Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase Fined $31,599 for Conduct vs. Ref

SEPT 21 FINE! The NFL has fined Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase $31,599 for unsportsmanlike conduct … as in Week 2’s Chiefs win he went off the rails  screaming at referee Alex Kemp over a call.

Kemp flagged Chase for abusive language.as Chase wanted a flag thrown for a supposed hip-drop tackle from KC’s Trent McDuffie, who was neither flagged nor fined.

SEPT 20 ANNOYED Who's the most annoying player in the NFL? Patrick Mahomes often makes these fan-survey lists simply because non-Chiefs fans are sick of losing to him. But in a recent fan survey by The Action Network, a new Kansas City star is rising to the top: Travis Kelce.

Maybe the audience is suffering from Kelce Overkill because of his high-profile relationship with pop star Taylor Swift? Oh, and the fact that as with Super Bowl buddy Mahomes, the audience is, again, sick of watching him win.

Kelce, though, came in only second with 17 percent of the votes. The big "winner''? Jets QB Aaron Rodgers, the four-time MVP who loves to embroil himself in controversy, corralled 27 percent of the vote to capture the "honor" of Most Annoying Player.

SEPT 19 FIRST LOOK Running back Isiah Pacheco is hurt and out for the Kansas City Chiefs, so they signed Kareem Hunt to their practice squad. And as of Thursday, Hunt - the ex-Browns runner - is in uniform and in practice. ... and we have a first look.

Now wearing 28, Hunt attended his first Chiefs' practice in over five years. ... and here he is at work ... and catching passes and returns.

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While he's currently only signed to the practice squad, Hunt figures to get the call-up soon enough.

SEPT 19 ENDORSED The Chiefs are placing starting running back Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve and are moving quickly to add help, as they signed veteran Kareem Hunt - the former Browns standout - to their practice squad.

What does quarterback Patrick Mahomes think of a move that some think is controversial because of Hunt's behavioral history?

"Kareem was a close friend of mine while he was here," Mahomes said. "Just being in the same draft class and everything like that. He came to my wedding. Obviously he went to Cleveland, had a good career there, has learned and become a better person and I'm glad to have him back now.''

The backstory: Following Hunt's rookie season, when led the NFL in rushing yards, he was embroiled in controversy over a domestic violence charge. The Chiefs released him. Later, with his charges eventually being dropped, Hunt signed with Cleveland Browns, where he has spent his career since before becoming a free agent again.

And now he gets another chance with the Super Bowl champs.

SEPT 9 TONEY IN Former Giants and Chiefs speedster Kadarius Toney is signing with the Browns, per NFL Network.

In theory, this could end up “giving Cleveland another playmaker,” as the report asserts. But the fact is, Toney presently represents a first-round bust.

The practice squad is where long Toney begins in Cleveland.

SEPT 9 HE IS? The Cleveland Browns' awful Sunday - a 33-17 Week 1 loss to visiting Dallas - just got worse on Monday, as QB Deshaun Watson is now facing sexual assault charges. Yes, new sexual assault charges.

Seriously ... could that explain why Watson was so awful on this day? Again?

Watson finished the game 24-of-45 passing for 169 yards, with one garbage TD and two picks. His QBR rating was an insanely low 9.4 ... And the legal charges have Browns watchers wondering if a behavioral problem could allow the franchise to escape his albatross $230 million guaranteed contract.

Watson Charged with Sex Crime; Could Browns Void Contract?

After the game, Amari Cooper - who played with the same lack of zest as Watson -issued a quote.

"Deshaun is Deshaun," Cooper said ... and we will leave that up to your interpretation.