ALARIC JACKSON JUST PUNCHED HIS WAY INTO A 2-GAME VACATION! RAMS LT SAID, “FORGET THE HANDSHAKE, CATCH THESE HAND!"

Well, well, WELL! Ladies and gentlemen, we have officially reached the point where NFL players are exchanging jerseys after the game and apparently throwing hands as part of the gift exchange!

The NFL has suspended Los Angeles Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson for TWO GAMES without pay after he allegedly decided that exchanging jerseys with the Buffalo Bills wasn't enough. Apparently, Jackson wanted to exchange a few punches, too!

Jackson was involved in an altercation with Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb following Buffalo's absolutely WILD 37-34 overtime victory over the Rams on Monday night. And let me tell you something: if you thought the game was entertaining, the postgame show apparently had a bonus round!

Some players shake hands after a game. Some exchange jerseys. Alaric Jackson said, “Nah, I'm trying to exchange fists!”

And now the NFL has handed him a two-game suspension for violating its sportsmanship rules.

Translation? The league basically told Jackson, “My guy, this is football, not Fight Club! You can't be throwing hands just because the scoreboard got you emotional!”

And the timing couldn't be worse for the Rams, who are now potentially losing a starting offensive lineman for their next two games.

Here's where things get interesting.

After the game, Jackson was near midfield exchanging jerseys with Bills defensive lineman Deone Walker. Everything appeared to be business as usual until Bradley Chubb apparently said something to Jackson.

Now, I don't know what Chubb said, and neither am I going to pretend I was standing there with a microphone and a pair of FBI headphones!

But whatever was said, Jackson apparently took it personally.

Jackson walked toward Chubb and threw a punch at the Buffalo linebacker, striking him in the face, according to the incident captured on ESPN's cameras.

Rams tight end Colby Parkinson then pulled Jackson away from the situation.

LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT!

YOU JUST PLAYED A PHYSICAL NFL GAME THAT WENT INTO OVERTIME. YOU'RE ALREADY EXHAUSTED. YOUR TEAM JUST LOST A HEARTBREAKER. AND NOW, AFTER THE GAME IS OVER, YOU DECIDE YOU NEED A BONUS ROUND IN THE PARKING LOT OF EMOTIONS?

BROTHER, THE GAME IS OVER! THE CLOCK HIT ZERO! THE ONLY THING YOU SHOULD BE THROWING IS YOUR SHOULDER PADS INTO YOUR LOCKER!

And here's the kicker: Jackson had already removed his jersey and shoulder pads, while Chubb was still in full uniform.

So you've got one guy dressed for the next football game and another guy looking like he's ready to throw down at WrestleMania!

Jackson, my man, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?!

Now, if you want to know who appeared to be enjoying the aftermath a little more, listen to Chubb's explanation.

Speaking to the California Post, Chubb described the incident as an emotional moment following a close game.

He explained that players' tempers flared, then added that officials and observers tend to focus on the second person involved in an altercation.

Chubb's version of events was essentially that he let Jackson swing before his teammates held him back.

HOLD ON, BRADLEY! YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS MAN THREW A PUNCH AND YOU JUST STOOD THERE LIKE SOMEBODY ASKED YOU TO HOLD A SPOT IN LINE AT THE DELI?!

Chubb also made it clear that he wasn't interested in dwelling on the incident.

When reporters asked about whether the punch connected, Chubb essentially kept redirecting the conversation toward the next game.

He was smiling, standing with his teammates, and ready to move on.

Meanwhile, Jackson is looking at a potential two-game suspension, and the Rams are looking at their offensive line wondering who is going to protect the quarterback.

Bradley Chubb walked away talking about next week. Alaric Jackson walked away with a suspension hearing on his calendar!

That is one expensive emotional moment!

And here's the part that really gets me: Jackson didn't even have his pads on anymore!

Brother, you already clocked out! You were halfway through the postgame activities!

YOU CAN'T CLOCK OUT OF FOOTBALL AND THEN CLOCK IN FOR BOXING!

THE NFL SAID, “TWO GAMES! NO PAY! GO THINK ABOUT YOUR DECISIONS!”

The NFL didn't find the incident amusing.

The league suspended Jackson for two games without pay under Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which prohibits conduct contrary to generally understood principles of sportsmanship.

Jackson has the right to appeal the suspension under the collective bargaining agreement, and Rams head coach Sean McVay said he understood that Jackson planned to do so.

McVay also acknowledged that the situation hurts his football team.

Speaking about the incident, McVay said Jackson needed to make better decisions.

And you know what? He's got a point!

Because while Jackson might have felt like he needed to settle something on the field, the NFL isn't handing out awards for postgame toughness.

They're handing out suspensions!

THE NFL SAID, “YOU WANT TO THROW HANDS? FINE. THROW TWO WEEKS OF PAYCHECKS OUT THE WINDOW WHILE YOU'RE AT IT!”

And remember, this isn't Jackson's first suspension.

He previously served a two-game suspension in 2024 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

So this is his SECOND NFL suspension!

At some point, somebody needs to sit this man down and explain the difference between being an aggressive football player and giving the league another reason to call your agent.

ALARIC, MY GUY! YOU PLAY OFFENSIVE TACKLE! YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE QUARTERBACK, NOT SIGN YOURSELF UP FOR A TWO-GAME VACATION!

While the rest of us are watching the video and trying to figure out what on earth happened, McVay has an actual football problem to solve.

He said he spoke with Jackson after watching the footage Tuesday morning, but he wanted to understand the full situation before commenting on the specifics.

McVay also made it clear that he wasn't condoning the punch and stressed that Jackson needed to make better decisions that aligned with the team's expectations.

And honestly, that's the right approach.

The Rams don't need another distraction. They need their offensive line healthy, available, and ready to protect the quarterback.

If Jackson loses his appeal and the suspension stands, veteran offensive tackle David Quessenberry is expected to step into the starting lineup.

That means Quessenberry could start against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6 and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7.

Think about it: the Rams are trying to bounce back from a heartbreaking overtime loss, and now they're potentially preparing for two games without one of their starting offensive tackles.

THE BILLS BEAT YOU 37-34, AND NOW YOU MIGHT HAVE HELPED YOUR NEXT TWO OPPONENTS WITHOUT THEM EVEN HAVING TO THROW A PUNCH!

That's what makes this situation so frustrating from the Rams' perspective.

Jackson is a talented player, and McVay knows how important he is to the team. But talent doesn't mean you get to ignore the rules.

You can be an absolute monster between the whistles. Once the game ends, however, you've got to know when to walk away.

Because the only thing worse than losing a close game is losing a close game and then potentially losing your starting left tackle because the postgame jersey exchange turned into a heavyweight championship audition!

Listen, I'm all for emotion in sports!

I love rivalries. I love trash talk. I love players competing with passion. And if you're playing in the NFL, you're going to have moments when your emotions are running high.

But there's a difference between being fired up and making a decision that could cost your team two games without you.

Jackson needs to appeal the suspension if he believes he has a legitimate case. The NFL will review it, and we'll see what happens.

But regardless of the outcome, this is a reminder that the game doesn't end when the clock hits zero if you decide to create another problem afterward.

YOU PLAYED 60 MINUTES OF FOOTBALL, WENT THROUGH OVERTIME, LOST BY THREE POINTS, AND THEN DECIDED THE GAME NEEDED A POST-CREDITS FIGHT SCENE!

And Bradley Chubb? That man was apparently ready to move on while the Rams were left dealing with the fallout.

I'm just imagining somebody from the Rams coaching staff watching the video and saying:

“Alaric, we need you to protect the quarterback.”

And Jackson responds:

“Coach, I was protecting my pride!”

COACH: “WELL, YOUR PRIDE BETTER BE READY TO PLAY LEFT TACKLE AGAINST ARIZONA!”

But seriously, Jackson has to understand that his decisions affect more than just himself. His teammates, his coaches, and the entire organization could be dealing with the consequences.

And if this suspension stands, the Rams will have to figure out how to protect their quarterback without him.

So here's my question for the football world:

WAS ALARIC JACKSON JUST CAUGHT UP IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT, OR DID HE MAKE A COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY MISTAKE THAT COULD COST THE RAMS ON THE FIELD?

Because around here, we're going to talk about it!

THIS IS ERROL MARKS, AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO: WE CALL IT LIKE WE SEE IT!

NY'S SPORTS LOUD MOUTH LIVE! — WHERE THE TAKES ARE LOUD, THE JOKES ARE LOUDER, AND SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL THESE NFL PLAYERS THAT THE POSTGAME SHOW IS NOT A BOXING MATCH!