What exactly was it that led to Chicago Bears wide receiver Javon Wims to sucker punch New Orleans Saints cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Sunday, leading to Wims being ejected?
There is a claim from Wims — per the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero — to Saints officials that Gardner-Johnson spit on him.
While that’s being sorted out, there is the other claim from Wims that Gardner-Johnson ripped out the receiver’s mouthpiece, and that could be true if we follow what someone on Twitter broke down.
@EvanSaacks looked back at the game and noticed the mouthguard in question getting ripped out, and that it sat on the field before being tossed to the sideline. Wims, as Saacks noted, waited 11 actual minutes to get back at Gardner-Johnson.
THREAD: My Zapruder breakdown of the Chauncey Gardner-Johnson/Javon Wims beef.
It begins on this play on the Bears’ first possession of the second half. After exchanging some words, CJGJ rips Wims’ mouthpiece off and it falls onto the ground. pic.twitter.com/wwQgcbKdJ5
— Evan Saacks (@evansaacks) November 2, 2020
Wims is subbed out and therefore cannot retaliate on the next play. But he’d have a problem if he was in because his mouthpiece is still on the ground! pic.twitter.com/RzsHVcIxsY
— Evan Saacks (@evansaacks) November 2, 2020
The Bears then suffer a delay of game penalty which pushes them back five yards: right into the mouthpiece! The right guard throws it out which Buck and Aikman recognize.
Foles is sacked which forces the Bears to punt, meaning Wims must wait even longer to retaliate. pic.twitter.com/2Zq4L4K3jo
— Evan Saacks (@evansaacks) November 2, 2020
After an entire Saints drive where Wims was stewing on the bench for 11 real life minutes, Wims retaliates on the first play of the next drive. He tries to rip CJGJ’s mouthpiece out, but he is unsuccessful. That’s when he decides to throw a punch which… is also unsuccessful. pic.twitter.com/OJN6Uwuaxo
— Evan Saacks (@evansaacks) November 2, 2020
Javon Wims sat on the bench from ~5:10 to 5:21 CST planning to snatch Chauncey’s mouthpiece back. This is so goddamn hilarious.
— Evan Saacks (@evansaacks) November 2, 2020
he sat on the bench for 11 minutes thinking “he took my mouthpiece so I’m gonna get HIS.”
Then he didn’t even get it and instead threw punches at a helmet.
— Evan Saacks (@evansaacks) November 2, 2020
*puts on tinfoil hat* Maybe Wims didn't punch him to try to hurt him…
Maybe he was trying to dislodge the mouthpiece…
— Evan Saacks (@evansaacks) November 2, 2020
No spit to be seen in that series of videos, but we’ll see if there’s more evidence uncovered at some point. Meanwhile, Jomboy — known for all the MLB videos — weighed in with a similar theory that it was all about the ripped mouthguard (WARNING: some NSFW language ahead).
Javon Wims pulls Gardner-Johnsons mouthpiece out then hits him in the head, a breakdown pic.twitter.com/4iuf12PHRG
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) November 2, 2020
