PITTSBURGH -- The NFL is set to investigate the altercation between Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, a league spokesperson said on Sunday.
Ramsey was ejected for throwing a punch, but later video showcased that Chase spit on Ramsey. Both players could face fines and/or suspensions for their actions.
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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Ramsey spoke with conviction and venom about Chase.
“I was still a little too nice if I’m keeping it honest with you,” he said.
Asked if spitting was the most disrespectful thing a player can do, he responded, “It is ... it’s a [expletive] disgrace.”
Ramsey said he hopes that after the cameras show Chase spit on him, he will be vindicated. Chase and Ramsey can still face punishment from the league, including a suspension and/or fines.
Chase could see the suspension, as Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter was suspended for spitting in the team’s first game of the season against the Dallas Cowboys. Because he was ejected before the first snap of the game, the NFL considered Carter’s suspension served.
As for the referees, head official Bill Vinovich said they saw Ramsey and Chase going at multiple times throughout the game, but they never saw Chase spit on Ramsey.
“No. 5 for Pittsburgh punched No. 1 from Cincinnati,” Vinovich said. “Obviously, we did not [see Chase spit]. We did not see anything that rose to that level at all.”
By video, Ramsey should be vindicated with his version of the story. However, it is unknown just how the NFL will decide to bring discipline against Chase and Ramsey. Ramsey was ejected, leading to the onus on him, but the cameras will show what Chase did.
“I‘m sure the NFL, they’ll do their due diligence. They’ve got 100 cameras out there,” Ramsey said. “They can investigate. They can see everything. ... They should be able to pull it up and see that he spit, and it’s whatever after that, to be honest.”
When Ramsey went out of the game, the Steelers put Chuck Clark in at safety, with a thin cornerback room still holding together with Brandin Echols manning the slot.
If Ramsey were to be suspended for the Steelers game in Chicago next week against the Bears, that would likely be the lineup they would use.
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