Call it a bad case of the Sundays.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel was seen with his hands around the neck of a teammate — long-snapper Taybor Pepper — late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s Week 10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The altercation occurred just moments after 49ers kicker Jake Moody missed his third field goal attempt of the game. San Francisco was up by three points at the time, but with the miss, were gave the ball back to Baker Mayfield and company with about three minutes to play.
San Francisco 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel (left) put a hand around the neck of long-snapper Taybor Pepper (center) during a heated exchange late in Sunday’s Week 10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buncaneers.Awful Announcing / X
Samuel makes contact with the helmet of kicker Jake Moody (right) during the altercation.Awful Announcing / X
Back on the sideline, Samuel began barking at his special team teammates to “lock in,” Pepper told reporters after the game.
The spat became physical as the star wideout wrapped one hand under Pepper’s helmet and around his neck, then took a swipe at Moody.
The long-snapper stepped up as if to challenge Samuel, but Moody held him back.
Moody (4) missed a field goal and Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Tyrek Funderburk (24) celebrated the failed attempt.Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
As Samuel strides away, Moody had to hold back the long-snapper from escalating the incident.Awful Announcing / X
In his postgame presser, Samuel owned up to the malpractice, explaining that he “Just [got] frustrated in the heat of battle.”
“Real close game and I kind of got out of character a little bit,” Samuel said. “I’ll talk to Moody and we’ll get past it … But he went out there and won the game … so we move past it.”
After missing a 49-yard kick in the second quarter, a second from 50 in the third and then the beef-inducing 44-yarder in the fourth, Moody was crowned the king of San Francisco when he converted from 44 yards out as time expired to secure the 49ers’ their second consecutive win.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (1) stiff arms Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Josh Hayes (32) during the second half at Raymond James Stadium.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Jake Moody converted from 44 yards out as time expired. The 49ers won the contest 23-20.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
By the time the celebration had concluded, the jawing was a distant memory.
“Yeah, you know, it’s an emotional game,” Moody said. “Stuff like that happens all the time. You just move past it and move on. That’s all that matters.
“There doesn’t need to be [an apology]. It happens. I do have to make those kicks at the end of the day. That’s all I’m focused on. I’m not worried about anything [other than] that.”
Neither is Pepper.
Jake Moody (4) of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after missing a field goal during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.Getty Images
“We know what our job is and we got us,” the seven-year veteran told reporters. “It’s hard being a specialist. Sometimes, it’s feast or famine. As a young, developing specialist like Jake is, the best mental exercise you can have is missing three straight and having to step up and make an almost 50-yard game-winner. So I’m super proud of Jake.”
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