk after a touchdown by Gang Green. During the scene, Ward had seemingly hit Rodgers late after he threw the ball and the Jets quarterback took offense.
“I don’t even know who you are,” Rodgers was heard saying to the Giants’ 29-year-old linebacker.
Wednesday afternoon provided clarity to Ward’s late hit on the Jets’ franchise quarterback though.
As first reported by Connor Hughes of SNY, Ward explained that the Jets were seen laughing after Randall Cobb delivered a bone-crushing hit on an inattentive Giants’ corner on a blindside hit with Rodgers and his teammate exchanging jokes after the play. Giants’ cornerback Bobby McCain had to leave the game with a head injury while Rodgers joked with Cobb saying “What are you doing bro? This ain’t 2014!”
Cobb is expected to be fined for the blindside block and was penalized for a personal foul penalty as well.
Ward called the hit from Cobb “sucker” stuff and took offense to the Jets making levity of the situation shortly after practice. Pushing Rodgers, to him, was a way for him to stick up for his teammates. The former second-round pick in the 2016 draft made it a point to note also that the two teams would see each other again in the regular season.
Gang Green has not commented on the situation but they will be back on the practice field Thursday morning.
The cross-town rivals will face off in Week 8 of the NFL season where tensions will be higher than they might have ever been in the cross-town rivalry’s history.
