Marcus Peters and Sean Payton's 'Gumbo Beef' Explained
For the four remaining teams in this year's NFL playoffs, this week is highlighted as their chance to win a conference championship and book a ticket to Super Bowl LIII. For Los Angeles Rams cornerback Marcus Peters, it was also—for a brief moment—known as "gumbo week."
In a since-deleted tweet leading up to Sunday's highly-anticipated NFC Championship between the Rams and New Orleans Saints, Peters reignited a brawl between him and Saints coach Sean Payton by writing, "It's gumbo week let's eat."
Much has been made of the comment, which was originally made in the direction of Payton following the Rams' 45–35 loss to New Orleans in Week 9, when Peters was repeatedly exposed by Saints All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas. After Peters surrendered seven receptions on nine targets for 146 yards, six first downs and the game-clinching touchdown in that game, Payton admitted he "liked that matchup—a lot."
Four days later, Peters shot back.
"Tell Sean Payton to keep talking that s---," he said. "We're going to see him soon, you feel me? Because I like what he was saying on the sidelines, too. So tell him to keep talking that s---, and I hope you see me soon. We're going to have a nice little bowl of gumbo together."
The Rams will be returning to the Superdome for a rematch and with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Despite referencing the feud earlier in the week, Peters tried to downplay it on Wednesday by praising Payton's competitiveness.
"I see y'all trying to make it something that it's not, man," Peters said, according to NOLA.com. "Just all respect to Sean Payton and what he does. During the game, things was happening. But I just love the fact that he's a competitor. When I was coming out of the draft, it was the same way—fiery, energy—when I was meeting with him and things like that. It wasn't nothing to be disrespectful. Shoot, I was pissed off. I didn't have the game that I wanted to have."
"Like I said, man, I've got the utmost respect for the Saints and their head coach and organization, you know," Peters continued. "But things like that, I'm going to be ready to play just as much as they're going to be ready to play. We're trying to play a game. We ain't trying to talk about no gumbo. We can talk about all that stuff afterwards."
Payton echoed the same sentiments during his own media availability in New Orleans.
"Next question," Payton said. "I don't like seafood. I know where you're going."
Kickoff between the Rams and Saints is slated for 3:05 p.m. ET.
