Former Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel is getting plenty of attention this week after a heated moment broke out between him and Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander during Sunday’s game. Noel, now with the Houston Texans, scored a touchdown and celebrated with a move that Baltimore fans know all too well, the iconic Ray Lewis dance.
That didn’t sit well with Alexander. As Noel finished the celebration, Alexander sprinted in, tried to snatch the football away, and ended up getting into a brief shoving match with the rookie wideout. The two exchanged words and a few pushes before teammates stepped in to separate them. The clip has since gone viral, drawing plenty of reactions online, most of them siding with Noel for standing his ground after making a big play.
The thing is, if you give up a touchdown, you’ve kind of got to eat the celebration. That’s part of the game. Players earn the right to celebrate when they score, especially in the NFL, where every touchdown is hard-fought. Noel didn’t taunt Alexander directly or go overboard; he just hit a dance made famous by one of Baltimore’s all-time greats, and Alexander couldn’t handle it.
Noel, who became a fan favorite at Iowa State for his reliable hands and playmaking ability, has carried that same confidence into the pros. He’s known for his energy and personality, and Sunday’s moment showed that he isn’t backing down from anyone, even a seasoned veteran like Alexander. For a young player still carving out his place in the league, that kind of fire is exactly what you want to see.
It’s unclear if the league will review the play for any potential fines, but the exchange was short-lived and harmless enough that it probably won’t amount to much. What it will do, though, is earn Noel a few more fans who appreciate his swagger and confidence. After all, if you score, you celebrate, and if you get scored on, you’ve got to take your medicine.
