Wide receiver A. J. Green apologized for his stranglehold attack on opponent Jalen Ramsey. Green had attacked Ramsey in the 7:23 defeat of his Cincinnati Bengals against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, after which both players had been thrown out of the game.
Green and Ramsey were direct opponents in the first half and also played a trash talk duel. Shortly before the break, Green Ramsey touched his shoulder after a running play as he passed by, and he responded by knocking Green to the ground.
As soon as he was on his feet again, he put an arm around Ramsey’s throat from behind and forced him to go down. While both were on the ground and players from both teams rushed in, Green Ramsey missed several punches. It took several minutes until the formation of the pack was dissolved, and the referees threw both Green and Ramsey out of the game.
The otherwise very level-headed Green apologized after the game for his flipping out of control and said,”I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I apologize to my fellow players and[owner Mike] Brown because it doesn’t look like me. I just couldn’t control myself today,”said the 29-year-old.
Both had already been warned of this by Referee Brad Allen. He said Ramsey had been thrown out for a Flagrant Personal Foul, and that he had “instigated”the fight.
The Ref came to me on the sidelines and said,”If he catches you in the face again, we’ll punish him,”Green explained. He ignored the attacks one by one,”But in the case of attacks below the belt, if I don’t look and so on, then I have to defend myself, and I will not retreat from anyone.”
Jaguars-Safety Barry Church described Green’s attack as cowardly,”Ramsey was quiet all the time, I think. He didn’t even strike.[Green] tries to choke him from behind, it’s just a coward.” He’s never seen such a fight in football before.
Green only had one catch for six yards until he was thrown out.