
In an ideal world, everyone would have expected Ja’Marr Chase to come clean after spitting at Jalen Ramsey during their Sunday clash in Pittsburgh.
The Bengals’ wide receiver might have thought that cameras must not have caught his spit, and that he would get away with it. It seems he forgot that the NFL and its broadcast partners deploy some of the best motion cameras in the world.
In this day and age of high-definition broadcasts, it was baffling for Chase to deny doing so. The NFL, on the other hand, looked at the video evidence and did not have to waste time delving into it.
They announced that they were suspending Ja’Marr Chase for the Bengals’ next game against the New England Patriots. They also confirmed that the star wide receiver will not be paid for the coming week.
After signing a monster contract extension this offseason, he will lose out on his weekly paycheck of $448,333, along with his $58,823 per game active bonus. This makes his spit worth more than $507,000, an expensive act.
Ja’Marr Chase’s one-game suspension will cost him his weekly paycheck of $448,333 along with a $58,823 per game active bonus he now will be forfeiting. https://t.co/4Ww4ZB4m4y
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 17, 2025
The league termed the incident as ‘an act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.’ This unsportsmanlike behavior could have an impact on his off-court endorsements, too.
The Bengals are not theoretically out of playoff contention. Hence, his absence next week could impact their goal more than he imagined. It is unclear if the franchise would punish him more than the league has done so far.
Ja’Marr Chase will likely sit quietly at home, as he would not want anyone associated with the NFL to talk about this spitting incident or suspension. First Take‘s Stephen A. Smith believes the Bengals star should have stayed home longer.
It should be an automatic two-game suspension. One is for the spitting. Another is for telling a bold-faced lie… It’s clear as day.
Stephen A. Smith said on the show
The ESPN analyst made it clear that Chase is his favorite wide receiver in the NFL. However, that does not mean he condones what the Bengals star has done.
"It should be an automatic two-game suspension."
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 17, 2025
—@stephenasmith on Ja'Marr Chase appearing to spit on Jalen Ramsey pic.twitter.com/AmbH9mvqeu
Instead, he hoped the league would have sent a message by suspending him for lying straight to reporters despite being aware of how high-quality video proof can be made available.
After video replays of the spitting incident went viral, every single person who has any links to football said the same thing: Ja’Marr Chase should be suspended and fined.
Now that the NFL has done both, it seems justice has prevailed. But for Pittsburgh Steelers great James Harrison, Chase’s act would have led him to do something differently.
It ain’t nothing more disrespectful than spitting on somebody. If you spit on me, I’mma find out where you at in the offseason… I’ve got to get my get back.
James Harrison said on Deebo and Joe podcast
The 2-time Super Bowl champion believes that, as a player holding some pride, he would not have been content with the Bengals star’s suspension and fine. He would have targeted Chase sometime in the offseason to satisfy his ego.
James Harrison on Ja’Marr Chase Spitting on Jalen Ramsey:
— Matthew Luciow (@matthewluciow92) November 17, 2025
“It ain’t nothing more disrespectful than spitting on somebody. If you spit on me I’mma find out where you at in the offseason.”
Deebo and Joe pic.twitter.com/L9w4MeirkG
Competing on the field is different from disrespect. Harrison believes the Bengals’ wide receiver was not only disrespectful when he first spat at Jalen Ramsey, but then to lie about it was an insult to injury.
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