Things got heated on the field at Arrowhead Stadium, and that’s before the “Thursday Night Football” game started.
During NFL Network’s pregame show before the Broncos took on the Chiefs, former wide receiver and current analyst Steve Smith said he tried to reach out to Jerry Jeudy during warmups to apologize for previous comments he made about the Broncos wide receiver — but Jeudy was having none of it.
Smith, on air alongside reporter Mike Garafolo, explained that he had previously called out Jeudy for being a “JAG” — or “just a guy” — and wanted to apologize after Jeudy had reeled in 17 catches through his first four games.
But when Smith saw Jeudy take the field for warmups, the wideout was having none of it.
Smith said Jeudy went as far as to curse at Smith and added: “I don’t mess with you,” and then apparently repeated his words.
So, at that point, the former two-time All-Pro wideout seemed perturbed at Jeudy and walked back any planned apology.
Stream the game live on Thursday night on Amazon Prime Video
“I’ll repeat it — I’m sorry I said you were a JAG or just a guy who’s an average wide receiver they used a first-round pick on that doesn’t do anything,” Smith said. “I hope you show up today in a way that you haven’t shown up in the last couple of years since they drafted you.
“So if you’ve ever got a problem with Agent 89, I’m sorry for saying you’re an average wide receiver that [the Broncos] will eventually move on, and when teams call me and ask [if] they should trade for you, I will say no, don’t trade for Jerry Jeudy because he mentally unable to handle constructive criticism. … He can be a wide receiver — he’s a tier 3.”
That only led to more pregame drama, as Jeudy was then seen loudly yelling and jumping around near the sideline before the game against the Chiefs, even getting in the background of the show’s shot.
After losing on Sunday against the Jets, the Broncos entered Thursday at 1-4 under Sean Payton and are now reportedly bracing for a “teardown.”
Whether or not there is a teardown in Denver, there definitely was quite the takedown in the pregame show.
For what it’s worth, Jeudy did reel in a catch on the game’s first series, though he lost a yard on the play.
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