NFL could punish Chase Claypool for dirty facemask penalty

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool let his frustration get the best of him, with a brutal facemask penalty against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Claypool’s intentions on a week-to-week basis are always positive, but the end result is anything but. The Steelers wide receiver was clearly unhappy with the fact that his team was facing a near 40-point deficit in the fourth quarter of what was supposed to be a close divisional contest.

Instead of letting his play do the talking, or perhaps scoring a late touchdown to give the Steelers some momentum heading into the next week, Claypool committed an egregious facemask penalty that may hurt his wallet as much as it injured one poor Bengals defensive back.

And to think the Bengals get a bad rep. That play had Vontaze Burfict written all over it.

Where do Steelers go from here?

With the loss, the Steelers are 5-5-1, and the clear fourth-best team in the AFC North. The Bengals have beaten them twice, and Pittsburgh’s remaining schedule doesn’t get any easier.

Pittsburgh faces the Ravens twice — the first time being next week at home. A win at that point will be critical to not just get them back in the AFC North race, but also keep their playoff hopes alive as a Wild Card team. The way their defense has been playing, especially against the rush, it will not be an easy task.

Claypool is unlikely to get suspended for his antics, but a fine is very much in the realm of possibility.