We finally have an explanation for one of the more bizarre celebrations in Super Bowl history.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin discussed the defecation celebration he flaunted after his touchdown gave Seattle a 24-14 lead over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. And Baldwin said it was directed at one man: Patriots star cornerback Darrelle Revis.
“I spent a lot of time those two weeks prior to getting ready for that game just focused on my individual matchup with him and I put a lot into it, and in that moment, I guess you could say it was just kind of a built-up frustration I was letting out in that sequence, you know, between him and I,” Baldwin told ESPN Radio in Seattle on Monday night.
“Obviously there was competitive stuff going on in that game, and in that moment, I just let out what I felt personally.”
After Baldwin was shown enjoying his touchdown, Richard Sherman appeared on camera putting up “2” and “4” fingers — as either a shot at Revis or a nod to the number of points the Seahawks had on the board, which is where they stayed stuck in the heartbreaking 28-24 defeat.
The three-yard touchdown, aided by a pick from one of the referees, was Baldwin’s only catch of the day against Revis. And the celebration cost the Seahawks a 15-yard penalty.
“I do regret the fact that it cost my team 15 yards, and to the fans, ultimately I apologize to anybody I offended in any way,” Baldwin said. “It wasn’t about that. I just think it was a competitive situation. So to all the 12s, all the fans, that’s not what it’s about. So I apologize to anyone if I offended you.”
“In that moment, it was just a reaction,” he added later in the show. “So obviously if I could go back, I would take it back.”