The Cincinnati Bengals have banned media from filming their players crossing a street to get to the team’s practice facility after the unusual setup was brutally mocked by fans online.
In a clip that has gone viral on social media, Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is seen making an unglamorous trip to practice after crossing a city street to get to the facility.
NFL fans were quick to criticize Cincinnati for not providing its players with a more professional entrance, prompting the team to ban photos or videos from the street side of the practice field.
ESPN host and former Indianapolis Colts kicker Pat McAfee was one of many who saw the funny side of Bengals players being forced to cross the street every day to practice.
The Cincinnati Bengals have banned media from filming their players crossing a street to get to the team’s practice facility after the unusual setup was brutally mocked by fans online.
And after hearing that the media had been banned from filming them doing so, McAfee was in disbelief.
He shared a clip of himself discussing the situation on his ESPN show and wrote on X: “Bengals media can no longer film players crossing the street,” along with laughing emojis.
McAfee then added: “WHAT’S HAPPENING IN CINCINNATI?”
On his show, McAfee admitted he might be to blame for the Bengals banning any videos or photos after laughing at Chase’s video.
“This is probably our fault,” he added. “And we would like everyone to know that: we thought it was cool, it was something new, it was something old school.”
Pat McAfee was incredulous at the Bengals’ decision on his latest ESPN show on Friday.
McAfee went on to list other examples of how the Bengals are made to look like they “don’t care” about their players or fans, including the fact that they only built one indoor facility last season and sold TVs from their parking lot for $60 this summer.
“We think highly of the Cincinnati Bengals, but we have to talk about all these things that are very abnormal compared to the rest of a professional sports league that’s worth billions,” he continued.
“And Bengals fans get upset about that, I think we’re just trying to make it better.”
