Sunday’s game between the Bengals and Chiefs got pretty heated, especially for star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
His behavior on the field got so bad that he drew an unsportsmanlike penalty in the game and had to be calmed down by quarterback Joe Burrow.
After being tackled by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 26-25 loss, Ja’Marr Chase showcased clear frustration toward head referee Alex Kemp.
Burrow tried his best to calm him down but got his hand pushed away in the process.
CBS Sports sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson initially reported that Chase’s frustration stemmed from McDuffie not getting penalized for a hip-drop tackling him.
That was the certainly the case.
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Following the game, Kemp confirmed Ja’Marr Chase was arguing for flagging the tackle as a hip-drop.
“He was questioning the tackle,” Kemp told reporters. “He thought he was hip-drop tackled on the previous play. And so, he came to me wondering about a hip-drop tackle. That was the beginning line of questioning.”
However, he took things way too far.
“It’s pretty clear cut,” Kemp said, via The Athletic. “It’s just simply abusive language toward a game official. 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.”
Chase’s penalty cost the Bengals yardage and momentum.
Ja’Marr Chase Is Playing Like A Man Who Is Happy About His Contract Situation
Ja’Marr Chase caught 4-of-5 targets for just 35 yards in Sunday’s 26-25 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
This production came one week after he had six catches for 62 yards.
The frustration for Chase’s season seems to stem from him not getting the deal that he wants.
According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it certainly won’t happen this year since Chase halted contract negotiations for the rest of the season.
Schefter said the Bengals No. 1 receiver has no plans to negotiate a long-term deal after it unsuccessfully happened in the offseason.
“According to sources, the star wide receiver believes the Bengals misled him when they told him at the end of last season, and again during the offseason, he would get an extension that ultimately did not happen,” Schefter wrote.
Outside of his negotiations, Schefter also reported that Ja’Marr Chase took out a $50 million insurance policy on himself for the 2024 season to safeguard against injuries.
There was previous talk that Chase would sit out against the Patriots and Chiefs, but Chase eventually stepped in and said he’d play with or without a deal set.
It has not mattered much since the team is 0-2.