2 weeks Ago
Ja'Marr Chase could receive further discipline after venting his frustrations on Sunday. In the fourth quarter of a tense AFC rivalry game, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver was irate after what he considered an illegal hip-drop tackle from Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie. Joe Burrow tried to calm his teammate down, but Chase argued with the official until receiving a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The NFL may also hit Chase's wallet after the incident. Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero , the league is likely to fine the star wideout. After the game, referee Alex Kemp explained why he threw the flag on Chase.
"It's pretty clear cut. It's just simply abusive language toward a game official," Kemp said, via NFL.com .
"That's all it was. And there was really no interpretation. I'm not going to repeat to you what he said, but there was no interpretation with the language that he used -- just abusive language.
" Andy Lyons/Getty Images While trailing 23-22, the penalty transformed a manageable third down into a 3rd-and-22. It also momentarily took the Bengals out of field goal position, but they gained enough yardage back to set up a successful 53-yard kick from Evan McPherson. Chase, who ceased contract talks after not landing a desired extension, finished the 26-25 loss with 35 yards on four catches.
Per NFL Next Gen Stats , the four-yard play that ended with a 15-yard penalty was the only reception Chase tallied while covered by McDuffie. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer 's Charlie Goldsmith , Bengals head coach Zac Taylor called Chase's outburst a "very emotional moment" that's "not what we're about." "I admire his competitiveness.
I don't ever want to tame that ...
He knows. I like that fire from him," Taylor said of Chase. "Sure, there have been times I've had to rib him for penalties.
At the same time, that's the competitiveness I want from him. It's just managing it the right way." Related: Ja'Marr Chase Says Bengals, Not Chiefs, Are 'Team To Beat' In AFC.
