**PHILADELPHIA —** Jalen Carter made the wrong kind of headlines on Thursday night when the Eagles star defensive tackle was ejected for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Now, we’ve heard from the referee who flagged and tossed Carter.
Shawn Smith, the NFL’s head referee of the Eagles-Cowboys game, spoke to a PFWA pool reporter during the hour-long lightning delay about Carter’s ejection.
Here’s how that brief conversation went.
**Question:** What did you observe that led to the disqualification?
**Smith:** “One of the officials observed him spitting on an opponent.”
**Question:** Why did that rise to the level of disqualification as opposed to a different penalty?
**Smith:** “It’s a disqualifiable foul in the game. It’s a non-football act.”
Carter, an All-Pro selection, was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected before the first snap of Thursday night’s opener. While Eagles trainers were tending to an injury after the opening kickoff, Carter and Prescott exchanged words before Carter spat on him.
This isn’t the first time Carter has been disciplined by officials. The dominant defensive tackle’s three unnecessary roughness penalties last year were tied for the most in the NFL. His seven total penalties were tied for the third-most among NFL defensive linemen.
Carter will certainly be fined for his actions against Prescott. He might even be suspended for next week’s game at the Kansas City Chiefs and beyond.
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