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Buffalo Safety Released After Spitting Suspension vs. Raiders
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- Buffalo Safety Released After Spitting Suspension vs. Raiders
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Las Vegas Raiders were the victims in a nasty controversy that in which at least one of the players was spit at or on, and now the player who did the spitting, Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johson, has been released, according to a report from Nick Suss of ESPN and multiple other outlets.
The safety played in just six games after being signed during the offseason, and this move is directly related to Gardner-Johnson's lack of discipline. He was released after serving a one-game suspension for spitting in the direction of Raiders ight end Brock Bowers.
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According to Suss, the Bills spent the week without Gardner-Johnson determining that the rest of the roster was capable of handling the position without the controversial safety. Gardner-Johnson hasn't played any special teams snaps, while the other safeties, a group that includes Damar Hamlin, Jalon Kilgore and Geno Stone, all contribute in that phase of the game.
The 28-year old Gardner-Johnson has had a fast-moving career, as he'd now played for six teams in the past five years. He has a Super Bowl ring from 2024 after his stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, but it's hard to imagine him sticking long with anyone until he can stop himself from flying off the handle.
He finishes his Buffalo "career" with 26 tackles, two pass breakups and one interception, per Suss.
For the Raiders, this was a game where they showed their discipline by not fighting back and letting Gardner-Johnson be the sole suspension, which is yet another sign of the discipline they've been playing with under new coach Klint Kubiak.
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Right tackle DJ Glaze also claims he was spit on by safety Sam Franklin Jr., but Franklin's potential suspension was rescinded and he was fined instead.
But the game was also frustrating. It was one of two games against top competition where the Raiders had a chance to win during their recent four-game losing streak, but Las Vegas couldn't get there due to too much Josh Allen as the Buffalo quarterback carried his team to a win.
Talent is the other problem for the Raiders right now. They're 4-4, and Kubiak has done a remarkable job coaching this team to .500 near the halfway mark. He thinks the Raiders are in it for a possible playoff berth, but it's tough to find a lot of experts around the league who agree with that assessment.
