TAKING THE HIT — Let's start with the obvious: Bobby Wagner is a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, a middle linebacker with more than 1,400 career tackles in a decade-long NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks and now his hometown Los Angeles Rams.

The former Utah State star was at it again during the Rams' 24-9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football, totaling a team-high 10 tackles including seven solo stops in the setback.

And that's not even counting the former Super Bowl champion and eight-time Pro Bowler's biggest hit of the night.

During a delay in action in the final minute of the first half, a protestor sprinted on to the field with a device that emitted pink smoke to disrupt the game. ESPN's main broadcast cut away from the action, but Wagner and Rams teammate Takkarist McKinley laid out the fan, immobilizing him until stadium security could escort him off the field.

That's putting your skills to good, if not unique, use.

"I just saw someone running on the field," Wagner told the Sacramento Bee after the game. "It looked like he wasn't supposed to be on the field so I saw security was having a problem so I helped them out."

The protestor was taken off the field by security so that play could resume, but not before it caught the attention of Peyton and Eli Manning as they called the game during the Worldwide Leader's alternate "Manning-cast" on ESPN2.

After debating if the protestor was clothed and recalling the post route around the 50-yard line, the elder Manning complimented Wagner's "completely legal hit" to stop the action.

"That's what we're talking about," Peyton Manning said. "Wagner. A veteran. Get him down, now get out and let these guys take over."

Several players and coaches agreed with the legendary quarterback's assessment.

"That was awesome. That was a great hit," 49ers tight end George Kittle said. "I was so confused ... I wish I would've done that. I didn't even see him; he went right past us, and everyone was like, 'was that a streaker?' Nope, just a lot of pink smoke.

"Thankfully, it was just pink smoke."

Added 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan: "I saw Bobby Wagner taking somebody out. I thought that was kind of cool to see."

Another protestor tried to interrupt the game with a similar device, but they were apprehended by stadium security, according to the Associated Press.

Have You Seen This?

Puppy takes on fierce enemy — Diet Coke

From time to time — usually around Jan. 1 — people have made a goal to steer away from the bubbly drink with different levels of success. One puppy in California decided to battle against soda just like those goal-oriented Utahns. But was it successful?

Related topics