PFWA Pool Reporter Ben Baby Interview with Referee Alex Kemp
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Question: What was your interpretation or just walk me through why Ja’Marr Chase was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct?
Kemp: “It’s pretty clear cut. It’s just simply abusive language toward a game official. That’s all it was. And there was really no interpretation. I’m not going to repeat to you what he said, but there was no interpretation with the language that he used – just abusive language.”
Question: As an official, how do you decide at what point a player crosses the line and it goes from being just pure dissent to abusive towards an official?
Kemp: “The simple answer is, profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal abusive language towards a game official. That’s the line. When that line gets crossed, we simply can’t let that happen in pro football.”
Question: Are you able to say what he was upset about?
Kemp: “He was questioning the tackle. He thought he was hip-drop tackled on the previous play. And so, he came to me wondering about a hip-drop tackle. That was the beginning line of questioning.”
Question: In hindsight, did you guys feel like the appropriate call on the hip-drop was made? Was that explanation you gave to him at the time?
Kemp: “We informed him that we did not feel it was a hip-drop tackle.”
