Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers told reporters Tuesday that he wasn’t going to comment on the suspension Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase received for spitting at Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey during Week 11.
However, Tomlin was obviously not happy about the incident. The head coach appeared to try to keep his answer brief, but Tomlin did address Chase spitting on Ramsey.
“It’s an unfortunate incident. It’s not an act that’s common to the game of football,” Tomlin told reporters Tuesday. “It has nothing to do with football. I’m not going to comment on it. The NFL office rendered their judgement, and so, we’re moving on.”
In reaction to Chase spitting, Ramsey punched the Bengals wideout. When asked a follow-up question about whether Ramsey should have responded differently, Tomlin was at a loss for words.
“I have no message if someone spits in your face. Do what comes natural,” said Tomlin.
Officials ejected Ramsey for punching the Bengals receiver. Chase received a 15-yard penalty, but for engaging in the fight, not for spitting.
The Bengals wideout was not ejected. On Monday, though, the NFL announced a one-game suspension for Chase in Week 12.
Mike Tomlin Declined Comment on Ja’Marr Chase Suspension
In October, not everyone loved Tomlin being so forthright about his feelings on the Cleveland Browns trading quarterback Joe Flacco to the Bengals. Essentially, Tomlin stated the traded didn’t make a lot of sense.
The Steelers head coach was probably wise not to share his honest opinion on Chase’s spitting suspension.
Chase is the first player to be suspended for spitting at an opponent in NFL history. Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter wasn’t suspended in Week 1 after spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
However, Carter received an ejection before the first play of the game for the spit. Again, officials didn’t eject Chase in Week 11.
It’s possible Tomlin didn’t want to address the NFL’s punishment for Chase because he felt it should have been more games. But given the fact the league has never suspended a player for spitting previously, it’s hard to argue Chase should have been more severely punished.
It’s more likely Tomlin didn’t want to address Chase’s one-game suspension just in case a Steelers player commits a similar crime at some point. If that happens, and Tomlin is on record saying he agreed with Chase’s punishment, the Steelers could potentially lose leverage in an appeal.
Smartly, Tomlin made his feelings on Chase’s spit rather clear without explicitly stating them entirely.
Jalen Ramsey Explains Reaction to Chase Spit
Current and former players have voiced loudly the past couple days how disrespectful it is to spit at a football opponent. That was clearly Ramsey’s take on the situation.
“I don’t give a [expletive] about football after that, respectfully,” Ramsey told reporters after the game. “I’m always going to be all for trash talking, [expletive] stuff like that. I actually enjoy that part of the game. I think people know that.
“As soon as he spit, it was like ‘[expletive] that.’”
NFL coaches typically want their players to put the team ahead of themselves. If Ramsey had done that, he would have turned the other cheek and not responded to Chase’s spit. Punching the receiver only resulted in hurting the Steelers.
But if Tomlin had any issue with Ramsey responding the way he did, the head coach didn’t show it to the media.
Chase is appealing his one-game suspension. He has yet to address the incident since he declined it happened immediately after the game.
Following Chase’s denial after the game, Fox 19 sports photographer Austin Briski posted video on X Sunday evening of Chase clearly spitting at Ramsey.
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