Sports media analyst Jimmy Traina is pushing back on how CBS used rules analyst Gene Steratore after Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was ejected for spitting toward Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers on Sunday.
The ejection came late in the first half of Buffalo’s 33-30 win in Las Vegas, and the NFL suspended Gardner-Johnson for one game on Monday. However, Traina’s issue was with what CBS did after J.J. Watt had already figured out what happened.
Jimmy Traina Thinks CBS Should’ve Stuck With J.J. Watt During C.J. Gardner-Johnson Incident
Buffalo led 13-10 with seconds remaining before halftime at Allegiant Stadium when officials flagged the Bills safety for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected him. At first, it wasn’t clear why.
Watt was working the game alongside Jim Nantz, and before any replay settled it, he speculated on the air that it might be because of spitting. The replays proved him right, showing Gardner-Johnson spitting toward Raiders center Tyler Linderbaum and Bowers.
“J.J., your speculation was correct,” Nantz said, before CBS brought in Steratore, who said the ejection was “definitely warranted.”
On his “Traina Thoughts” podcast, Traina questioned CBS’ decision to throw to Steratore.
“The use of the rules analyst makes no sense to me. You bring in the rules analyst if we don’t know what the rule is on a play,” Traina said. “You don’t need to bring in a rules analyst to tell us what we just saw. I don’t understand it…
“Nothing personal against Gene Steratore. He added nothing there. Not one bit. The person I want to hear from immediately in that situation is J.J. Watt, a former player. What do you think of a teammate? If you’re a Bills player, what do you think about your teammate spitting on a Raiders player? If you’re a Raiders player, what do you think about one of your teammates just getting spit on? What’s going through your head? What’s the worst thing you’ve seen a player do to another player on the field?
“I don’t need Gene Steratore brought in to say, ‘Yeah, he spit on him. He’s going to get ejected.’ We all saw it. I don’t understand the use of these analysts.”
Traina did give Watt his flowers for his correct read on the incident.
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“Full credit to J.J. Watt,” Traina added. “It was speculation, but when the refs came out with a 15-yard taunting penalty or whatever, and then the ejection, you knew it had to be something a little off the beaten path. J.J. speculated right away that maybe he spit on him because you could see the direction. J.J. turned out to be 100% right. Good call by Watt.”
The NFL announced that Gardner-Johnson has been suspended for one game without pay due to unsportsmanlike conduct.
After the game, Gardner-Johnson told reporters, “I’ve gotta be a better player. I’ve gotta be a better vet. I let my emotions get above me and I hurt my team.” He later apologized on Instagram, writing, “There is no excuse for my actions, and I take full accountability.”
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Because Buffalo (5-1) is on its bye this week, the suspension won’t begin until Monday, Oct. 26. Gardner-Johnson will miss the Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium on Nov. 1. He’s eligible to return the following Monday, ahead of a Week 9 road game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Gardner-Johnson is an eight-year veteran in his first season with Buffalo, and he has played for six teams. He tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions for the NFC champion Eagles in 2022. After a season in Detroit, he added six more for the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.
Gardner-Johnson can appeal the suspension; as of Monday night, he had not publicly announced whether he would do so.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.