Week 1, 2025
1 play, 1 ejection to open the NFL season
Well, that didn’t take long. The Eagles Jalen Carter is ejected after the opening kickoff of the first game of the season.
The Eagles and Cowboys are fierce rivals in the NFC East. It’s been that way for at least 50-years.
But this is a new one. After the opening kickoff of the opening game of the 2025 season, the Eagles Jalen Carter and the Cowboys Dak Prescott came together. Carter spit on Prescott, right in front of umpire Bryan Neale. Neale threw his flag, and the NFL had its first ejection before running one play from scrimmage.
There is some chatter that Prescott spit on the ground in Carter’s direction, thus prompting the reaction from the Eagles star. But Carter’s spit landing on Prescott in close range, right in front of Neale, makes this the easiest call for Neale this season.
Former NFL referee Mike Carey was one of the first referees in recent memory to eject someone for spitting on an opponent.
An automatic suspension for spitting is not on the books, per the contract with the NFLPA – the player’s union. If the NFL decides on further punishment for Carter, he will be able to appeal it.
The NFL sends out a message to all 32-teams each season, calling on all players and coaches to play the game with respect and sportsmanship. Each player gets a conduct manual from the NFL.
The opening kickoff of a brand-new season is a time for celebration, and a chance for the officiating crew to get into the rhythm of the game, right? Wrong! Shawn Smith’s crew had to deal with a flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct foul after the opening kickoff. If Neale had been standing back and “soaking in” the start of a new season, he’d have missed the entire moment, and Carter would have gotten away with a flagrant act. The game could have degenerated into a brawl.
It will be interesting to see how the NFL handles this.
Kudos to the Smith crew and umpire Bryan Neale for being on it last night.
(Cover photo from NBC Sports)
