Cleatgate! Ravens Fans Demand New Cleats For QB Lamar Jackson After He Slips Multiple Times
CLEVELAND (WJZ) -- Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson put two touchdowns on the board in the first half against the Cleveland Browns Monday night as the Ravens fight to keep their playoff hopes alive, but his footwear was what was drawing fans' attention online.
After multiple slips during the first half, fans began calling for him to change his cleats.
Lamar Jackson and the ravens with their second half cleats #BALvsCLE pic.twitter.com/h4nnTnN78i
— Adam Fair (@PhillyProducer) December 15, 2020
Glad @Lj_era8 got his long cleats on at half, looked like an Olympic figure skater for a while ⛷????
— JiMMY (@JONdaFISHERMAN) December 15, 2020
Equipment manager better have 5 different pairs of cleats for Lamar to feel out at halftime #Ravens @wjz
— Rick Ritter (@RickRitterWJZ) December 15, 2020
Some Ravens complained about the condition of the field in Pittsburgh.
— Mark Viviano (@MarkWJZ) December 15, 2020
Seems a problem in Cleveland, too.
Coincidence or AFC North shenanigans? ????@WJZ pic.twitter.com/BmdGKLW9qh
Jackson said after the game he indeed changed his cleats at halftime.
"We had a long shot and I tried to make something happen," he said. "I ended up slipping. It wasn't perfect cleats for the grass. I made a change and put on some better cleats and I didn't have that problem anymore.
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At least one Browns fan, boxer Shawn Porter, said he didn't think Jackson should be allowed to change his footwear.
This game is starting to go the way I hoped it wouldn't.... and I wanna go on the record for saying you shouldn't be able to change your cleats mid game @Lj_era8 ???? #Browns
— ShowtimeShawn Porter (@ShowtimeShawnP) December 15, 2020
It's not Jackson's first time slipping and sliding on the field; last October, he had footing problems on wet turf in Seattle. Despite that, the Ravens beat the Seahawks 30-16.
The Ravens went on to beat the Browns 47-42.