Jalen Carter
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Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
The NFL is sure taking its sweet time to hand down whatever punishment it deems necessary for Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 1.
In true Philly fashion, Eagles fans have not been taking that period of waiting well as they hold their breath to see if Carter will be available for a Week 2 Super Bowl rematch at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Carter didn’t play a single snap in the season opener, spitting on Prescott just 6 seconds into the game and following a break in play after an injury on the opening kickoff.
Video showed Prescott spitting in Carter’s general direction before he approached the 6-foot-3, 314-pound NFL All-Pro. Moments later, Carter spit on Prescott’s chest once the 2 were almost face to face.
Carter was ejected from the game but his team was still able to pull out a 24-20 win.
Since then, there’s been wild speculation about whether Carter would just receive a hefty fine or a suspension.
With the game on Thursday night, the timing seems to indicate a fine instead of a suspension — NFL fines are usually announced for the previous week on the following Saturday — but that has done little to stop the hand-wringing for Eagles fans, who were in the midst of a full on crash out by midweek.
Watching Eagles Fans Spiral On Social Media
While watching Prescott get spit on by Carter was not funny — it was gross — watching the discourse online that followed was its own form of pure comedy gold.
“Today is National ‘don’t suspendJalen Carter for spitting on Dak because Dak spat first’ day Just letting you know NFL,” Eagles fan account AJ Muse wrote on its official X account on September 8.
“Somehow, someway I know Patrick Mahomes is behind this push forJalen Carter to be suspended, I just can’t prove it yet,” X user Mulatto Curls wrote.
“In order to assist the Kansas City Chiefs again…….the NFL hereby announces the one gamesuspension ofJalen Carter,” AmericanIPA8 wrote on its official X account.
“IfJalen Carter gets suspended, it’s cause the NFL just don’t wanna see Chiefs start 0-2,” X user Lazerus wrote.
“Nearly 1pm on TUESDAY and we still do not have aJalen Carter verdict,” YouTuber Thomas Mott wrote on his official X account on Septemer 9. “Suspending him 5 DAYS after the incident would be a terrible look by the NFL …”
“The league had all the time from Thursday to Tuesday to make a decision onJalen Carter,” Bleacher Report’s Thomas R. Peterson wrote on X on September 9. “Suspending him now would just be a total dick move.”
Former UGA Bulldog and current Eagle star rookie Jalen Carter, who hosted a Thanksgiving event for 150 kids at the Boys and Girls club in Philadelphia.
pic.twitter.com/jwLb4Le3pZ
— 704 Dawg (@FSFRecruits) November 23, 2023
Eagles’ Fangio DID NOT Find Humor In Spitgate
One person who did not find any humor in “Spitgate” was super serious Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who seemed to take his superstar protege to task.
““To be considered a leader, actions speak louder than words,” Fangio told PHLY Sports reporter EJ Smith on September 9. “And he has to speak with his actions.”