Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has become the target of death threats after their game on Sunday.
These came after the 26-year-old Valdes-Scantling fumbled during overtime.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling with a costly fumble 😬
Colts take over in OT
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/N5ALtDHju6
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) November 23, 2020
The fumble gave the Indianapolis Colts the ball in OT, placed on the Packers’ 30-yard line.
This was a critical moment in the game, as the Colts eventually went on to kick a field goal for the win.
Besides the mistake, Valdes-Scantling had three receptions for 55 yards.
One of these was a big play for the Packers, coming down with the pass in the middle of three Colts players late in the fourth quarter.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling snags Aaron Rodgers' DEEP BALL! 👀
Here comes Green Bay! pic.twitter.com/zHcbHCYvRx
— Packers Nation (@PackersNationCP) November 23, 2020
After the game, Valdes-Scantling received multiple death threats for his fumble.
He took to Twitter to respond to the messages:
“Death threats over a football game? Jesus you people need help. It’s actually sick. I’m good. My team got my back.”
For Valdes-Scantling, the support from his teammates served as a moral boost amid the threats.
Support from Other Packers
Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur was vocal in supporting Valdes-Scantling in his post-game.
Rodgers also defended the wide receiver in his press conference.
“That stuff just happens,” Rodgers said.
Fellow wide receiver Davante Adams also backed up his teammate.
The Packers have Marquez Valdes-Scantling's back! 👊 pic.twitter.com/P5HmAEmTKH
— Packers Nation (@PackersNationCP) November 23, 2020
Though the Packers lost the game, the reality of the situation stood out to them.
Because of this, they wasted no time in coming to stand next to their teammate.
They recognized the impact these types of death threats can have, understanding how difficult being a professional athlete can be.
Athletes Receiving Death Threats
Unfortunately, athletes tend to be the target of death threats more often than not.
Being under the microscope when playing, every mistake is heightened in the eyes of the fans.
With the rise of social media, the ability to anonymously send messages have led to an increase of death threats towards athletes.
The most recent and high-profile example of this was in the 2020 NBA Finals.
Danny Green of the Los Angeles Lakers missed a shot late in the game that could have helped the Lakers win.
After the game, both he and his fiancé received death threats on social media.
In the MLB, Houston Astros players that were involved in the 2017 cheating scandal also received threats.
Valdes-Scantling also isn’t the first Packers players to get death threats after a mistake on the field.
In the 2015 NFC Championship Game, Packers tight end Brandon Bostick missed an onside kick recovery.
With the importance of a playoff game, Bostick’s mistake was heightened in the mind of the fans.
He received numerous death threats as a result.
Fanatic fans care deeply about their team’s performance, many times more than the players themselves.
While this creates amazing atmospheres for the players, it can sometimes backfire if taken too far.
There is a lot of pressure on these players; most of the time, they put this on themselves.
When fans go against them, it can have an extremely negative impact.
The sudden retirement of Colts’ QB Andrew Luck in 2018 was an example of how athletes can be pushed out of the sport for mental reasons.
When watching any professional sporting event, it is critical to see these athletes as fellow humans who may make a mistake every now and again.
NEXT: Packers WR Allen Lazard Activated From IR
