Bengals Coach Zac Taylor Blames Steelers' Jalen Ramsey For Despicable Action From Ja'Marr Chase
Despite all the great plays that the Pittsburgh Steelers made in their victory against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, the only thing that anyone wants to talk about is the fourth quarter incident where Ja'Marr Chase spit on Jalen Ramsey. Despite his claims that he never did it, video evidence has surfaced of him actually committing that disrespectful, disgusting act. There is no way to deny it now, and he could even be suspended a game for his classless decision. Spitting on someone does not belong in the game at all.
However, Chase has still received some support, despite him clearly being in the wrong. That included Head Coach Zac Taylor, who seems to be okay with what transpired on the field then.
Yes, there had been a lot of trash talking along with some pushing and shoving before that. However, that does not justify spitting on another player, yet Taylor feels the need to protect his star receiver.
In the eyes of many, Ramsey's reaction was completely reasonable, but that didn't stop Head Coach Mike Tomlin from chastising his star safety. He didn't want to hear any excuses for why he got ejected from the game, and he let the world know that. Tomlin is talking about how his players need to be "smarter" while Taylor is trying to show support for an act that should not be a part of any sport.
Even Bengals legend Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson did not hesitate to call out Chase for his horrible decision on the field. It seems like everyone but Taylor is capable of reading the room and understanding how wrong it is to spit on someone. There is just no way to justify it, no matter how hard the head coach tries to. There are very few acts more shameful than that.
Under that post, many fans have speculated that Taylor is very close to losing the locker room and only stood in support of his star player due to fear of completely losing it and being fired. However, it is still hard to support a man who seems to be content with his players going outside the game of football and defiling an opponent like that, especially during a blowout loss.
Steelers Are Not Only Team To Call Out Dumb Decisions By Their Own Players
As mentioned before, Tomlin called out Ramsey publicly for getting himself ejected during that whole incident. That's not the first time he has called out someone specifically for questionable decisions made on the field of play, and it most likely won't be his last. He prefers to handle everything behind closed doors, but if someone does something that's obviously wrong, he won't hesitate to say something about it.
Earlier in the 2025 season, Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell refused to defend safety Brian Branch for punching a player after the game was over. He called his player's actions "inexcusable" as he spoke about how terrible that act was. Of course, Campbell is one of the most fun, respected coaches in the NFL, but he still understands when a player goes too far.
It's also not the first time that a coach stood up for a star player after committing a horrible act against Pittsburgh. Then-head coach, Freddie Kitchens of the Cleveland Browns publicly wore a shirt that said "Steelers started it" after Myles Garrett whacked Mason Rudolph over the head with his own helmet, then lied about the quarterback calling him a slur. Kitchens was fired after that one season.
"If the Colts Don’t Act Fast, We’ll Lose Alec Pierce" – Michael Pittman Jr. Sounds the Alarm on Urgent Contract Situation
"If the Colts don’t act fast, we’ll be watching Alec Pierce play for another team next season—and at that point, we’ll all be asking ourselves why we didn’t lock him down sooner. His value is skyrocketing, and if they wait too long, it’ll cost them big time."
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has issued a bold warning regarding the future of Alec Pierce
, urging the team to act quickly before the young star’s contract situation gets out of hand. Pierce, who is currently enjoying a breakout season, has become one of the NFL’s top deep threats and a cornerstone of the
Colts’ offense. Pittman, seeing the potential of his teammate, made it clear that the clock is ticking for the Colts to lock him up long-term.
In an interview
Alec Pierce’s Explosive Growth: A Future Superstar
Alec Pierce has been on an absolute tear this season. With 28 receptions for 585 yards and 5 touchdowns in just eight games
, the second-year receiver is on pace for a career-high 1,100 yards and 53 catches. After struggling in his rookie season, Pierce has found his rhythm, proving to be one of the
league’s best deep threats with an impressive 20.9 yards per reception, leading the NFL in this category.
Pierce’s efficiency has drastically improved, as he currently boasts a career-best catch rate of 53.8 percent
. Last year, he led the NFL in yards per reception at 22.3, and his physicality and speed have made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. He’s quickly becoming a
The Clock Is Ticking: Why the Colts Can’t Afford to Wait
With Pierce’s value only increasing by the week, Pittman is sounding the alarm that the Colts front office must act fast. Reggie Wayne, the Colts’ wide receivers coach, echoed this sentiment, saying Pierce’s growth has been
“right on time” and “well deserved”. Pierce’s success hasn’t been a surprise to anyone in the wide receiver room, and both Pittman and Wayne believe the best is yet to come for the young receiver.
But the pressure is mounting. As Pierce’s contract situation looms, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Indianapolis could be forced to compete with other teams for his services if they don’t lock him up soon. The Colts have the money and the desire to keep him, but waiting too long could mean losing him to another team willing to meet his growing price tag.
What’s Next for Alec Pierce and the Colts?
The question now is: Will the Colts act fast enough to retain Alec Pierce? With the team’s offense built around explosiveness, Pierce’s vertical threat is vital to their future success.
Pittman and Wayne are both confident that Pierce’s rise is sustainable, and it’s clear the Colts would be wise to keep him as a central piece of their offense moving forward.
As Pittman says, the Colts can’t afford to wait much longer. Pierce’s value is on the rise, and if Indianapolis doesn’t lock him down soon, they may find themselves bidding for his services with other teams. The clock is ticking, and it’s time for the Colts to make sure they don’t lose one of their brightest young stars.
