NFL official reveals why he called Ja'Marr Chase for unsportsmanlike conduct penalty

Sunday’s game between the Bengals and Chiefs got pretty heated, especially down the stretch. Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase drew an unsportsmanlike penalty in the game and had to be calmed down by quarterback Joe Burrow. Following the game, the official pool report provided to the Bengals beat writers by referee Alex Kemp gave us a clearer picture of what exactly happened.

In the report, Kemp reveals that Chase used ‘abusive language’ towards an official to draw the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Here is the official pool report provided to the Bengals beat writers by referee Alex Kemp on the events that led to the unsportsmanlike penalty called on Ja’Marr Chase pic.twitter.com/HmVBxt2WEe

— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) September 16, 2024

Pool Report from NFL official Alex Kemp

Here is a transcribed version of the pool report below in case you don’t want to click on the image above.

Question: What was your interpretation or just walk me through why Ja’Marr Chase was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct?

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NFL official Alex Kemp: “It’s pretty clear cut. 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.”

Question: As an official, how do you decide at what point a player crosses the line and it goes from being just pure dissent to abusive towards an official?

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NFL official Alex Kemp: “The simply answer is, profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal abusive language towards a game official. That’s the line. When that line gets crossed, we simply can’t let that happen in pro football.”

Question: Are you able to say what he was upset about?

NFL official Alex Kemp: “He was questioning the tackle. 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.”

Question: In hindsight, did you guys feel like the appropriate call on the hip-drop was made? Was that explanation you gave to him at the time?

NFL official Alex Kemp: “We informed him that we did not feel it was a hip-drop tackle.”

Controversy aside, the Chiefs-Bengals game on Sunday was yet another classic between the two rivals. The Chiefs pulled it out 26-25, after kicker Harrison Butker drilled a 51-yard game-winning kick as time expired. It’ll add yet another chapter to the rivalry, which has delivered some pretty spectacular games over the years.