After Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase spit on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey last week, Ramsey punched Chase, resulting in an ejection and, ultimately, a $14,491 fine from the league, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Chase was the one suspended, however, and will lose more than $500,000 for his one-game absence, Pelissero reported Saturday.
In the moment, the officials didn't see Chase spitting on Ramsey. That's why the Bengals' star wideout didn't receive a second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty like Ramsey did.
Chase finished out what was a 34-12 Steelers victory.
The four-time Pro Bowl receiver denied spitting postgame, but a field-level video taken by Fox 19 WXIX-TV shows the inciting incident, which followed an intense back and forth between the standout skill players.
A play before Ramsey's ejection, they had both received unsportsmanlike penalties. Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro cornerback, said Chase tried to crackback block him, per ESPN. But Chase spitting escalated the situation even more.
"He spit on me," Ramsey said postgame, via ESPN. "I don't give a f*** about football after that, respectfully. I'm always going to be all for trash talking, s*** talking, things like that. I actually enjoy that part of the game. I think that people know that. ... We were talking s***, which I'm cool with. And then as soon as he spit, it was f*** that. ... I'm sure the NFL, they'll do their due diligence.
"They've got 100 cameras out there. They can investigate. They can see everything. ... They should be able to pull it up and see that he spit and it's whatever after that, to be honest. I was still a little too nice if I'm keeping it honest with you."
Pittsburgh acquired Ramsey in a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins this past offseason. Ramsey has become a Steelers leader in his first year with the team, stepping up to play safety at points this season for an injury-riddled secondary.
His head coach didn't seem to have a problem with the way Ramsey stood up for himself against Chase.
"I have no message if someone spits in your face," Mike Tomlin said Tuesday before pausing briefly.
Tomlin then added: "Do what comes natural."