Green, Ramsey ejected for fighting
Cincinnati receiver A.J. Green and Jacksonville cornerback Jalen Ramsey started yapping on the opening series. It escalated from there and nearly spiraled out of control.
It ended with both being ejected in the host Jaguars’ 23-7 victory over the Bengals on Sunday. The altercation surely will result in league discipline, maybe even a suspension for Green.
“As a player, as a man, and a father, that’s a reflection of me,” Green said. “I should have walked off in that whole situation. I definitely learned from this experience. It’s never going to happen again. I regret my actions. Whatever the punishment, I accept it. I put myself in that situation.”
Green acknowledged that he let the trash- talking Ramsey get to him.
With the Bengals trying to run out the clock late in the first half, Green jogged through his route and didn’t expect Ramsey to knock him down. Green jumped up, grabbed Ramsey around the neck and slammed him to the ground. Green then delivered numerous punches to Ramsey’s helmet and put another MMA- style choke hold on the former Florida State standout.
“That’s not football,” Green said of the block. “I’m not going to tolerate disrespect like that. I know we can’t fight on the field. He got under my skin and I can’t let that happen.
“I’ve been the ultimate pro this long and I can’t let little things like that get to me. I shouldn’t have reacted that way, and I apologized to my teammates. That’s not who I am. It just got the best of me today.”
Players from both sidelines rushed the field, pushing, pulling, shoving, screaming and looking like they would brawl. Coaches and officials stepped in and prevented a melee.
Green and Ramsey were ejected, a decision that prompted loud objections from Jacksonville’s coaching booth.
Referee Brad Allen said officials warned Green and Ramsey earlier in the game. Allen said Ramsey was ejected for instigating the fight, and Green was tossed for throwing punches.
“You don’t have to throw a punch to be disqualified,” Allen told a pool reporter.
Ramsey was not in the locker room after the game. Another tussle: Arizona’s Frostee Rucker and Hasson Reddick, and San Francisco’s Carlos Hyde were ejected for fighting.
The teams got into a skirmish in the fourth quarter after former 49ers safety Antoine Bethea hit San Francisco quarterback C.J. Beathard late as he was sliding following a run.
The 49ers took exception to the hit and players from both teams started scuffling.
Rucker, Reddick and Hyde were all tossed from the game.