An NFL investigation into a drink-spilling incident involving Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown has concluded that the spill was accidental, according to a league spokesperson. The incident took place after last Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
As Brown was leaving the field and entering the tunnel, a fan appeared to pour a drink on him. Video footage of the event circulated on social media, prompting the NFL and the players’ association to investigate the matter.
After reviewing video evidence and security camera footage, the NFL determined that the spill was not intentional. The investigation revealed that portions of a drink were accidentally spilled on Brown as Bengals fans tried to catch the gloves he had tossed to them.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed this in a statement to ESPN, dispelling any concerns of malicious intent. If the league had determined that the act was deliberate, the fan responsible could have faced serious consequences, including a lifetime ban from the stadium.
Chase Brown expressed relief after hearing the results of the investigation. He told ESPN that he was pleased the spill was accidental and that no one had acted with harmful intent. Brown, who had a standout performance during the game, scoring his first two rushing touchdowns, reflected on how such incidents can impact players. He noted that it would have been disappointing if the fan’s actions had been deliberate.
The second-year player from Illinois added that he was happy the fan in question was a Bengals supporter and that they received the gloves he had thrown into the crowd. He emphasized that the situation could have been much worse if it had been done on purpose, but ultimately, he was just glad the incident ended without any ill will.
In light of the incident, Brown mentioned that he might change how he gives away gear to fans in the future. With a smile, he joked that he might need to start handing items directly to fans instead of throwing them into the stands, as a precaution against future accidents.
