Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt said he was expressing «raw» feelings in the heat of the moment when he lashed out at second-year pro Joseph Ossai for an unnecessary roughness penalty that ultimately resulted in the Kansas City Chiefs AFC Championship win.
A viral video of Pratt scolding Ossai as the flares He returned to the locker room defeated began circulating on social networks on Sunday night.
Joseph Ossai, number 58 of the Cincinnati Bengals, looks on during the first half of a preseason game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on August 21, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
«No, it’s not good. This is mother’s senior year. Why the hell would you tag the quarterback?» he could be heard yelling as he walked back.
BENGALS PLAYER ANNOYED AFTER TEAMMATE’S PENALTY COSTS HIM AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: ‘WHY DO YOU TAG THE QUARTERBACK’
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
The comments were poorly received by some, but Pratt made no excuses for what he was feeling at the time.
«Yes [people] I will post anything on social media to get likes and views,» Pratt responded on Instagram below a video of the incident. “I have real feelings that are sometimes raw.
«If you love something so much [as] I do, sometimes things will be said in the [heat] of the moment. But I know what kind of teammate I am. And what kind of man am I.»
Germaine Pratt, number 57 of the Cincinnati Bengals, walks on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Cincinnati.
(Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
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He continued: «Trust me, there is no love lost, I am hurt. Remember some [people will] I hate you, I brand you and I shake you and I try to break you, but I’ll stand tall as always.»
The Chiefs were already looking for a potential game-winning field goal to clinch their Super Bowl berth when Ossai shoved the quarterback. patrick mahomes from behind after he had already gone out of bounds.
The 15-yard penalty for the late hit was enough to give Harrison Butker a field goal opportunity which he completed for a 23-20 victory.
Joseph Ossai, #58, and Zach Carter, #95 of the Cincinnati Bengals, face Patrick Mahomes, #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs, during the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on June 29 January 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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«I was in full chase mode and pushing to maybe get him back, because I knew he was going to the sideline, so get him back and make the clock tick,» Ossai said after the game.
«I didn’t know how out of bounds we were.»
Associated Press contributed to this report.