Marqise Lee Says He Was Penalized vs. Raiders for Using Racial Slur

Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Marqise Lee picked up a 15-yard penalty Sunday for using a racial slur, he said Monday.

Lee was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, per Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com.

"It was back and forth," Lee said. "In the midst of the game, emotion is going from both teams. It just so happened the ref heard me, so therefore I got the flag. I've got to fess up to it."

The penalty was one of six unsportsmanlike conduct calls during the Oakland Raiders' 33-16 win, which featured ejections of the Jaguars' Malik Jackson and Jalen Ramsey and the Raiders' Johnny Holton.

The NFL began cracking down on offensive language in 2014, noting it would be a "major point of emphasis" to stop racial and homophobic slurs on the field.

Lee said his words weren't a big deal, per DiRocco:

"

I know [the Raiders player I used the slur against] woke up the next day not worrying about it at all just like I woke up no worrying about it. I feel like you're going to always have that issue because you're going to always have situations where [emotions] flame up and both teams are going back and forth and things are going to get said regardless of if the ref likes it or not.

"

The situation, however, could overshadow arguably the best game of Lee's career. He finished with seven catches for 107 yards—his first contest with more than 75 yards in three NFL seasons.