The NFL has hit Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters with a $12,500 fine following an incident in which the cornerback appeared to spit towards Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry.
Both Peters and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh have insisted that the Ravens player did not spit at his opponent during the Ravens’ 47-42 win last Monday evening. Video appeared to show that Peters spat in the direction of Landry’s back when the Browns man was returning to a huddle.
Peters said in an official statement released by the Ravens: “I didn’t spit at Jarvis. Where I come from, when you have an issue with someone, you deal with it face-to-face, man-to-man. Anyone who believes that I intentionally spit at him does not know me – plain and simple.”
Harbaugh backs Peters
Harbaugh also spoke on the matter to reporters, insisting that he did not see his player do anything untoward. The Ravens coach also confirmed that he spoke to Landry himself after the game and has nothing but respect for the Browns corner back. Harbaugh insisted that spitting is just not Peters’ “style”.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has declined to comment on the matter. Landry, however, has been less than circumspect in his own remarks, branding Peters a “coward” and insisting that spitting at his back was the act of a man who would not dare do the same to Landry’s face. Landry also insisted that now everyone would know “what type of person” Peters really was.
Peters was seen on Instagram live the day after the game calling Landry a “homegirl.” He also used the same term of abuse for Odell Beckham Jnr. Last season, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey had appeared to choke Beckham while the latter player was on the ground. The Ravens used video to dispute the charge, however.
Mayfield boosting Browns
Meanwhile, the Browns bounced back from the defeat to Baltimore with a fine 20-6 win over the New York Giants on Sunday. Baker Mayfield was outstanding as he threw for two touchdowns and almost 300 yards, helping the Browns to their tenth win of the season. It is the first time that the Browns have won 10 games in an NFL season since 2007.
Mayfield completed 27 of 32 passes, the third-highest completion rate for a game in Browns history. He was already responsible for the second-highest completion rate. Mayfield revealed after the game that he and Stefanski have been working hard together to develop a sharper offensive strategy.
Jarvis Landry hailed Mayfield’s performance, saying: He is a big part of everything that we are trying to do. He is playing lights out." The quarterback is now on track to become the only Browns player in history to throw for more than 25 touchdowns in a season and achieve a 95-plus passing rating.
Despite Mayfield’s form, the bookies still do not rate the Browns’ chances of winning the Super Bowl particularly highly. On DraftKings, the odds for a Browns Super Bowl win are +3300, and they are +4100 on FanDuel.
