Initially after Week 11, Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase told reporters he didn’t spit on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey. Despite video to the contrary, Chase is doubling down with that story.
The NFL announced a one-game suspension for Chase for his Week 11 spitting incident. The Bengals wide receiver is appealing the suspension.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport presented the wideout’s core appeal argument Monday night.
“His argument essentially being, as far as I understand, if he was going to spit on Jalen Ramsey, he wouldn’t spit on his face rather than on the floor or on his jersey,” said Rapoport on NFL Gameday.
Predictably, Chase is receiving significant criticism for that appeal argument.
“Good luck making a convincing case out of that,” wrote Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora.
“With such clear video evidence of Chase spitting on Ramsey, there’s little argument he can make. Chase clearly spat on Ramsey’s jersey, and not even down closer to the ground, where he could try to make the argument that 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.”
Former NFL wide receiver Jordy Nelson will be the appeals officer in Chase’s case. Regardless of the appeals officer, though, Chase successfully appealing his one-game suspension is unlikely.
The video Kozora reference, which Fox 19 sports photographer Austin Briski posted on X, shows Chase spitting on Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s matchup. In response, Ramsey punched Chase.
The officials ejected Ramsey for the punch. Chase received a 15-yard penalty for his role in the altercation, but no penalty for spitting on Ramsey.
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