Bengals lineman trades heated messages with rival following Super Bowl
Following their disappointing loss in the Super Bowl, one Bengals offensive lineman responded to another NFL player mocking him after the final play. Left guard Quinton Spain got involved in a heated string of messages with Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, in a continuation of words they shared after the Titans lost to the Bengals in this year’s NFL playoffs.
Bengals lineman trolled over Super Bowl loss
One of the defining moments and lasting images of Super Bowl 56 is the Bengals’ final offensive play of the game that saw Joe Burrow flip the football away as he was wrapped to the ground by Aaron Donald. On the play, Spain was the lineman that appeared to be in charge of blocking Donald and the replay shows him being completely left behind as Donald rushed past him. On a night filled with criticism against the Bengals’ offensive line, seeing Spain leave Donald untouched for the game’s final play left a lingering image for anyone watching the game.
Simmons was quick to call attention to the blown blocking assignment, having already traded heated words with Spain online after the Titans’ loss to Cincinnati earlier in the playoffs. “Damn 67…” was all Simmons needed to say after the game, referencing Spain’s jersey number.
Spain didn’t wait long to respond. “Don’t damn me I know you was watching the whole game waiting for me to mess up and next time just @ me ok like I did you,” commented Spain on Sunday night.
Spain’s response referenced their previous exchange on Twitter, where a now-deleted message from Spain celebrated their victory over the Titans while saying “F*** [Jeffery Simmons]” and seeming to challenge him to a fight the next time they met. His comments drew extra attention after the win because Simmons finished that matchup with three sacks on Joe Burrow, seeming to get the better of Spain and the offensive line all game long.
Simmons appeared to end their back-and-forth after a few more messages, telling Spain to get some rest and joking that he knows he’s in a bad mood after the loss. Spain took the last jab of the night by asking for advice on how to rest since Simmons and the Titans got a head start three weeks before.
Whatever the reason for their initial altercation, it’s apparent that Simmons still had it in his mind while watching the exciting finish to this year’s Super Bowl. The Titans and Bengals are set to play one time next season, with Cincinnati travelling to play the Titans at home. The NFL has yet to announce game dates, but fans are ensured one potential matchup between Spain and Simmons next year.