NFL linebacker won't face charges after flattening woke protester who stormed field with smoke bomb: 'There's consequences for your actions'



Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner won't face charges after utterly flattening a woke protester who stormed the playing field with a pink smoke bomb during a "Monday Night Football" game against the San Francisco 49ers in October.

A Santa Clara Police Department spokesperson told TMZ Sports that cops "did not file charges with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office" in reference to Taylor's mighty wallop on national television.

Police launched a probe the day after the Oct. 3 game at Levi's Stadium when Alexander Taylor claimed Wagner assaulted him, the outlet reported.

Taylor is an activist for the Berkeley-based animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere, and his stunt apparently was an attempt to raise awareness about a trial involving the alleged theft of pigs from a factory farm.

\u201c\u2018Monday Night Football\u2019 fan who stormed field identified as animal rights activist Alex Taylor https://t.co/90EXWdz5ua via @nypostsports\u201d
— Harry (@Harry) 1664895954

What's the background?

During the second quarter, Taylor ran onto the field with the smoke bomb and successfully evaded security personnel, one of whom slipped and fell in the process.

But as Taylor skirted near the Rams' sideline, Wagner emerged and put a heavy lick on the woke demonstrator, who immediately collapsed to the turf.

Here's a look at it from a few angles — it's safe to say onlookers were pleased:

Bobby Wagner tackles fan on the field (fan angles) youtu.be

What did Wagner have to say?

Wagner later said he knew about the protester filing a police report but had larger concerns on his mind, ESPN reported.

"Can't really focus on it," Wagner said, according to the sports network. "I'm more concerned about the security guard that was hurt trying to chase him. ... You just got to do what you got to do."

Wagner also said players never know what trespassers who run onto the field have in their hands or pockets, ESPN said.

"There's consequences for your actions," Wagner added, according the sports network.

Rams coach Sean McVay has Taylor's back, ESPN said: "I think that we all know where Bobby's intentions were ... and I support Bobby Wagner. That's where I'm at with that. I don't think anybody will disagree."

'You do owe a duty of safety, even to trespassers'

After the protester claimed Wagner assaulted him, Los Angeles personal injury attorney Rony Barsoum told KTTV-TV the protester could have a case against Taylor under California law.

"You have to provide a reasonable amount of safety, even for trespassers," Barsoum told the station, adding that if "someone trespasses on your premises" and gets injured by "something dangerous on your premises ... that can be a claim, even though he was trespassing. So you do owe a duty of safety, even to trespassers."

Barsoum added to KTTV that the protester can claim that Wagner "didn't need to tackle him" and that "security was gonna get him" and Wagner "didn't have to hit him that hard." The station also pointed out that Wagner can claim he feared for his and others' safety and was therefore justified in knocking the protester down.

Animal-rights protester who ran onto field files police report against LA Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner who clobbered him; lawyer says protester may have case



The animal-rights protester who ran onto the playing field during a Monday Night Football game this week filed a police report against Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner, who famously clobbered the protester and sent him to the turf, ESPN reported.

What's more, an attorney said the protester may have a case.

What are the details?

Santa Clara Police Department Lt. Cuong Phan said the police report was filed Tuesday afternoon and that information will be limited since it's an active investigation, ESPN reported.

ESPN, citing TMZ Sports, added that individual who filed the report is an activist for the Berkeley, California-based animal-rights group Direct Action Everywhere and was trying to "raise awareness for a trial involving the alleged theft of pigs from a factory farm."

Direction Action Everywhere identified the protester in question as Alex Taylor.

\u201c\u2018Monday Night Football\u2019 fan who stormed field identified as animal rights activist Alex Taylor https://t.co/90EXWdz5ua via @nypostsports\u201d
— Harry (@Harry) 1664895954

What's the background?

During the second quarter of Monday night's game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California — the home field of the San Francisco 49ers — Taylor ran onto the field with a device emitting pink smoke and successfully evaded security personnel, one of whom slipped and fell in the process.

As Taylor skirted near the Rams' sideline, Wagner emerged and put a full-speed lick on the woke demonstrator, who immediately collapsed to the turf. Fellow Rams linebacker Takkarist McKinley also closed in on Taylor, ESPN said — but it was Wagner who made the big hit.

Here's a look at it from a few angles — it's safe to say onlookers were pleased:

Bobby Wagner tackles fan on the field (fan angles)youtu.be

In a now-deleted tweet, Direct Action Everywhere posted a photo of Taylor following the incident holding a police citation and saying he had a burn on his arm.

What did Wagner have to say?

Wagner said Wednesday he knows about the police report but has larger concerns on his mind, ESPN reported.

"Can't really focus on it," Wagner said, according to the sports network. "I'm more concerned about the security guard that was hurt trying to chase him. ... You just got to do what you got to do."

Wagner repeated Wednesday his concern that players never know what trespassers on the field have in their hands or pockets, ESPN said.

"There's consequences for your actions," Wagner added, according the sports network.

Rams coach Sean McVay has Taylor's back, ESPN said: "I think that we all know where Bobby's intentions were ... and I support Bobby Wagner. That's where I'm at with that. I don't think anybody will disagree."

Attorney says protester may have a case

Los Angeles personal injury attorney Rony Barsoum told KTTV-TV the protester may have a case against Taylor under California law.

"You have to provide a reasonable amount of safety, even for trespassers," Barsoum told the station, adding that if "someone trespasses on your premises" and gets injured by "something dangerous on your premises ... that can be a claim, even though he was trespassing. So you do owe a duty of safety, even to trespassers."

Barsoum added to KTTV that the protester can claim that Wagner "didn't need to tackle him" and that "security was gonna get him" and Wagner "didn't have to hit him that hard." The station also pointed out that Wagner can claim he feared for his and others' safety and was therefore justified in knocking the protester down.

Protester trucked by Rams' Bobby Wagner on MNF files police reportyoutu.be

LA Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner annihilates animal-rights activist who invaded playing field during game — and everybody loves the hit



Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner absolutely leveled an animal-rights activist who made the mistake of running onto the playing field during Monday night's football game against the San Francisco 49ers — and getting a tad too close to the Rams' sideline.

What happened?

The activist ran onto the field during the second quarter — with a device emitting pink smoke — and was successfully evading security personnel, one of whom slipped and fell in the process.

But Wagner is paid big money for not missing moving objects on the field — and he clobbered this guy for free.

As the woke demonstrator skirted near the Rams' sideline, Wagner emerged and put a full-speed lick on the interloper, who immediately collapsed to the turf.

Image source: YouTube screenshot, composite

Fellow Rams linebacker Takkarist McKinley assisted, ESPN said.

Peyton and Eli Manning sure enjoyed it:

Bobby Wagner tackles fan that ran onto field | NFL on ESPN youtu.be

"Yes! That's what we're talkin' about!" Peyton Manning shouted while punching the air during a replay of Wagner's hit.

What did Wagner have to say?

Wagner told ESPN that he was intent on "keeping it safe" for those around him.

"You don't know what that fan got or what they're doing," he added to the sports network. "You see it all the time, and we don't know what they're carrying in their pockets. It's whatever that little smoke stuff is, but that s**t could be dangerous. One of the guys on the other side, it looked like he got hurt, and security looked like he was struggling, so I was frustrated, so I took it out on him."

Here's a look from a few other angles; onlookers were pleased:

Bobby Wagner tackles fan on the field (fan angles) youtu.be

49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan enjoyed Wagner's hit as well. "I saw Bobby Wagner take somebody out," he told ESPN. "That was kind of cool to see."

The Rams lost to the 49ers, 24-9.

What's the story with the demonstration?

Direct Action Everywhere appeared to take responsibility for the demonstration, Fox News reported.

Two activists were identified as Alex Taylor and Allison Fluty, both of whom are from the Bay Area, Fox News added. Direct Action Everywhere tweeted a photo of the pair wearing "RightToRescue.com" T-shirts and holding their citations, noting that Taylor is the activist whom Wagner tackled:

\u201cRELEASED: Alex and Allison, the 2 activists who disrupted tonight\u2019s NFL game, have been released from police custody. Alex, who was tackled by Bobby Wagner, has a burn on his arm. Otherwise, they\u2019re a bit beaten up but in good spirits.\u201d
— Direct Action Everywhere (@Direct Action Everywhere) 1664852554

Direct Action Everywhere said in a press release that two of its investigators, Paul Darwin Picklesimer and Wayne Hsiung, were charged with multiple felonies for "rescuing" piglets in 2017 from Circle Four Farms, which is owned by Smithfield Foods, Fox News said.

"Smithfield will do anything to shield its abuses and protect its profits," Taylor said in a news release, according to the cable network. "We must take action to stop the violence and create a better future for us all."

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Steve Kim: For the Rams, winning over the city of Los Angeles is more important than winning it all



The Los Angeles Rams want to be more than Super Bowl champs. They want to be L.A.'s team, which is a much loftier goal than champions of the NFL. The Lakers and the Dodgers run Tinseltown and have for decades.

That's why Stan Kroenke's Rams approach every season like it's their last.

That's why they started the week making a bold move, trading a couple of early-round draft choices to the Denver Broncos for eight-time Pro Bowler Von Miller, arguably the premier edge rusher of the past decade. He'll pair beautifully with arguably the premier inside rusher of all time, Aaron Donald.

Donald and Miller could be the greatest one-two punch in Los Angeles since Shaq and Kobe or Magic and Kareem.

Of course, on the other side of the ball, the Rams cut bait with former No. 1 pick Jared Goff. They shipped him off to Detroit for the strong-armed Matt Stafford, who has shown that he can expand Sean McVay's offense in ways that Goff simply couldn't.

The financial commitment to acquiring Miller is relatively small. The Broncos will pay the majority of Miller's $9.7 million salary for the rest of this year. But the move is symbolic of the mission statement of this franchise

The Rams have one goal — not just to get to the Super Bowl, as they did in the 2018 season, but to win it. Anything short of that will be a letdown. For this franchise, there is no five-year plan. The window is squarely 2021. They'll worry about the subsequent seasons as they come.

It's a far cry from the Rams team that ended up leaving Southern California back in the mid-1990s. Back then, the team was owned by Georgia Frontiere, who took over the reins after the sudden death of her husband, Carroll Rosenbloom, in 1979. After moving to Anaheim Stadium in Orange County, after decades at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Rams played second fiddle in this region to not just the Lakers and the Dodgers, but the Oakland Raiders, too.

Frontiere's run was relatively successful, but it was marked by a frugal nature.

If I had to compare her ownership to anyone, it would be Rachel Phelps, from the classic baseball movie "Major League." Phelps' plan was to tank the fictional Cleveland Indians so badly that ticket sales would decline to a point where they could break their lease and move the team to Miami. And as you look back at how the Rams were run, there are some parallels, as they ended up in St. Louis for the 1995 season.

During the 1980s, I was a hard-core Rams fan. To this day, the great Eric Dickerson is one of my all-time favorite athletes. But for as much as I remember his prodigious rushing records, his career was marked by multiple holdouts, the last of which led to a blockbuster trade to the Indianapolis Colts in 1987. That was the day I realized professional sports was first and foremost a business.

Now under the stewardship of Stan Kroenke, the Rams are no longer just a mom-and-pop shop. Their home is the multibillion-dollar SoFi Stadium, a new, glistening, state-of-the-art structure that is a monument to the financial power of the team's owner.

Kroenke understands that Los Angeles has many entertainment and sports options. The Lakers, the Dodgers, the Kings have all won championships this century. And the Clippers are now a serious franchise. The Chargers are a talented squad, but largely an afterthought.

The NFL is the most popular league in America, Los Angeles the number two market. The Rams aren't just trying to lift the Lombardi Trophy. This latest gambit is about being the most important and influential franchise in all of Southern California.

Whitlock: Are NFL stadiums primed to serve as catalysts for the purge?



Pittsburgh police are investigating a brawl between a lone black man and a white couple that took place in the stands at Saturday's Lions-Steelers exhibition game.

The melee was captured on a camera phone and shared across social media platforms. Perhaps you've seen the video. It is seemingly everywhere. Here's a link showing the ugly fracas.

You can see a woman standing and repeatedly shouting "shut up" at her husband/boyfriend/friend, then turning to confront the black man, who appears to be bickering with her male companion. She jabs her finger in the face of the black man and tells him to "get the f*** out." The man tells her not to touch him and pushes her hand and arm to the side. She then slaps him.

From there, hell breaks loose. The white couple badly loses a two-on-one fight. Fans scream. Someone uploads a video of the fight to Twitter. The video goes viral. People across social media take sides, debating who instigated the fight. Did the black man unjustly push her first? Did the white woman spark the entire fiasco?

None of that is all that interesting. You can argue either side. I happen to believe the woman wrongly threw gasoline on a lit match. Her male companion was seated and seemed to be doing all he could not to engage with an idiot intent on confrontation. I blame the woman. But, again, that's not really interesting.

What's interesting is my belief that we're going to see more and more of these viral videos throughout the NFL season. Professional football, America's pastime, might turn into ground zero for this country's latest civil war.

The NFL attracts the greatest cross-section of American sports fans. Both good old boys and homeboyz love the NFL. So do the women who love them. The vaxxed and un-vaxxed love watching Tom Brady take on Lamar Jackson. Trump supporters and Trump haters sit next to each other at NFL stadiums.

The differences we used to ignore when we attended sporting events are now omnipresent within our minds. All human interaction is interpreted through lenses that assess skin color, political identity, sexual orientation, gender beliefs, and whatever else smartphones and social media apps have prioritized in our brains.

We used to judge fans by the jerseys they wore. Not any more. We now look much deeper. Does the fan wear a mask? Does he or she wear a mask properly? Does that mask say Black Lives Matter or Trump? Is he un-vaxxed and coughing?

We're all potential lit matches waiting to be sparked. Alcohol and emotion are the accelerants. Maybe women, too.

Two weeks ago, inside Los Angeles' shiny new SoFi Stadium, a similar fan brawl went viral across social media. The Rams and the Chargers were playing. This brawl appears to be between Rams fans. Here's a link to the video.

A guy wearing an Aaron Donald jersey bluffs like he wants to take on a group of fans. He turns his back and begins to walk away. It's over. And then a woman I will affectionately call "Light-skin Lizzo" throws a Pepsi on the back of the guy wearing the Aaron Donald jersey.

From there, hell breaks loose.

Take a look at this angle of the fight. Here you can more easily see the accelerant thrown by Eve, I mean "Light-skin Lizzo."

Maybe these two fights are isolated incidents. Fights have been taking place inside football stadiums for years. However, I suspect we're going to be seeing more of them spill out over social media. America is filled with rage and tension. Despite fewer vehicles being on the road due to the COVID pandemic, traffic fatalities have risen across America. Here's a link to a story about it. Check out this story about a rise in road rage killings.

We're angry. We've been programmed to hate and assume the worst about each other. It feels as if the puppet masters are frustrated we no longer have world wars, so they're promoting civil wars across the globe.

The purge could potentially start at an NFL stadium near you.