Los Angeles Rams rookie running back Jared Verse appeared to accept the fan abuse he received in Philadelphia before Sunday's Divisional Round playoff game against the Eagles.
Just days after admitting that he hates Eagles fans, the 24-year-old Florida State product took a pregame stroll at Lincoln Financial Field, where locals were waiting for him.
The Pro Bowl selection and teammate Byron Young were booed as they walked through the end zone before kickoff. They were seen placing their hands behind their ears to encourage the vitriol, and Young added a few repetitions of “thank you” to boot.
At one point, Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter said something to Verse, who quickly responded: “I'll take that 77 for the next round.” I'll keep it in my pocket.
Verse appeared to refer to the $77,000 bonus NFL players receive for reaching the conference championship, which the Rams would do if they can defeat the second-seeded Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Eagles fans may not have known him well before this week, but Verse popped up on their radar when asked about a viral video of a local verbally abusing a Packers fan at Lincoln Financial Field during the round of wildcards.
Jared Verse of the Rams attends warmups before an NFC divisional playoff game against the Eagles
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young, left, and teammate Jared Verse react to fans
“I hate Eagles fans,” the 24-year-old told The Los Angeles Times on Thursday. 'They are so annoying. I hate Eagles fans.”
Interestingly, Verse is actually from central Pennsylvania and grew up about a two-hour drive from the City of Brotherly Love.
Anyway, Verse's surprising admission came after Eagles fan Ryan Caldwell, 45, was fired from his job as a business analyst for a DEI-focused management consulting firm following a video viral of his vile rant towards a rival follower.
In the video, Caldwell is seen yelling obscenities at a woman wearing a Packers cap: “She's an ugly, dumb bitch!”
Verse's feelings toward Eagles fans were only encouraged by the video.
“When I see that green and white I hate it,” he said. 'Actually I get angry. Like it really turned me on.'
He went on to reveal that his bitter rivalry with the Eagles faithful began when he was subjected to abuse at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in November.
The obscenities were so loud he could hear them through his headphones.
“I didn't even do anything to them,” the Ohio-born rookie said. 'It was the first time I played. Oh, I hate Eagles fans.
In case any Philadelphians missed Verse's comments, they have since been emblazoned on a local billboard near Lincoln Financial Field.
Caldwell was fired from his DEI consulting agency and was banned by the Eagles from attending all future events at Lincoln Financial Field.
However, he has now claimed that the viral video did not capture the incident in its full context.
Verse, like many across the country, reacted to comments from a disgraced Eagles fan.
Despite apologizing to Ally Keller, the woman in question, for his “relentless words,” Caldwell maintained that he did not say them without provocation.
“While attending an NFL game last Sunday to support my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, an incident occurred that I deeply regret,” he told the New York Post.
“What started as a joke with two Packers fans sitting near me turned into something more serious and I said things that were unacceptable. In the heat of the moment, I chose unforgiving words to address one of the fans, Ms. Ally Keller.
“I want to sincerely apologize to Ms. Keller for those words, and to my wife, my family and friends, my former employer and my colleagues, Packer fans, Eagles fans, the Philadelphia Eagles, the city of Philadelphia and all those who were offended.
'That being said, there are two sides to every story. The video clip circulating online does not reflect the full context of what occurred, and my actions were not without provocation. I will live this experience and I am certainly paying a personal price. For those who don't know me, this incident does not reflect my values or the respect I have for others and is not indicative of the person I am.'