The Pittsburgh Steelers have been playing their best football of the season over the past month, with just two weeks remaining in the NFL regular season.
They are currently one Baltimore Ravens loss or one Steelers win away from clinching the AFC North title. However, Pittsburgh will be without star wide receiver DK Metcalf for the final two games after he was suspended following an altercation with a Detroit Lions fan during the team’s Week 16 win.
Metcalf was seen approaching the fan, who was seated behind the Steelers’ bench, grabbing him, and throwing a brief jab in his direction, clearly frustrated by something the fan was repeatedly saying.
The suspension was appealed but quickly upheld, and it also comes with the forfeiture of two game checks and $45 million in guaranteed money voided, a significant financial hit for the 28-year-old receiver.
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On Wednesday, while speaking with the media, Steelers veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers broke his silence on the incident and appeared to urge the league to make a significant change regarding what fans are allowed to say to players.
Rodgers suggested there should be a more clearly defined and strictly enforced code of conduct that fans must follow in order to enter — and remain in — stadiums during games.
“I think there’s a mindset that you pay for a ticket, you say whatever the hell you want,” Rodgers said. “I think there should be some sort of code of conduct. Obviously that was intentional, and I think there was some celebration afterward on his part.”
Pittsburgh’s final two games are against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday — a matchup that may not carry much weight if the Ravens lose Saturday night to the Green Bay Packers — followed by a Week 18 showdown against Baltimore to close the regular season.
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