ESPN reporter Laura Rutledge coldly shut down an online troll who suggested Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was trying to avoid an interview with her.
Rutledge was at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday night to report on the Seahawks’ 13-3 win over the San Francisco 49ers that secured the NFC West title and clinched the No. 1 seed for Mike Macdonald’s team.
In the moments after the game ended, Rutledge rushed onto the field to carry out an interview with winning quarterback Darnold.
But he didn’t immediately respond to Rutledge or look prepared to speak, instead taking a moment to speak to teammates and opponents on the field.
Many thought this was Darnold trying to avoid the interview and one flagged the incident to Rutledge on X, writing: ‘Pretty sure a quarterback just blew off @LauraRutledge.’
But Rutledge set the record straight immediately, firing back in response: ‘Nope. Actually we had a lot of time till we had to go off air so I told Darnold he had plenty of time to talk to whoever he wanted to see. Thanks!’
ESPN’s Laura Rutledge snapped back at a troll who suggested Sam Darnold had ignored her
Rutledge revealed she told Darnold he had plenty of time to celebrate with his teammates
Rutledge was at Levi’s Stadium reporting on the Seahawks’ dominant 13-3 win over the 49ers
It comes just weeks after Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was criticized online for being rude towards Rutledge as she tried to speak with him.
Rutledge attempted to pull the signal caller, who is dating singer Madison Beer, to get his postgame interview after their win over the Philadelphia Eagles on December 8 but he initially snubbed her.
As Rutledge tried to get Hebert’s attention, he told her that he was ‘trying to celebrate with my team,’ before walking away.
Undeterred, Rutledge continued to persuade him to talk to ESPN ‘really fast.’ Herbert eventually stopped but didn’t appear impressed with the interruption.
‘The defense played incredible. They came up with so many big stops today. So proud to be able to play for those guys,’ Herbert answered when asked about his team’s defense against the Eagles.
However, he was a lot more curt when asked about his broken hand, which he had surgery on last week.
‘I feel pretty good, thank you,’ he merely offered, when Rutledge pressed him about how he was feeling.
The quarterback’s blunt attitude towards the reporter stunned fans with many slamming him on social media.
It comes just weeks after Justin Herbert was criticized online for being rude towards Rutledge
‘I’m sorry I thought Justin Herbert was extremely rude to ESPN’s Laura Rutledge,’ Fox7Austin’s Alec Nolan wrote.
‘You know the drill dude, you’re the QB. Big win for the Chargers, gut wrenching loss for the Eagles.’
‘I thought he was a little rude,’ another social media user wrote.
‘He knows she’s going to ask questions immediately after the game and part of his job is answering them even if it seems pointless. Their contracts are tied to the network agreements with the NFL.’
A third added: ‘it’s her job to talk to him with ESPN within that time frame and he’s a professional athlete at the highest level, he should know better.’
