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Watch: Xavien Howard, Tyler Boyd ejected in Bengals-Dolphins game

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Vincent Frank | Last updated 12/6/20

The Miami Dolphins found themselves down 7-6 at halftime against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in a game the team desperately needs in the AFC Playoff race . Unfortunately, star cornerback Xavien Howard exited early.

Howard got into a brief scrap with Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd on the sidelines in the second quarter. There didn’t seem to be too much to it.

Wait. They were ejected for this? #FinsUp #WhoDey pic.twitter.com/yE90YRPEY1
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) December 6, 2020

Both players were ultimately ejected from the game for “throwing punches.” That’s about as laughable as it gets. Specifically, Boyd was hit late on the sideline and reacted in kind. Those watching the game agreed that neither player should have been ejected.

Neither Howard nor Boyd should have been ejected for that. I've seen much worse not cause an ejection. Just awful officiating.
— Vance Meek (@vancemeek) December 6, 2020

Watching the replay of the Boyd-Howard dustup I have no idea why that resulted in double ejections lmao
— Arif Hasan, solstice-liker (@ArifHasanNFL) December 6, 2020

So that Howard-Boyd ejection + 15-yard penalty + missed FG = a 6-point swing in this game.

Bengals up 7-6 at halftime.
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) December 6, 2020

Both Boyd and Howard are ejected. Seems over the top considering what happened.
— Dave Hyde (@davehydesports) December 6, 2020

Footage of Tyler Boyd and Xavier Howard which led to ejection

TRASH https://t.co/32C19GkDL8 pic.twitter.com/ATGa0MVJHq
— Curtis Patrick (@CPatrickNFL) December 6, 2020

I don't know if what Boyd and Howard did qualify as "punches"
— M.G. (@MarcasG) December 6, 2020

If this is worth an ejection of both Tyler Boyd and Xavien Howard, football is in trouble #CINvsMIA pic.twitter.com/lKbLNl0NT0
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) December 6, 2020

WOW T. Boyd and X. Howard gets tossed right before halftime. I don't agree with the decision AT ALL! #Dolphins #Bengals
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) December 6, 2020

Unless there was more to the Boyd-Howard fight in the Bengals-Dolphins game, that was a ridiculous decision by the officials to eject both players. Those "punches" were just little shoves. Let them be emotional
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) December 6, 2020

Soft is the word that comes to mind here before anything else. If players are ejected from actual NFL games for what we saw during the Bengals-Dolphins outing, we’re going to see a lot more of this moving forward.

As for the Bengals-Dolphins game, the ejections could have wide-ranging ramifications. We’re talking about Cincinnati’s top pass-catcher attempting to help backup Brandon Allen, who has been forced to replace the injured Joe Burrow under center. Howard is the Dolphins’ top cover guy.

Miami sits at 7-4 on the season and is battling for a playoff spot. Let’s hope the quick hook Howard got ahead of halftime doesn’t impact this team moving forward.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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