Furious NFL player leaps into stands to fight with fans who threw drinks at Seattle Seahawks star
Quinton Jefferson will likely face a suspension after attempting to launch into the seating area to confront the heckling Jacksonville Jaguars fans
A SERIES of ugly events led to a Seattle Seahawks player attempting to jump into the stands to fight with fans.
The Seahawks 30-24 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars had a hostile ending that saw the 21-stone defensive tackle lash out at fans that threw a bottle at him.
Quinton Jefferson was leaving the field after being ejected from the game for fighting on the field.
But the fight on the field almost turned to a fight in the stands as the 6' 4" player attempted to scale the wall that's more accustomed to players jumping up to celebrate with fans.
Jefferson was taunted by the raucous Jaguars fans as he made his way off the field.
As he turned round to argue, what appeared to be a sports drink was launched down from the seating area just as he came into range.
An already angry Jefferson lost his cool but was pulled back by security before things could get out of hand.
After the incident he said: "I'm not going to let somebody disrespect me, throw a beer on me. Just because I'm playing football, I'm still a human being. I'm still a man."
When asked if jumping into the stands was the right call he responded: "I don't know. Was it the right call for him to throw beer on me?
"I'm just wondering if it was the right call for him to throw a beer on me. Just saying."
His head coach Pete Carroll said: "I don't even know what happened, he just kind of lost it.
"Somebody poured a beer on his head as he was walking out the stadium. I told him that's pro football. They pay to get in. They can do whatever they want."
Carroll charged onto the field at the end of the game as his team and their opponents let their tempers flare.
Things spiralled out of control when Jacksonville took a knee in victory formation to run down the rest of the game clock.
Micheal Bennett of the Seahawks dangerously dived on the legs of the Jags centre which started the scuffle.
Jefferson was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct while his team-mate Sheldon Richardson suffered the same fate for throwing a punch.
Although nothing official has been said by the NFL, Jefferson will likely face a suspension for lashing out at fans.
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Similarly, if the fans who were caught on camera throwing the drink are identified they could be banned from the stadiums.
Fans are subject to a code of conduct and tickets can be revoked for violations.