This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/seahawks as Pete Carroll goes to bat for Geno Smith over double-bird incident with Seahawks fan. From the moment the NFL announced that the Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders would open their preseason against each other at Lumen Field, everyone knew there'd be fireworks.

Pete Carroll has Geno Smith’s back. The new Raiders coach, 73, defended his quarterback Sunday when asked about Smith’s decision to flip off a Seahawks fan during Thursday’s preseason game, which served as the duo’s Seattle homecoming.

Back in March, quarterback Geno Smith was traded by the Seattle Seahawks to the Las Vegas Raiders, reuniting him with coach Pete Carroll. Smith spent six seasons with the Seahawks, five under Carroll, and now the two are set to embark on a new chapter with the Raiders.