Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase apologized to his team, fans, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the NFL for spitting on defensive back Jalen Ramsey, which led to a one-game suspension.
"What I did was wrong," Chase posted on Instagram. "The circumstances don't matter. My passion for the game is no excuse. There's zero place in our sport - or in life - for that level of disrespect. I want to personally apologize to everyone within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. I let my emotions in the moment get the better of me. I can only hope and trust you know none of it represents who I am - not as a competitor, teammate, or person.
"I also want to apologize to my coaches, teammates, and organization for not meeting my own standards as a leader of this team. This has been a tough season with some incredibly hard losses. We've all been frustrated. But instead of stepping up with calm, class, and leadership, I let you down. My having to sit out yesterday's game makes my actions even more inexcusable."