Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins Was Given Penalty For Controversial Taunting To 49ers Players
DeAndre Hopkins ought to have anticipated the arrival of a flag.
The Arizona Cardinals receiver rose up and counted two defenders who had been in coverage midway in the second quarter of Monday’s 38-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins Was Given Penalty For Controversial Taunting To 49ers Players
On “Monday Night Football,” the Cardinals and 49ers faced off, and after a first down on third-and-7, DeAndre Hopkins took a moment to count the 49ers players left in his wake. Hopkins was swiftly called for the infringement by the officials, who therefore gave the Cardinals first-and-10 at their own 45 as opposed to the San Francisco 40.
Plz lock up DeAndre Hopkins for this heinous act https://t.co/hp2L04LopD
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 22, 2022
Hopkins, in the first half, had seven catches on eight targets for 77 yards, but he caught just two more to close with 103 yards as the offence shrivelled. Meanwhile, the 49ers hit the Cardinals with their run game hard en route to a 21-0 second half in favour of San Francisco.
Hopkins should have anticipated that, given how unfunny NFL officials can be. If following the rules isn’t his thing, he probably saw Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown perform the identical counting celebration three weeks ago. According to Brown, there was a $5,000 fine for every point.
DeAndre Hopkins: * merely points a finger*
The refs: 'Unsportsmanlike conduct. Taunting." pic.twitter.com/agO9brqJQ8
— 🇺🇲 Calvillo𝕋𝕏 🇲🇽 🎂 (@CalvilloTX98) November 22, 2022
If the penalty yards were unpleasant, Arizona’s hubris soon caught up with them. Two plays later, at the 45-yard line for the Cardinals, Arizona quarterback Colt McCoy passed to running back James Conner, but Conner deflected the ball, which allowed San Francisco’s Jimmie Ward to intercept it.
With 8:42 remaining in the first half, the 49ers drove 46 yards in three plays, and a touchdown grab by George Kittle gave the 49ers a 14-3 lead.
Same energy 😅 @DeAndreHopkins @1kalwaysopen_
Both were called for taunting… pic.twitter.com/rVfuphWnnZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 22, 2022
With 4:19 left in the second, the Cardinals swiftly responded, covering 75 yards in more than four minutes to make the score 14-10.
With 43 seconds left, San Francisco kicked a field goal to extend its halftime lead to a score.
Back to DeAndre Hopkins: The penalty did not sit well with the football-viewing audience as a whole.
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