Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase received a major unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after his emotional outburst toward a referee during the team's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
With the Bengals at the Chiefs' 34-yard line, Joe Burrow found Chase for a 4-yard completion. As Chase stood up to head to the huddle, he couldn't help but complain to referee Alex Kemp about a tackle by Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow tries to hold back wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who continues to yell at the referee, at Arrowhead Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Sam Green/The Enquirer/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Chase was pulled back into the huddle and Burrow had to push the star wide receiver away from Kemp after the penalty, which halted any momentum the Bengals were generating at the time and led to an Evan McPherson field goal.
Three points was bigger than the chance of scoring 6, 7 or 8. The Chiefs eventually marched down the field and got Harrison Butker to hit a game-winning field goal.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Kemp explained his issues with Chase to a pool reporter, saying the officials told Chase that McDuffie's tackle was not a hip drop that would have resulted in a foul.
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Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie takes down Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. (Sam Green/The Enquirer/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“It's pretty clear,” he said of the reason for the penalty. “It was simply abusive language towards the umpire. That's all. And there was no translation whatsoever. I'm not going to repeat what he said, but the words he used there was no translation. It was just abusive language.”
Kemp pointed out why Chase's comments overstepped the line for him.
Chase was seen on the sideline looking upset despite coach Zac Taylor's attempts to calm him down, slamming his helmet on the ground in frustration.
“The answer is simple: There's a difference between foul language used by adults and direct, personal abuse directed at an official,” Kemp said. “That's the line. Once that line is crossed, we can't allow that to happen in professional football.”
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase runs with the ball for a first down while under the protection of Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Chase declined to discuss the incident after the game.
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