Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was heated in the second half of Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after not getting a call on what, he thought, was an illegal type of tackle.In the fourth quarter, Chase hauled in a five-yard reception and was brought down by Trent McDuffie. After the tackle, the Bengals' wideout immediately signaled that he was looking for a flag and made the arm motion that he thought one should be thrown.When it wasn't, he got in the face of referee Alex Kemp. After a few seconds, a flag was thrown, but on Chase for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play.The scene included Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, not only a team captain but a college teammate of Chase's at LSU, holding his receiver back from him going back to continue his words with Kemp.As a result of the penalty, a 15-yarder, the Bengals were pushed from what would have been a third and manageable, about five yards, back to a third-and-long. Cincinnati was able to walk off the field from the drive with a field goal, pushing their lead at the time to 25-23.After the game, Kemp was asked about the interaction with Chase that led to the flag being thrown."It's just simply abusive language toward a game official," Kemp said as part of the post-game pool report. "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 sued - just abusive language."When pushed for more information, Kemp continued, "Profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal abusive language towards a game official. That's the line."Kemp said Chase's frustration was over the fact that he thought a hip-drop tackle was used, a type of tackle that sees a defender wrapping up a ball carrier and rotates or swivels his hips, unweighting himself and dropping onto ball carrier’s legs during the tackle."We informed him that we did not feel it was a hip-drop tackle," Kemp said.Chase declined to comment on what was said when asked after the game."I'm not entirely sure what was said, or who threw the flag," Burrow said after the game, seemingly choosing his words carefully. "That's all I've got to say about that.""It's okay to be emotional," added Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. "I'm not in the middle of it. So I can't see everything that's said or done, so it's better that I don't comment."
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was heated in the second half of Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after not getting a call on what, he thought, was an illegal type of tackle.
In the fourth quarter, Chase hauled in a five-yard reception and was brought down by Trent McDuffie. After the tackle, the Bengals' wideout immediately signaled that he was looking for a flag and made the arm motion that he thought one should be thrown.
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When it wasn't, he got in the face of referee Alex Kemp. After a few seconds, a flag was thrown, but on Chase for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play.
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— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) September 16, 2024Pool report on the Ja’Marr Chase unsportsmanlike penalty:
Head official Alex Kemp — “It’s pretty clear cut. It’s simply abusive language toward a game official.”
Kemp said Chase argued it was a hip drop tackle. pic.twitter.com/tB8UT5KWkn
The scene included Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, not only a team captain but a college teammate of Chase's at LSU, holding his receiver back from him going back to continue his words with Kemp.
As a result of the penalty, a 15-yarder, the Bengals were pushed from what would have been a third and manageable, about five yards, back to a third-and-long. Cincinnati was able to walk off the field from the drive with a field goal, pushing their lead at the time to 25-23.
After the game, Kemp was asked about the interaction with Chase that led to the flag being thrown.
"It's just simply abusive language toward a game official," Kemp said as part of the post-game pool report. "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 sued - just abusive language."
When pushed for more information, Kemp continued, "Profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal abusive language towards a game official. That's the line."
Kemp said Chase's frustration was over the fact that he thought a hip-drop tackle was used, a type of tackle that sees a defender wrapping up a ball carrier and rotates or swivels his hips, unweighting himself and dropping onto ball carrier’s legs during the tackle.
"We informed him that we did not feel it was a hip-drop tackle," Kemp said.
Chase declined to comment on what was said when asked after the game.
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— Olivia Ray (@OliviaRayTV) September 16, 2024"There was something that was said, I'm not exactly sure what it was." - Joe Burrow on the Ja'Marr Chase unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Ja'Marr Chase declined to comment on the situation.#Bengals | @WLWT pic.twitter.com/aup2PTn2LG
"I'm not entirely sure what was said, or who threw the flag," Burrow said after the game, seemingly choosing his words carefully. "That's all I've got to say about that."
"It's okay to be emotional," added Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. "I'm not in the middle of it. So I can't see everything that's said or done, so it's better that I don't comment."