Bengals player who faked injury during Chiefs game reportedly receives hefty fine
A decision by the NFL has added insult to injury for Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates.
Well, insult to fake injury.
During the Bengals’ 27-24 win over the Chiefs on Dec. 4, Kansas City had the ball inside the Cincinnati 5-yard line. The Bengals tried to make a pair of late substitutions but needed help to get the players on the field.
Not so coincidentally, Bengals safety Jessie Bates went down with a severe, agonizing injury at that very moment. OK, it wasn’t that bad because it was clear to everyone, including the CBS broadcasters, that Bates was faking the injury.
The NFL didn’t take kindly to Bates’ break in the game. The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported this weekend that Bates had been fined $50,000 for “allegedly faking an injury.”
That’s a hefty penalty.
Bates was asked by The Athletic’s Jay Morrison if he planned to appeal the fine.
“For sure. I think Katie (Blackburn, Bengals’ executive vice president) and them are gonna appeal it for all of us.”
Bates is hoping for quite a reduction in the money he’ll owe.
“Hopefully it cuts down to $5,000,” Bates told Morrison, “kind of make an example of us and move on.”
This story was originally published December 12, 2022 at 11:53 AM.
