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Bradley Bozeman’s reaction to ‘dirty hit’ on Chargers’ Justin Herbert fuels foundation
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Bradley Bozeman’s reaction to ‘dirty hit’ on Chargers’ Justin Herbert fuels foundation

Justin Herbert tries to push away Bradley Bozeman, who reacted to a tackle by the Saints' Nathan Shepherd (below).

Justin Herbert attempts to fend off center Bradley Bozeman, who reacted to a tackle on the Chargers quarterback by the Saints’ Nathan Shepherd (below). Bozeman and Shepherd were penalized for offsetting penalties for unnecessary roughness. (Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

After Bradley Bozeman became the football field’s version of Batman, meting out vigilante justice by pinning Saints defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd to the turf after a dangerous tackle by quarterback Justin Herbert, Chargers center Nikki Bozeman’s wife drove home from SoFi Stadium Sunday night hoping the reaction would simply be in the family’s favor.

With the Chargers’ push, everything got even better.

After the Chargers used Bozeman’s viral vigilante justice moment to share information about the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation On social media, more than 150 fans donated to the charity efforts to address food insecurity and combat bullying. With many contributions of $10 for number 10 or $75 for number 75, the foundation quickly raised more than $3,700.

“It was really something that was just a sports moment, and then it turned into something really cool to help our foundation,” Nikki said.

Nikki and Bradley received messages thanking him for defending Herbert on a play the center called “one of the dirtiest” he’s ever seen.

Herbert had already passed the ball to running back JK Dobbins when Shepherd awkwardly twisted the quarterback’s right ankle to knock him to the ground.

Read more:Chargers-Saints takeaways: Ladd McConkey has big hands and two touchdowns in win

Bozeman lunged at Shepherd to push him away from Herbert in a retaliatory action that Fox host Chris Myers noted could be seen as an unofficial continuation of the Bozemans’ anti-bullying campaign.

The couple initially founded their foundation to educate children about the dangers of bullying. Bradley, a two-time national champion at Alabama, and Nikki, a forward for the Crimson Tide basketball team, began cold calling schools near Tuscaloosa. They were soon invited to speak at schools across the state. After Bradley was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, speaking engagements turned into a cross-country RV trip that featured 20 schools in 18 states before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Listening to feedback from children during the pandemic, the Bozemans shifted their focus to food insecurity and partnered with food banks to pack snack boxes that police officers distribute to children in low-income neighborhoods. With the program already underway in Baltimore and Charlotte, North Carolina, the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation has distributed 3.5 million meals.

After the seven-year pro signed with the Chargers this offseason, the Bozemans began working with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to finalize their plans to expand the SYNC snack box program, which serves their neighbors already the community, in Los Angeles. Nikki’s intention is to ensure that “the most affected zip codes” are at the top of the list.

In addition to financial contributions, the foundation is looking for volunteers who can help pack the boxes. Volunteers can register through contact page on the foundation’s website.

Justin Herbert caresses the back of Bradley Bozeman's helmetJustin Herbert caresses the back of Bradley Bozeman's helmet

Herbert (10) thanks Bozeman (75) after the center came to his aid. (Ryan Sun/Associated Press)

Chargers players and staff, including coach. Jim Harbaughvolunteered in Charlotte earlier this season. With about 50 Chargers people present, the group set a record with 1,000 boxes packed in 26 minutes.

“You coming for two hours is exponentially more than you could give us monetarily,” Nikki said. “For you to come and help and be the support on the ground and have that experience with us to be able to change our community is exponentially (more) helpful to us than anything else.”

The couple, who became engaged after Alabama’s 2018 football national championship when Bradley proposed amid a shower of confetti on the field, have long been involved in community service.

Nikki, a 6-foot-1 forward whose 88 career blocks ranked sixth in Alabama history when she graduated in 2016, was a Senior CLASS Award candidate and nominated for the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team, which honors athletes who have demonstrated dedication to service. in their communities.

Bradley has been nominated three times for Walter Payton’s Man of the Year, twice earning the honor in Baltimore and once in Carolina.

Read more:Chargers take Jim Harbaugh’s sometimes comical words seriously

Considering Bradley’s cool nature, Nikki was surprised to see him react the way he did on Sunday. She had only seen that side of her husband one other time: when another man wouldn’t leave her alone in a bar. Bradley pushed him against the wall.

“Coming from Bradley, someone for whom it’s not his starting point, it’s not his normal, you really know that something serious happened,” Nikki said.

Bozeman told Nikki that he saw Shepherd look down at Herbert’s right ankle, which the quarterback injured during Week 2, before continuing to twist Herbert’s leg while taking him to the ground. Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira called the transgression “cruel” on the television broadcast.

After seeing the criticism of the play, Saints coach Dennis Allen said he disagreed.

“I think it’s not accurate,” he told reporters Monday. “Here’s a guy who’s trying to wrap up the quarterback. He’s on the ground. He has no idea if the quarterback has the ball or not. He’s just trying to tackle the quarterback. There was nothing malicious about it.” the play. He’s a guy who tries to make the play.”

Offsetting penalties negated a first down for the Chargers, but galvanized the team on its first touchdown drive of the game, a 15-play, 90-yard drive that ended with a one-yard run by Dobbins.

Harbaugh said in the locker room afterward that everyone deserved a game ball for the winning effort, but he singled out a half-dozen players, including Herbert, rookie receiver Ladd McConkey and punter JK Scott.

Bozeman received the biggest applause.

DJ Chark Jr. close to returning

Wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (groin) was limited in practice Wednesday, but said if he continues on his current trajectory, he could be in position to make his long-awaited season debut against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

The catcher is in the final week of his 21-day return window after being activated from injured reserve on Oct. 16.

Chargers receiver DJ Chark Jr. runs after a catch.Chargers receiver DJ Chark Jr. runs after a catch.

The Chargers would love to finally have wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. in the lineup. (Gregory Bull/Associated Press)

The Chargers have until Nov. 4 to elevate Chark to the active roster or place him on season-ending injured reserve.

With Quentin Johnston (ankle) and Derius Davis (hamstring) returning to practice in limited capacity Wednesday after missing two games, Chark believed the receiving group could soon take the field together as planned.

“I can’t wait to play with my guys,” Chark said. “I love these guys, they are great teammates. “I’m just excited to come in, do everything I can, nothing more, nothing less, and help the team win.”

Etc.

Tight ends Will Dissly (shoulder) and Stone Smartt (ankle), cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (toe) did not practice Wednesday. …outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) He was limited after playing 19 snaps against the Saints in his first game appearance since Week 3.

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This story originally appeared on Los Angeles Times.