"Ravens cheated and still couldn’t beat the Steelers": NFL fans react as Lamar Jackson's teammate gets 3-game suspension for substance abuse

The Baltimore Ravens lost 27-22 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, losing the AFC North lead in the process. However, their biggest blow came off the field. On Monday, the NFL announced that it was suspending Lamar Jackson's blocker Ben Cleveland for three games for a violation of its substance abuse policy. The backup guard, who had been a healthy scratch for the past three weeks, will be eligible to return in the season finale at the Steelers.

Adam Schefter

@AdamSchefter

Per the Ravens: the NFL suspended Ravens OL Ben Cleveland for three games for violating the Substances of Abuse Policy.

And much ridicule from fans ensued in the aftermath:

"Ravens cheated and still couldn't beat the Steelers."

Dusty

@DWC_78

@AdamSchefter Ravens cheated and still couldn’t beat the Steelers😂😂

agentdouble07

@dangerouslesbo

@AdamSchefter Rip Lamar🥀

FEARTHEBRAD

@FEARTHEBRAD23

@AdamSchefter Well dammmm 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Michael Figueroa

@Mikefiggs

@AdamSchefter Bro taking steroids and still can’t start over 77 ….my god just cut the dude.

Knower

@LifeKnower

@AdamSchefter Well the drugs weren’t working

SLAP THE FLOOR 🏀

@KingCappaa

@AdamSchefter Ravens STINK

A 2021 third-round pick out of Georgia, Cleveland made news in February this year when he was arrested for drunk driving in Milledgeville, Georgia as per WGXA News. The police report recalled that he was swerving down the road and nearly crashed his black Ford F-250 into a ditch. Upon being stopped, he admitted to having had "approximately 3-4 beers" at a nearly country club.

He was also said to have had "glossy" eyes, and the interior of his truck reeked of alcohol. He failed a sobriety test and registered a blood alcohol level of .178 - twice more than the legal limit of .08 - on the breathalyzer. At Baldwin County Jail, he registered a .161. Cleveland were subsequently charged with one count each of DUI and failure to maintain one's lane.

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NFL admits refereeing error in Ravens-Steelers game

Back to the subject of the Ravens-Steelers game, there were three calls that they felt were wrongly made. On Monday, the organization made an unprecedented move by requesting a phone call with the league office.

Coach Jim Harbaugh, general manager Erd DeCosta, and officiating advisor and former referee Tony Michalek spoke with senior vice president of officiating administration Perry Falwell and rules analyst and club communications liaison Walt Anderson.

The league office admitted that the referees were wrong in flagging defensive tackle Travis Jones for unnecessary roughness during a field goal rush in the first half. But regarding Isaiah Likely's overturned touchdown and Aaron Rodgers' pass deflection recovery, they were less certain.

About the overtuend touchdown, Harbaugh said (via Baltimore Ravens' official website):

"It's crazy that that happened. I don't think we had an understanding between the [coaches]' box and the field, in terms of what we wanted to do there, and that's [a] communication [issue] I'll take responsibility for that one. It shouldn't happen."

The Ravens will also write to the league office about a holding penalty on the Steelers' final punt that cost them field position for their final drive.