Aqib Talib, Michael Crabtree Fight Causes Three Raiders, Broncos Ejections

Early in the first quarter of today’s AFC West matchup between the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos, chaos ensued, resulting in three ejections to start the game. Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree was blocking Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib on a routine Marshawn Lynch run when Crabtree blocked him out of bounds, resulting in punches being thrown by both players.

Massive fight just broke out between talib and Crabtree....Crabtree seems very surprised that he was elected pic.twitter.com/APTUP7RXVM

— zaid khan (@zkhan427) November 26, 2017

In the ensuing fracas, Raiders guard Gabe Jackson was penalized for pushing an official to the ground. After a delay of several minutes, Crabtree, Talib and Jackson were all ejected from the game. Football fans may remember Talib and Crabtree feuding late last season as well, as Talib infamously ripped off Crabtree’s chain in the final game of the 2016 regular season.

It is not 100 percent clear why Crabtree was so overzealous in his attempt to block Crabtree, but he and Talib clearly do not like each other after being matched up twice a year for the past few seasons and have prior history together. Someone clearly said or did something that was not caught by the cameras and microphones.

Once it became a full-on fight on the sidelines, Raiders guard Gabe Jackson was caught making contact with an official, which is a surefire penalty and ejection every time. Just ask Marshawn Lynch. Speaking of Lynch, the popular running back amusingly ensured Talib's safe passage to the locker room by escorting the rival cornerback through the Raiders sideline into the tunnel.

Of course, this has ramifications for fantasy football fans, as well.