Jake Bates Credit: ESPN
ESPNNFLBy Sean Keeley on

As soon as ESPN cameras picked up Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates stretching on the sidelines during Monday Night Football, one of two things seemed to pop into NFL viewers’ minds.

Either you thought of Kate Winslet asking Leonardo DiCaprio to “draw me like one of your French girls” in Titanic. Or you thought of Seinfeld’s George Costanza doing a photo shoot in his underwear on a chaise lounge.

At least, that’s what it seemed like on social media in the minutes afterward.

The Lions were in the midst of a huge comeback against the San Francisco 49ers Monday evening when Bates was seen stretching. MNF reporter Lisa Salters explained he was trying to loosen up some muscles with the help of a softball.

However, all anyone seemed to notice was the way his body was moving and the derpy look on his face, jumping to conclusions about what he was doing to the field. You could practically hear Joe Buck and Troy Aikman giggling in the booth.

From there, the memes flowed.

The timeless art of seduction.

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— Phillip Bupp (@phillipbupp.com) December 30, 2024 at 8:01 PM

STUPID SEXY BATES!

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— Robert (@cujorulesdtown9.bsky.social) December 30, 2024 at 7:50 PM

Buck, who could barely contain himself when it was happening live, got one more cheeky comment in when it was replayed before a commercial break.

Bates will have the last laugh, however. Earlier in the night, the phenom broke the Lions’ single-season record for points scored, passing Jason Hanson’s previous record of 134 points. And he’s still got one game to go. As far as Detroit fans are concerned, he can do whatever he wants on the sidelines.

[ESPN]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.

View all posts by Sean Keeley