The blindside hit that seemingly sparked the beef between the Jets and Giants is now being punished by the NFL.
Jets receiver Randall Cobb was fined $13,889 dollars for his blindside hit on Giants cornerback Bobby McCain in the teams’ preseason finale, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported.
During the Jets’ first drive last Saturday, Cobb ran across the field and hit McCain as he tried to set a block on a passing play, drawing a 15-yard penalty for the blindside hit.
McCain left the game with a concussion.
That hit — and Aaron Rodgers’ subsequent reaction — led Giants defensive tackle Jihad Ward to have a bit of a spat with Gang Green’s new signal-caller, Ward said.
In moments captured by HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” Ward and Rodgers went back-and-forth after the Giant hit Rodgers late after a passing play.
“That’s f–king bulls–t, bro,” Rodgers said to Ward. “What the f–k is that? Show some respect. C’mon, what the f–k is that? Five damn steps.”
Rodgers then went on to shade the defensive tackle, who’s in his eighth year in the league and second with the Giants.
“I said, ‘I don’t even know who you are.’” Rodgers said.
Ward responded by saying, “I don’t know who you are, bro. I don’t know who the f–k you are!”
Rodgers and Cobb were later captured by the show’s cameras joking about the penalty.
On Wednesday, Ward said to reporters that he hit Rodgers late because of Cobb’s blindside block.
“There’s a reason why I acted like that from the first place,’’ Ward said. “There’s a reason why I shoved him like I did. The reason why is because I don’t let any of my mother-f–king teammates get knocked over. And Randall — what’s his name? — Randall Cobb? He knew what he did.
“That was some cheap s–t. If I see anything on the field, I’ve got to do what I’ve gotta do.
“At the end of the day, I don’t want anyone out here thinking I was trying to cause a scene,’’ Ward went on. “There’s a reason why I do things. That was some sucker s–t that Randall Cobb and Aaron Rodgers did, and I’m stamping on that.”
Rodgers, on Thursday, said he and Cobb were not laughing at McCain.
“So he thought we were laughing at his teammate?” Rodgers said. “That never happened and I think he’s making s–t up.”
The Jets and Giants will meet during the regular season on Oct. 29.