An emotional exchange during Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders has left the Buffalo Bills preparing for their next matchup without C.J. Gardner-Johnson, after the NFL suspended the safety for spitting toward an opponent.
Gardner-Johnson was ejected following a confrontation with Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, with television cameras capturing the incident directly in front of an official.
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The league confirmed Monday that the 28-year-old would serve a one-game suspension without pay, ruling that his actions violated its standards of sportsmanship.
The punishment means Buffalo will be without the experienced defensive back against the Baltimore Ravens, although Gardner-Johnson can appeal the decision.
Bills head coach Joe Brady made little attempt to conceal his frustration following an incident he believes reflected poorly on the entire organization.
"The discipline of our football team has to improve and that sure as hell can't happen," Brady told reporters.
"The team is bigger than that, the situation is bigger than that, everything is bigger. It can't happen, and it definitely has to be addressed."
Brady acknowledged that he hadn't reviewed the footage when initially discussing the incident, but said the officials had made the nature of the violation clear.
The NFL subsequently determined that Gardner-Johnson breached Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, covering conduct contrary to accepted principles of sportsmanship.
Although Gardner-Johnson has previously received fines and been ejected from games, this represents his first NFL suspension.
He's scheduled to become eligible to return to Buffalo's roster on November 2, subject to any changes resulting from an appeal.
Gardner-Johnson apologizes after Bowers confrontation
Following Sunday's dismissal, Gardner-Johnson addressed the controversy in a lengthy Instagram statement, acknowledging that his actions were unacceptable.
"I want to take a moment to address my actions and sincerely apologize to my opponent, my teammates, my organization, and everyone who supports me," he wrote.
"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.
"There is no excuse for my actions, and I take full accountability. No matter how emotional or intense the competition gets, I have to hold myself to a higher standard."
Gardner-Johnson also promised to learn from the incident, adding: "My actions will speak louder than my words moving forward."
Kyle Juszczyk makes fresh allegation
The controversy attracted further attention when San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk alleged that Gardner-Johnson had previously spat at him.
"This is the least surprising thing ever," Juszczyk wrote on social media, claiming the defensive back had "spit on me last year when we beat Chicago."
Meanwhile, Raiders coach Klint Kubiak praised his players for avoiding retaliation during Sunday's confrontation.
"That's the expectation," Kubiak said, explaining that his team had been warned about potential confrontations before the game.
Gardner-Johnson joined Buffalo on a one-year contract after previously representing five other NFL franchises.
His suspension now presents an immediate challenge for the Bills' secondary, while Brady's comments underline the importance of restoring discipline before another difficult matchup.