Getty Image / Otto Greule Jr
Midway through the second quarter of Thursday night’s bout between Seattle and Arizona, Tyler Lockett scored a touchdown to take the lead and fist-bumped the referee. After being held out of the end zone against Jalen Ramsey last week, D.K. Metcalf was listed +650 odds to score the game’s first touchdown on BetMGM and did just that. The Cardinals answered on a Kenyan Drake run to end an eight-play, 50-yard drive. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson answered with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Lockett.
He got two feet in to secure the six points, stood up and fist-bumped the side judge.
Lockett fist-bumped the referee 😂👊 #TNF pic.twitter.com/xBzeFs3eeI
— BroBible (@BroBible) November 20, 2020
Did @TDLockett12 really go in for the fist bump 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/uwMDzPLl7l
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 20, 2020
Naturally, twitter went to work and our unfavorable conspiracy theorists went to work online. Calling the scoring team (Lockett in particular) cheaters, they got very #MadOnline. Seattle isn’t cheating but it’s funny that there are people out there who actually think that because No. 16 is showing his homie some love, the two are working together to rig the game. Players and officials see one another on a few instances a year, every year. And there is a lot of talking on field.
This year in particular, without fans, the chain gangs, back judges, umpires, field judge, linesman, and the players have some sense of a friendly (or unfriendly) relationship with each other. Relax Tyler Farmer. It was a good play and a mutual respect, not an elaborate scheme to plot against the visitors.
I see Tyler Lockett and the ref giving each other a fist bump 👀👀. Hmmmmm. Rigged for the Seahawks
— Danny Farmer (@danfarmer30) November 20, 2020
Did Tyler Lockett just fist bump the ref??? I ain’t never seen a @Saints WR do that🤯
— Elocutionist (@SpeedyClaxton5) November 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/cdr2us/status/1329611804721385472
What is going on with the ref fist bump at the end of the video?pic.twitter.com/rCSyFlNVvY
— Aaron Macklin (@aaron__macklin) November 20, 2020
Why does Lockett fist bump the ref after he scores? #Cheaters pic.twitter.com/uSAHL21OYT
— AlfieSchlegel (@AlfieSchlegel) November 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/Seb_Parker/status/1329609945755467778
The Seahawks were ahead 16-7 after the first 30 minutes. It is a big week for fist bumps.