NFL punishes Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey despite clear video evidence that Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase initiated the fight
The NFL decided that Jalen Ramsey needed more punishment.
The altercation that was seen around the sports world, the Pittsburgh Steelers were in headlines everywhere after Jalen Ramsey was ejected for throwing a punch at Cincinnati Bengals star WR Ja’Marr Chase.
But then it became clear that Ramsey was provoked. That he wasn’t lying and that Ja’Marr Chase was, and that he was spit on. It was obvious on video.
Chase was ultimately suspended, and it felt like the ejection was more than enough of a punishment for Ramsey when seeing the act from Chase. But not according to the NFL.
Jalen Ramsey fined $14,491 for punching Ja’Marr Chase
It was clear from the moment the video was released that the NFL would have to take action with Chase. We saw this exact situation in Week 1, when Philadelphia Eagles DT Jalen Carter spat on Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott.
Carter didn’t receive additional punishment because he missed the whole game after being ejected before the first snap. And that’s what is ironic here. Ramsey is the one who got ejected and has now been fined for the second time this season despite being provoked by Chase.
“He spit. So, it’s up. I don’t give an expletive about football after that,” added Ramsey on the incident via Nick Farabaugh on X. “I was still a little too nice if I’m keeping it honest with you. [Spitting) is what expletives do.”
It was a classic case of the second player being punished for what the first one did. Mike Tomlin even reprimanded Ramsey for losing his cool after the game, not knowing in what actually went down.
“It doesn’t matter. We got to be smarter. We got to stay in football games as individuals,” said Tomlin of Ramsey after the game via the Steelers YouTube channel. So I’m not exactly sure where the NFL gets off here, but Ramsey can put it all behind him now.
As Mike Tomlin would say later in the week, “I have no message if someone spits in your face. Do what comes natural.” And that’s what Ramsey did. The fact that the NFL thought he deserved an additional punishment after being ejected is, frankly, embarrassing.
But the Steelers and Ramsey are the ones having the last laugh. Beyond the fact that Chase was suspended, the Bengals’ playoff hopes are on their last legs, even if Joe Burrow is coming back on Thanksgiving.
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