Super Bowl 56: Inactive player draws unusual unsportsmanlike penalty for Cincinnati Bengals

It’s not often a player can be called for a penalty while sitting on the bench, but that’s what happened for Cincinnati Bengals defender Vernon Hargreaves.

Late in the second quarter, the Los Angeles Rams decided to take a deep shot. QB Matt Stafford took a huge throw toward the end zone and receiver Van Jefferson, but that pass was picked off by Jessie Bates III.

It was a huge swing of momentum for the Bengals, getting the ball back with 2 minutes left in the half. Unfortunately, Vernon Hargreaves rushed the field to celebrate with his teammates. The problem? Hargreaves drew a flag for running on the field as a non-uniform player.

The first penalty on the #Bengals all game? Vernon Hargreaves coming off the bench after the Jessie Bates INT

🤦‍♂️pic.twitter.com/xZ4qPB4JvV

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 14, 2022

Hargreaves’ costly decision drew a predictable response from viewers on social media:

Vernon Hargreaves has a PFF grade under 50 this year, and if you thought that wasn’t gonna get worse just because he was inactive for the Super Bowl…

— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) February 14, 2022

Vernon Hargreaves tomorrow pic.twitter.com/MLzP7qz6pY

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) February 14, 2022

I didn’t have Vernon Hargreaves running onto the field in sweats on my Bingo card.

— Jeff Pearlman (@jeffpearlman) February 14, 2022

Vernon Hargreaves getting a penalty in a game he’s not dressed for is perfectly Vernon Hargreaves

— Steven Cheah (@StevenCheah) February 14, 2022