If you blinked, you probably would’ve missed it. During Sunday’s back-and-forth battle between the Commanders and Steelers, Washington tight end John Bates and Pittsburgh linebacker John Bates were called for offsetting penalties after a play. The TV copy didn’t show exactly what happened, but Bates spoke about it later.
“Like I said, I was just playing through the whistle, it’s just the way I play,”Bates said of his confrontation with Queen. “I mean, if you go back and watch the film, in my opinion, it was him probably trying to do something dirty to me. Things happened, and it is what it is.”
Thanks to Sam Fortier of The Washington Post, we have a full picture of the incident Bates refers to from Sunday’s game, and he had every reason to be angry.
I’ve never seen Washington Commanders TE John Bates get as mad as he did Sunday.
Here’s what happened with Pittsburgh Steelers LB Patrick Queen: pic.twitter.com/Vw1ychfqto
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) November 12, 2024
It’s no wonder Bates was angry. Queen’s shot was dirty, and he could’ve broken Bates’ arm on an unnecessary play.
Bates is popular with coaches and teammates in Washington’s locker room because he does the dirty work and is an unselfish player.
Speaking of dirty, Queen, like so many athletes do in this day and age, apparently vanity searched his name on X and responded.
Tried to dump me so I dumped him. If he still mad I ain’t hard to find https://t.co/dJwWNu4z7f
—
(@Patrickqueen_) November 12, 2024
No, Pat, he was doing his job and got the best of you, so you took him down and tried to injure him. There’s quite a difference.
Of course, Steelers’ fans defended Queen — whom they hated for years prior to March — on social media, blaming Bates.
By the picture’s appearance in this story, Bates won this battle. Unfortunately for the Commanders, the Steelers squeaked by with a 28-27 victory.