Bengals LB Germaine Pratt was irate complaining about Joseph Ossai’s late-hit penalty on Patrick Mahomes. For fans, he was also hypocritical.
The state of the Bengals locker room after losing the AFC Championship Game to the Chiefs is either one of solidarity or strife, depending on which set of tweets you look at.
On one hand, there was an outpouring of support for defensive end Joseph Ossai after his late hit penalty on Patrick Mahomes set up the Chiefs’ game-winning field goal.
BJ Hill literally stood in on his scrum with the media to deflect any questions about the costly, and controversial, penalty.
BJ Hill protecting Ossai right now pic.twitter.com/BiHyJ54c5M
— Mark Slaughter (@MarkVSlaughter) January 30, 2023
Ossai said that knowing his teammates had his back helped give him peace.
On the other hand, at least one teammate clearly didn’t have his back. That would be linebacker Germaine Pratt, who was caught on video ranting about the way the game ended on his way to the locker room.
Jermaine Pratt visibly upset with the ending of that game- particularly with the roughing the passer on Joseph Ossai that got the Chiefs in comfortable FG range to win the game #bengals #AFCChampionshipGame pic.twitter.com/02JR77QgG7
— Katie Kapusta (@KatieKapustaTV) January 30, 2023
It’s not completely certain what Pratt said but it may have been something like this:
“It’s my f****** last year. Why the f*** did he touch the quarterback?”
The first sentence was more unclear than the second, which was clearly directed in anger at Ossai, though the DE wasn’t present in the video.
Bengals fans, and Micah Parsons, called out Germaine Pratt for his outburst
Whether or not Pratt was just getting his frustration out after a heartbreaking loss, Bengals fans did not take kindly to his approach
Germaine Pratt had a bad game and is still berating Joseph Ossai for one bad mistake. Tough look, bad teammate shit. I know tempers can fly, but fuck this kind of shit https://t.co/VqjAXMpyNP
— ACAB (@DFF_Blizzard) January 30, 2023
Didn't Germaine Pratt miss a tackle in the backfield that sprung for a lot of yards late in the game? Talking about "It's my last year" go on then. #WhoDeyNation
— Drifthalla (@Drifthalla) January 30, 2023
I'm a Bengal's fan and I'm hating on Germaine Pratt right now for saying the statement he did. Dont hate your teammates but instead show love to Joseph Ossai
— football (@Mason94512149) January 30, 2023
Germaine pratt being the one saying this like he’s not 2 packs of ass. Foh bozo https://t.co/z7JMcvEFku
— African Lion of Wall Street (@AfricanLOW) January 30, 2023
what did germaine pratt do today https://t.co/tzsPkhKK1K
— 🧘🫐 (@WhiteflagFever) January 30, 2023
Didn't Germaine Pratt miss a tackle in the backfield that sprung for a lot of yards late in the game? Talking about "It's my last year" go on then. #WhoDeyNation
— Drifthalla (@Drifthalla) January 30, 2023
Pratt a whole dumb ass, that’s not how you talk to your teammate https://t.co/dJP4ykU9QK
— Reema (@buddiesquad87) January 30, 2023
Thats crazy because Germaine Pratt got ran over by Pacheco lol https://t.co/N7406cdzQa
— Mojo JoJo (@KungFuKenny58) January 30, 2023
I had to look up who Germaine Pratt is sooo that’s all I need to know about that bull💩 https://t.co/o00Z03hGCr
— Taylor Gaspar Estes (@TaylorEstes247) January 30, 2023
Even Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons called out Pratt for not being more supportive of his teammate.
This lame asf! https://t.co/o56XzSzQDc
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) January 30, 2023
Pratt is heading for free agency and after hearing him on Sunday night, it’s easy to guess he might not be back with the Bengals for the 2023 season.
Ossai had five tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defense in the AFC Championship Game. Pratt had seven tackles while allowing Travis Kelce to catch seven passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.