Boston sports radio show sparks outrage as hosts speculate whether Adam Johnson was INTENTIONALLY kicked by opponent Matt Petgrave in tragic hockey death… before co-host joked he ‘wanted a skate around his neck’ when Mac Jones threw interception

Former NFL player turned radio host Jermaine Wiggins has sparked outrage by suggesting that tragically deceased hockey player Adam Johnson was deliberately kicked by the opposing team in the accident that killed him.

Johnson, who formerly played in the NFL, died at the age of 29 while playing for the Nottingham Panthers in England after a collision with opponent Matt Petgrave of the Sheffield Steelers at the weekend.

Discussing the tragic accident on The Greg Hill ShowWiggins said: “I think the other player, I forget his name, I’m drawing a blank now, but they’ve said he’s had some situations in the past.

“If you look at it – look at it again – he’s kicking him a little bit. It looks like it wasn’t an accident.’

But as Wiggins spoke, he was met with derisive shouts from one of his two co-hosts: “No! It doesn’t seem anywhere near intentional. What are you talking about? No, that is not the case at all (look carefully).’

Johnson died at the age of 29 while playing for the Nottingham Panthers in England

Johnson pictured in action for the Pittsburgh Penguins NFL team in 2017

Another co-host, Chris Curtis, then said: ‘I wanted a skate around the neck when Mac (Jones) threw that pickaxe’ – at which point you can hear fellow presenter Courtney Cox groan in dismay at his rude comment.

Wiggins then continued, “I think you should take another look at it. If you look at the video, it looks like a staircase.”

This kind of accident has happened before in hockey. In January 2022, Teddy Balkind, who was in the 10th grade at St Luke’s, a private school in Connecticut, died after his throat was slit by another player’s knife.

The same thing also happened to Clint Malarchuk in 1989, in an NHL game between his Buffalo Bares team and the St. Louis Blues.

Malarchuk survived but required 300 stitches to close a six-inch wound. He lost 1.5 liters of blood.

The Panthers released an emotional statement this weekend confirming Johnson’s death: ‘The Nottingham Panthers are truly devastated to announce that Adam Johnson has tragically passed away following a freak accident during last night’s game in Sheffield.

“The Panthers would like to send our thoughts and condolences to Adam’s family, his partner and all his friends at this extremely difficult time.

“Everyone at the club, including players, staff, management and owners, is heartbroken by the news of Adam’s passing.”

Sheffield, meanwhile, said they would ‘do everything they can to ensure Matt Petgrave and the team are looked after in the best possible way.’

Wiggins, meanwhile, played for several teams in the NFL in a career that spanned 1999 to 2007.

He was a Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots in 2001 and lined up next to Tom Brady for the 20-17 win against the St. Louis Rams.

WEEI, the broadcaster of The Greg Hill Show, has been contacted for comment.