Pittsburgh Steelers S Jalen Ramsey was ejected from the team’s Week 11 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals after throwing a punch on Bengals’ WR Ja’Marr Chase. But Ramsey claimed and video backed up that Chase spit on him prior to the punch. The NFL suspended Chase one game, and during his Tuesday press conference, Tomlin called it an “unfortunate incident.”
“I was aware. I certainly talked to Jalen in-game. It’s an unfortunate incident. It’s not an act that’s common to the game of football. It’s nothing to do with football. So I’m not going to comment on it. The NFL office rendered their judgement, and so we’re moving on.”
Tomlin was asked about his message to Ramsey when it comes to playing with an edge.
“I have no message if someone spits in your face. Do what comes natural,” Tomlin said via the team’s YouTube channel.
While Ramsey was punished with the ejection, he appeared to avoid a suspension and should suit up for the Steelers on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. He’s been a key piece of the team’s secondary, especially since moving to safety. And the league office rightly seems to feel that his actions were justified. Tomlin does too.
After the game on Sunday, Tomlin said the Steelers have to “be smarter” and “stay in football games as individuals” in response to Ramsey’s ejection via the team’s YouTube channel. Of course, at that time, the video that clearly showed Ramsey getting spat on wasn’t public. That video changed the tenor around the incident.
Chase has deservedly gotten a lot of flak over the incident, including from former Bengals WR Chad Johnson. Spitting on Ramsey will cost him over $400,000 in his game check if he doesn’t win his appeal. It will also cost him the opportunity to help the 3-7 Bengals try to salvage their season against the New England Patriots.
It’s not an incident that should linger the rest of the way for the Steelers. While it might reignite their rivalry with Cincinnati, they don’t play the Bengals again this season, and the Steelers need to focus on who they have left. The next three weeks are a bit of a grind, with matchups against the Bears, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers need to focus on taking care of business to stay in the playoff hunt.
Tomlin clearly has Ramsey’s back, and as he said, spitting on someone has nothing to do with football. Ramsey’s actions were justified given what occurred prior, and there’s a reason he should be in the lineup on Sunday while Chase sits on the sidelines.
Recommended for you