Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins couldn't help but show his frustration during Sunday's 48-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
New Orleans led 38-7 early in the fourth quarter when running back Alvin Kamara beat Jenkins cleanly for a 37-yard receiving touchdown on fourth down, extending the gap. Jenkins didn't appreciate it and flipped the middle finger at Saints head coach Sean Payton.
The veteran safety spent the first five seasons of his career with the Saints, winning a Super Bowl during his rookie year. Despite the gesture, Payton didn't take issue with his former protege.
"Malcolm is a tremendous player. I hate that he got out here. That was probably as a big a personnel mistake as we’ve made in my 13 years here," Payton said of Jenkins post-game, according to Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune.
Jenkins also clarified that he doesn't hold any lingering animosity toward Payton.
"I'm a competitor,” Jenkins said, according to Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune. “I love Sean to death, and I know what type of guy and what type of coach he is. And so that was more so personal between me and him. We talked after the game; it’s all good.
“I know Sean. He’s one of those people that they're going to go for it, and I understood that. I was just more so upset that it was on me. I know what kind of team they are. I know how they’re coached, they’re well coached. I got a lot of respect for what they're doing, especially Sean."