Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR/WBEN) - Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson has been suspended for one game by the National Football League for spitting at an opponent.
During his weekly Monday meeting with the media, Bills head coach Joe Brady said the situation has been addressed both by Gardner-Johnson and the team.
"The league came down with the suspension, but those are things that can't happen on the football field," he said. "We want to toe the line with everything we do, but we can't cross the line."
When asked about Gardner-Johnson's place on the team going forward, Brady did not give any indication the Bills would be moving on from him.
Just before halftime and with the Raiders driving into field goal range, the Bills were flagged on a third-down pass play for defensive holding on rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun.
After the play was over, officials threw an unsportsmanlike conduct flag on Gardner-Johnson that resulted in his disqualification from the game. A later replay showed Gardner-Johnson spitting in Bowers' direction after the tight end had turned away from a conversation between the two players. The action was not only caught by two of Las Vegas' offensive linemen, but also the nearby official that threw the flag.
After the game, Gardner-Johnson addressed his actions, saying he apologized to his teammates for letting his emotions take over in the moment,.
"We were just arguing and talking, it was nothing negative. He didn't do nothing to me. It was just in the heat of the game, arguing and talking s***... it just wasn't warranted," Gardner-Johnson admitted. "I'm not going to argue what [I did] out there. I've just got to be a better teammate, a better vet and just keep pushing. Nothing crazy."
Gardner-Johnson also took his apology to social media Sunday night, saying, "there is no excuse for my actions."
The suspension will put Gardner-Johnson out for Buffalo's Week 8 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
Through six games this year, the 28-year-old has registered 26 total tackles, two passes defended and an interception. He joined the Bills this offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
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