It was an altercation, or rather, a spat, between two All-Pro NFL players: a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals and a defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Unless Chase’s appeal is successful, Chase will be liable for $500,000 in damages.
During Sunday’s game between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, Chase was seen spitting at Ramsey. Ramsey retaliated by throwing a punch at Chase, but was ejected.
In the NFL, he would cost a total of $507,156 in one week’s salary plus a bonus for being on the active roster.
After the match, Chase denied spitting, and referee Bill Vinovich told pool reporters, “I didn’t see anything that got to that level at all.” However, the video captured saliva in the air.
Ramsey, a 10-year veteran who won Super Bowl LVI, reacted violently and had to be restrained.
Ramsey told reporters after the game, “I’m always going to trash talk… things like that.” “I actually enjoy that part of the game, and I think people know that, but as soon as he spit on me, I was like, ‘Oh, that.’
Ramsey, 31, said Chase snatched his mouthpiece early in the match, sparking a scuffle that resulted in an offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct fine. Chase once grabbed defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon’s mouthpiece and flicked safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in a 2022 game against the division-rival Steelers. Chase was fined for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Ramsey, who played for the Rams from 2019 to 2022, is a seven-time Pro Bowl, three-time All-Pro, and Hall of Fame cornerback.
Chase, 25, has been an elite receiver since being drafted out of Louisiana State University in 2021. He was named Rookie of the Year and All-Pro in 2021, and last season led the NFL with 127 catches, 1,708 receiving yards, and 17 touchdowns, and was named All-Pro again.
He already has 79 receptions this season, including 16 receptions for 161 yards in the Bengals’ 33-30 win over the Steelers on Oct. 16. However, he only had three catches for 30 yards in last Sunday’s 34-12 loss.
Despite the appeal, Bengals coach Zac Taylor made no excuses for Chase’s actions Monday.
“Obviously what happened crossed the line. That can’t happen,” Taylor said. “I know he would approve of that.”
