After receiving a one-game suspension for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers CB Jalen Ramsey, Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase is predictably appealing. Which is his right. His argument, however, sounds ludicrous.
Per Ian Rapoport, Chase will say if he truly wanted to spit on Ramsey, he would’ve been more egregious about it.
“His argument essentially being, as far as I understand, if he was going to spit on Jalen Ramsey, he would’ve spit on his face rather than on the floor or on his jersey,” Rapoport said on NFL Gameday Monday evening.
Good luck with making a convincing case out of that. The classic case of “If I did it, it would’ve been worse.” The appeal will officially be heard by former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson. Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Ramon Foster was a candidate to hear the appeal as one of the three jointly appointed hearing officers but Nelson was chosen. Optically, it’s the better choice, though Nelson heard – and upheld – Detroit Lions’ DB Brian Branch’s appeal earlier this season. Former LB Derrick Brooks is the other appeals officer.
Appeals in general have a low rate of success. Last week, Washington Commanders DL Daron Payne’s appeal was upheld and he served a one-game suspension for throwing a punch.
With such clear video evidence of Chase spitting on Ramsey, there’s little argument he can make. Chase clearly spit on Ramsey’s jersey and not even down closer to the ground where he could try to make the argument it was inadvertent. He then lied about doing so and is apparently sticking to the story even as his head coach acknowledged his receiver’s mistake, though still defended him broadly.
Chase’s appeal is expected to be heard Tuesday and ruled upon shortly after to give him and the Bengals clarity over his status ahead of the team’s Week 12 game against the New England Patriots. Nelson can either uphold, reduce, or eliminate the punishment. If this is the argument Chase and his camp truly try to make, Nelson should add more games to it.
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