The Kansas City Chiefs have been looking into whether a fan yelled a racial slur at Washington Redskins wide receiver Terrelle Pryor. To this point, the franchise has not uncovered any evidence that Pryor was subject to being called the “N-word,” per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
“Washington didn’t make our people aware of an incident, the people we have on the sideline didn’t see one before or after the game and as far as we know, no one from the league office was called to his aid during or after the game,” said Ted Crews, the Chiefs’ vice president of communications. “There was no incident or report from the stands.”
This all came up after a video emerged showing the receiver needing to be held back from attacking a fan (or so it appears) after Washington’s narrow loss to Kansas City on Monday night. In response to all that, Pryor took to social media to explain what set him off.
“Being called a (n-word) several times to the point where an NFL employee had to step to me and stand by me the whole game from 2nd quarter on is the exact reason why guys are kneeling during anthem. I choose not to kneel because as a team we decided to be the one and stand … but as I walked in tunnel hearing someone call me a (n-word) and say F you to me … me flicking the person off is more deserving. I do apologize to my teammates and the organization. But at some point you keep calling us The N word … we going to start acting up.”
Chiefs veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson is one of many who say they never heard any Chiefs fans utter the racial slur.
“I pray that didn’t happen, but if it did, shame on them” Johnson said. “I have a lot of respect for our fans, so I would hope that didn’t go on because that’s a bad reflection of what we are at Arrowhead.”
Kansas City is asking its fans to please bring forth any potential evidence that would support Pryor’s claim (The team can be reached 816-920-9300, per Paylor).
The NFL is also reviewing the case, with NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart telling USA Today that “we have no tolerance for racial remarks directed at anyone in a stadium.”