Dave Portnoy, Pat McAfee poke fun at Georgia player Parker Jones over Sugar Bowl sideline blunder

The University of Georgia football player who collided with a ref on the sideline and backed his team out of the red zone is feeling the heat from Dave Portnoy and Pat McAfee following the head-scratching mistake.“This f–king guy,” the Barstool Sports president posted on X, with a video of the collision and two laughing emojis.Portnoy’s comment came after a second quarter play that cost Georgia great field position during the Allstate Sugar Bowl Thursday night.

The Bulldogs were in the second quarter of a scoreless game when quarterback Gunner Stockton dropped in a dime to wide receiver Arian Smith against Notre Dame’s defense for a 67-yard gain.As a defender dragged Stockton down, the side judge, JB Garza, was hugging Georgia’s sideline following the play downfield.However, Garza collided with Georgia redshirt sophomore cornerback Parker Jones, who was not suited up for the game and slightly crossed over the sideline in excitement.

Garza flagged the play for interference, erasing the big gain and pushing Georgia’s offense back 15 yards to the Fighting Irish’s 26-yard line, leading to Bulldog’s kicking a field goal.Portnoy wasn’t the only one to pile onto the walk-on cornerback following the mistake.Retired NFL punter and ESPN analyst Pat McAfee also posted on X that it’s a “Tough time to be Parker Jones on the internet.”During the play, ESPN’s play-by-play commentators Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy noted how “devastating” causing the penalty must have been for Jones.

ESPN’s rules analyst Matt Austin also said, “If there’s contact,” a penalty is a “good call.” “It’s dangerous down there.[The official] is running full speed to get to keep up with the play, to get a good spot.

And if someone gets in his way and there’s a collision, it’s extremely dangerous, so yeah, that’s a good call,” Austin said.Though Jones is facing much criticism for the mistake, Georgia’s head coach, Kirby Smart, appeared not even...