Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Bobby Hart has appealed his one-game ban for inadvertently punching a Tennessee Titans coach, claiming the incident started after the team’s defense lineman, Jeffery Simmons, spat on him.
Per Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson, Hart made the claim during his appeal on Wednesday. There is also apparently video out there of Hart’s allegation.
During the hearing, per sources, it was alleged that there’s a video from the game that shows Simmons apparently spitting on Hart, which led to the confrontation following the game during which Hart inadvertently made contact with an unnamed Titans assistant coach.
Simmons’ agent, Paul T. DeRousselle, has denied the allegation.
“Jeffery [Simmons] plays the game with a lot of passion, but he plays the game the right way,” DeRousselle said.
This isn’t the first time Simmons has been accused of spitting on an opposing player. Back in 2020, Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Marshal Yanda accused Simmons of spitting on him.
“I’ve never been spitten in my face,” Yanda said. “I literally got spit right in my face by No. 98. He needs to be put on notice by the refs, by the entire NFL. He was saying some stuff today that’s just ridiculous conduct for the NFL. I just want to put him on notice. That was ridiculous conduct.”
A ruling on Hart’s appeal is expected Thursday.
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