According to a report by FOX 6 Sports, Packers’ safety Nick Collins went nuts on a Chicago Bear fan last night following his team’s 20-17 loss. Collins claims the fan called him a racial slur and there have been other reports that claim the fan spat at him, too.
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
Green Bay safety Nick Collins was involved in a post-game altercation with a fan at Soldier Field, according to a report from Fox 6 Sports in Milwaukee.
The station says it has video of the incident, but can’t air it until later in the day due to NFL restrictions.
Through a series of tweets, the station claims Collins was “provoked by a Bears fan” and proceeded to throw something at the offending party — possibly a roll of tape.
He was then reportedly restrained by Packers wide receiver Donald Driver.
Off-camera in the locker room, Collins said the fan used a racial slur and apologized to all fans for his actions, according to the station.
I’ve attended Bear games as a fan of the opposing team before and I can say first hand that some of those people are vile and absurd. But idiot fans are idiot fans – they’re in all 32 NFL cities. There are idiots in Chicago, there are idiots in Green Bay, there are idiots in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas and Cleveland. That’s just the way it is and unfortunately some people can’t enjoy a game without being a loudmouth moron. I’m all for a good-natured ribbing if you’re wearing the colors of the opposing team in someone’s stadium. But nobody should have to go to a game and feel disrespected because they’re rooting for the away team.
I side with the player here. Collins is a human being and if the fan did use a racial slur, then I don’t care if Collins is a football player or not – he has the right to go off. Should he have kept walking and not said anything? Yes, but I would have probably reacted the same way if I were him. Nobody should have to take that kind of abuse.
Here’s hoping the fan fell down a flight of stairs when he got home and broke every bone in his body.
