The NFL upheld C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s one-game suspension on appeal Thursday, confirming the Buffalo Bills safety will sit out next week’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens for spitting at an opponent during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jordy Nelson, jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA as hearing officer, ruled on the appeal and let the suspension stand, according to Bleacher Report. The decision closes out a disciplinary process that began when Gardner-Johnson was ejected during Buffalo’s win over Las Vegas.
The Incident And The League’s Response
Gardner-Johnson spit in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and center Tyler Linderbaum during the second quarter, shortly before halftime, in Buffalo’s 33-30 win at Las Vegas on Sunday. He was ejected on the spot, and the NFL later suspended him for unsportsmanlike conduct, according to NFL.com.
Gardner-Johnson addressed the incident afterward, saying the exchange with Bowers stemmed from trash talk rather than any specific provocation. “We were just arguing and talking. It was nothing negative.
He ain’t do nothing to me. It was just in the heat of the game, arguing and talking s–t. That gesture isn’t warranted,” he said.
He later issued a fuller statement taking responsibility for the gesture. “My passion and competitive nature have always been a huge part of who I am, but I also understand that there is a line that should never be crossed,” Gardner-Johnson said. “The gesture I made toward my opponent was inappropriate, unnecessary, and not a reflection of the respect I have for him or this game.”
Gardner-Johnson also told reporters, “I’ll take my consequences,” while adding that he needs to be better at controlling his emotions.
What The Suspension Means For Buffalo
The timing of the ruling works out so that Gardner-Johnson will not miss any games until after Buffalo’s bye week. The Bills are off this coming weekend and will not need to replace him in the lineup until their Week 8 game against the Ravens on Nov. 1.
Gardner-Johnson, an eight-year veteran, is regarded as one of the leaders in Buffalo’s locker room. His absence for a single game figures to be a notable but short-term loss for a Bills defense that has helped push the team to a 5-1 record this season.
What’s Next
Buffalo enters its scheduled bye with the suspension question now resolved. Gardner-Johnson is set to serve his one-game ban when the Bills host the Ravens in Week 8 on Nov. 1, then return to the lineup after that contest.
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