During their game last Sunday, both Bengals receiver A.J. Green and Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey were ejected after this scuffle:
From afar, it looked pretty weird that both guys got thrown out. Ramsey’s only apparent crime was shoving Green, and while that’s definitely not nice, it’s something that happens plenty during a standard NFL game. Green came up behind Ramsey and put him in a chokehold, then hauled him to the ground. That seemed a lot worse.
So a lot of people wondered what Ramsey could’ve done to cause this.
Not much, he indicated to reporters on Wednesday:
Jalen Ramsey
— Brian Chojnacki (@BroadcastingBri) November 8, 2017
“I told Green he was soft and weak. Which is true. I was out there spitting facts.”#Jaguars
Ramsey: I kept telling Green you got 1 catch for 6 yards right now. #Jaguars @wjxt4
— Brian Jackson (@WJXTBJackson) November 8, 2017
Also, Ramsey says of his initial shove at Green:
Ramsey: It wasn’t a late push it was before the whistle. Yeah i was hot because i got kicked out. @wjxt4 #Jaguars
— Brian Jackson (@WJXTBJackson) November 8, 2017
After the game, the game’s referee called Ramsey the “instigator” in the ordeal.
Referee Brad Allen to pool reporter: Said both Green and Ramsey were warned multiple times during game. Called Ramsey the "instigator."
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) November 5, 2017
But Ramsey said Wednesday:
Ramsey: One of the referees told me I don’t know why you’re being ejected. #Jaguars @wjxt4
— Brian Jackson (@WJXTBJackson) November 8, 2017
Here are Ramsey’s full comments to reporters Wednesday:
These Jalen Ramsey quotes about last week’s fight with A.J. Green. pic.twitter.com/q2FcH44vCa
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) November 8, 2017
So the entire situation is a bit weird, at this point.
Green said sorry for his role after the game:
A.J. Green -- "I apologize to my teammates, Mr. Brown, and everybody, because that is not who I am. It just got the best of me today."
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) November 5, 2017
Someone reportedly told Ramsey he was tossed because the ref thought he’d thrown a punch, and Green said he’d accept whatever punishment the league handed down:
Some fans were concerned Green’s frustration was related to the Bengals’ record. The star receiver denied anything of the sort. He said it had nothing to do with not getting the ball in this or any other game this season.
“I’m an ultimate team player,” Green said. “Of course I want the ball every game, but thats not going to happen so it has nothing to do with that.”
After thinking on it for two quarters, Green sounded remorseful following the game.
“Me as a man, I have to control my emotion better...I cant put myself in a situation like that where I hurt my team,” he said. “I'm a week-to-week guy, I don't let the game effect where I am...He took it to the next level and I shouldn’t have reacted that way.”
Green apologized both on the record to the media and to the locker room.
Ramsey said he tried to go to the Bengals locker room after his ejection but was stopped by stadium security, ESPN reported.
The players avoided suspensions. Green’s surely going to be fined, and Ramsey might be, too.
According to NFL fine schedule, it's $30,387 for first offense of fighting.#Bengals
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonCMG) November 5, 2017
Jacksonville won the game, 23-7. At the time of his ejection in the second quarter, Green had just the one catch for 6 yards.