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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones raised a lot of eyebrows with their lengthy embrace following Super Bowl LVII.
In mic’d up video following the game, Jones is seen giving Goodell a giant bear hug, lifting him clean off the ground, screaming with joy.
“Congratulations, man. That was awesome,” Goodell can be heard telling Jones.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to #Chiefs DT Chris Jones after the ending of Super Bowl LVII.
"Congratulations, man. that was awesome." pic.twitter.com/bICV2XeQGR
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 16, 2023
That strange scene was more than enough for the many conspiracy theorists out there to once again shout, “Rigged!”
They don’t even hide it any more
— Sinai (@SinaiNot) February 16, 2023
“When the script writers see it executed to perfection,” another fan commented.
Not a good look. I mean. Gee it’s almost like he really wanted the Chiefs to win.
— Angels 60 win season coming (@Michellecajun) February 17, 2023
Other fans called the scene unprofessional and wondered, “Why doesn’t he have to answer to this? No accountability.”
The clip of Roger Goodell and Chris Jones embracing turned out to be nothing compared to a longer version of the hug.
In the extended clip, after the big bear hug, Goodell can be heard telling Jones, “I don’t care, I don’t care how you hit the quarterback.”
That comment by the NFL commissioner elicited a laugh and a huge smile from Chris Jones who then whispered something into Goodell’s ear that couldn’t be picked up by the microphone.
All love for Commissioner Goodell and @StoneColdJones 🫶 pic.twitter.com/ScoUgvdRMK
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 13, 2023
Needless to say, this entire bizarre, suspicious encounter between Roger Goodell and the Chiefs’ Chris Jones led to even more NFL rigged speculation.
When the script goes as planned.
— Big Rig (@larryrigglemann) February 13, 2023
“WWE is more real than this league,” another fan tweeted.
https://twitter.com/joeownsyou99/status/1624991375153369088“What a great look for the national football league lol,” another fan commented.
Goodell said, “How did you like that script”… Jones replied, “the sod was a nice touch to slow down that defense”
— OahuFAFO (@51HPBFAFO) February 13, 2023
“Explain yourself Mr. Goodell. @nflcommish,” someone else wrote.
didn't see this one. that's so odd for a commissioner to say, joke or not.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 16, 2023
Perhaps Goodell was referring to the awful roughing the passer call that was made against Jones versus the Raiders back in October?
ROUGHING THE PASSER?????https://t.co/Z54VgRGkEz
— Fanatics Sportsbook | PB (@fanaticsbook_pb) October 11, 2022
“What you want me to do? I’m running full speed, trying to get the quarterback. What you want me to do? I braced my hands,” Jones said after the call.
Even if that is was what Goodell was referring to after the Super Bowl, it still doesn’t make it any less weird.