Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been suspended without pay for one game for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Chase spat on Ramsey during a confrontation in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. Ramsey grabbed Chase by the facemask and punched him in retaliation, which resulted in Ramsey’s ejection. Officials, who said after the game they did not see Ramsey spitting, took no action against the receiver at the time.
The NFL said Chase was disciplined under a rule that applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”
After Sunday’s game, which the Bengals lost 34-12, Chase denied having spat at Ramsey. But a Cincinnati television station had video of the incident. Chase did not speak to reporters in the Bengals’ locker room on Monday.
Chase will miss the Bengals’ home game against New England this weekend. He has a right to appeal the suspension. Cincinnati are 3-7 and have lost three straight games. According to the NFL Players Association database, Chase will be docked at least $448,333,33 in base salary as a result of the suspension.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said before the league announced the suspension that he had talked to Chase about the incident.
“It’s like we are trying to make something out of this situation. It’s the only thing that’s kind of upset me as I’m sitting in here,” Taylor said. “For a guy that has done everything we can to build our organization around, he’s been awesome. Not perfect. I’m not perfect. Trust me, I made plenty of mistakes yesterday [that] people don’t see on camera. Unfortunately his was. He’s going to have to own up for that. That will be part of his journey.”
It’s the second time this season that the league has disciplined a player for spitting. Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was initially suspended one game for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the season opener. Carter eventually forfeited his Week 1 game check worth $57,222 and avoided missing any more games because the ejection happened early in the game and the league applied that as time served.
