Broncos CB Talib, Raiders WR Crabtree tossed after 2nd on-field incident
Nov 26, 2017, 3:53 PM | Updated: 3:57 pm
Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib took away Oakland Raiders receiving option Michael Crabtree on Sunday but ended up on the way out himself.
For the second time in less than 12 months, Talib and Crabtree scuffled on the field, this time with each throwing punches that landed them an ejection.
The brawl started with Crabtree blocking Talib along the Denver sideline well after the whistle and spilled back onto the field with each player throwing haymakers.
Talib vs. Crabtree Round 1. #4Broncos pic.twitter.com/KhIIMoGV91
— Mark Haas (@markhaastv) November 26, 2017
Talib vs. Crabtree Round 2. #4Broncos pic.twitter.com/ZGx9TbFeM8
— Mark Haas (@markhaastv) November 26, 2017
Raiders guard Gabe Jackson was also ejected from the game after striking an official early in the scrape.
Replays also show Talib yanking off the chain Crabtree had been wearing under his uniform, a move which he pulled during last season’s finale in Denver.
After that Jan. 1 matchup, Talib said, “He’s just been wearing that chain all year, man. It’s been growing on me. So, I said if he wears that chain in front of me I’ll snatch it off. He wore it in front of me, so I snatched it off.”
Said Crabtree at the time: “I don’t have history with anybody. I just felt like they were acting. They’re actors. You aren’t tough. You aren’t defending anybody up like that. You’re acting. You’re snatching chains up on the field. What do you accomplish? Are you hard? Are you tough? Does that make you tough? You’re snatching chains in front of the police and take off running. That was childish man.”
Crabtree entered Sunday’s game as the Raiders leading receiver in terms of receptions (42), touchdowns (6), and receiving yards per game (55.8).
Ranked 15th in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, Talib grades out as the Broncos top cornerback, just ahead of fellow “No Fly Zone” member Chris Harris Jr.
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