Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was suspended for one game without pay on Monday after he was captured on camera spitting toward Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. Gardner-Johnson’s unsportsmanlike conduct occurred before halftime, after the Bills were flagged for defensive holding on a third-down pass play. He spat at Bowers during an argument and was ejected from the game.
Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan weighed in on the Gardner-Johnson incident, delivering scathing criticism of the safety.
Rex Ryan Slams C.J. Gardner-Johnson After Spitting Incident
During this Monday’s segment of the “Get Up” show, Ryan did not mince his words about Gardner-Johnson’s reputation within the league.
“This guy, say what you want, he’s a punk,” Ryan said. “That’s really what he is. Even as a practice player, I loved the way he played; I really did. And then you find out about him and you’re like ‘Oh God! Nobody wants him.’ That’s why you’ve had six teams getting rid of him. And this thing right here represents your football team. The Buffalo Bills don’t need you; guess what, no team in the league needs you.
“It’s an absolute honor to play in this league. Quit being a punk! To me that’s what it is. And I like guys who have lead in their pencil. Everybody that plays on defense has lead in their pencil, but they don’t have to be like this. This isn’t a physical. You’re not being physical, you’re being a punk, that’s it.”
Gardner violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, and barring an appeal, he will miss the Bills’ Week 8 clash against the Baltimore Ravens after Buffalo’s bye this week. It was the safety’s second 15-yard penalty in two weeks, but his first ejection in nearly two years.
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He played for the Florida Gators before the New Orleans Saints selected him with the No. 105 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
In 2020, wide receiver Javon Wims accused Gardner-Johnson of spitting on him, which led to a scuffle between Saints and Chicago Bears players, and the safety was fined for his role in the altercation. That same season, he received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after a scuffle with receiver Anthony Miller during the Saints’ Wild Card Round win over the Bears. Gardner-Johnson has played regular-season games for six teams and has spent time with seven NFL organizations during his eight-year career.
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Bills coach Joe Brady condemned Gardner-Johnson’s conduct, but will not issue an additional penalty.
“C.J. knows that it’s hard enough to win in this league with 48 guys, much less 47. He knows that that can’t happen,” Brady said. “It’s inexcusable. That’s not the standard that we’re going to have and play with. He’s addressed it. It’s been addressed. The league came down with the suspension. We want to toe the line with everything we do but we can’t cross the line.”
Gardner-Johnson has amassed 26 total tackles (17 solo), 2 passes defended, and 1 interception for a Bills unit that has earned a PFN Defense Impact score of 69.4 (No. 30 in the NFL).
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.