NFL referees union to challenge severity of two official suspensions
Version 2: New: the NFL Referees Association said it will challenge the severity of both suspensions, calling the discipline potentially excessive and inconsistent with precedent, and Fox News reported that coaches and executives want the league to rein in officials.
In short
The NFL Referees Association said Tuesday it will challenge the severity of the suspensions of line judge Jeff Seeman, banned two games for swearing at Arizona’s Trey McBride, and referee Adrian Hill, banned one game for yelling at Minnesota’s Eric Wilson. The suspensions, issued by NFL vice president of officiating Ramon George for unprofessional conduct toward a player, were announced Monday. The union’s executive director, Scott Green, said accountability should not result in discipline that is “excessive or inconsistent with established precedent.”
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The NFL Referees Association said Tuesday it will challenge the severity of the suspensions of two officials for unprofessional conduct, arguing the punishment went beyond what was appropriate. “NFL officials have a responsibility to conduct themselves professionally on the field, and the actions in these incidents fell short of that standard,” association executive director Scott Green said in a statement reported by the Associated Press. “Accountability matters, but that should not result in discipline that is excessive or inconsistent with established precedent.” Newsweek also reported that the union plans to challenge the ruling. [ 7 , 8 ]
The league on Monday suspended line judge Jeff Seeman for two games and referee Adrian Hill for one game, the Associated Press reported. NFL vice president of officiating Ramon George issued the suspensions, each for “an instance of unprofessional conduct toward a player,” according to NBC News. NBC News said representatives for the unions representing NFL players and referees did not immediately respond to requests for comment. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
Seeman was caught on camera cursing at Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride during the Cardinals’ loss at the New York Giants, CNN reported. NBC News said a sideline camera showed Seeman appearing to use profanity toward McBride in the fourth quarter. CNN reported the interaction took place with just under five minutes left, after officials did not call pass interference or illegal contact on New York’s Dru Phillips on a third-and-2 play. Fox News reported that McBride had voiced frustration over the unflagged contact, and that after the exchange he pointed at a nearby broadcast camera. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Hill was suspended over the Miami Dolphins-Minnesota Vikings game. NBC News reported that during a first-quarter play, Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon continued to block Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson into Hill after the play was whistled dead, knocking Hill over, and Hill stood up and yelled at Wilson. CNN reported that Wilson tried to help Hill to his feet before Hill yelled and pointed for him to get away. Fox News reported that Hill confronted Wilson face to face and ordered him back to the huddle, and that officials threw no flags on the play. Wilson said afterward, “I ended up apologizing to him and explained the situation. He was cool about it.” [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday it was “one of those situations in kind of a high-energy moment” and that he had no major concerns, adding that Hill is “a really good official” and that “that was just kind of fast moment that happened, and we can put it behind us, hopefully.” The Giants beat the Cardinals 36-24 after Deonte Banks intercepted Jacoby Brissett’s pass and returned it for a pick-6 as time expired, CNN reported, while Newsweek said the Vikings beat the Dolphins 15-10. [ 2 , 5 ]
JC Tretter, executive director of the NFL Players Association, criticized Seeman’s conduct in a social media post on Sunday. “This kind of behavior from an official towards a player is unacceptable. Players are consistently held accountable when the roles are reversed. We expect the NFL to hold officials to the same standard,” Tretter wrote. Green said officials are routinely subjected to highly charged interactions and at times verbal abuse, adding that this “shouldn’t be dismissed as simply part of the game.” The union said it would meet with the league’s officiating department on disciplinary standards and with players’ association leadership on on-field conduct. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
Fox News, in a summary, reported that the two same-day suspensions were the first of their kind since 1968, and that NFL coaches and executives want the league to rein in what it described as officials who are “out of control,” hoping the suspensions signal a start. NBC News reported that Seeman has worked as an NFL official since 2002 and Hill started in 2010. [ 1 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The dispute moves the story from a single disciplinary announcement to a disagreement between the league and its officials’ union over how on-field conduct is punished, which the union said should be consistent with precedent. Fox News reported that coaches and executives want the league to rein in officials and hope the suspensions are a start, indicating the issue may extend beyond these two cases.
Key facts
- The NFL suspended line judge Jeff Seeman for two games and referee Adrian Hill for one game. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The league said each suspension was for an instance of unprofessional conduct toward a player. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- NFL vice president of officiating Ramon George issued the suspensions. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- Seeman was suspended over an incident with Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride; Hill over an incident with Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The NFL Referees Association said it will challenge the severity of the suspensions. [ 7 , 8 ]
- Referees Association executive director Scott Green said discipline should not be “excessive or inconsistent with established precedent.” [ 7 ]
- NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter called Seeman’s behavior toward a player unacceptable. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Fox News reported, in a summary, that the two suspensions were the first issued to officials on the same day since 1968. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The NFL suspended line judge Jeff Seeman for two games and referee Adrian Hill for one game for separate instances of unprofessional conduct toward a player. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- NFL vice president of officiating Ramon George issued the suspensions. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The NFL Referees Association said it will challenge the severity of the suspensions. [ 7 , 8 ]
- Seeman’s suspension followed an incident involving Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, and Hill’s followed an incident involving Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter criticized Seeman’s conduct toward a player. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- What the Referees Association’s challenge will involve and whether it can change the suspensions. The Associated Press says the union will challenge the severity and will meet with the league’s officiating department and the players’ association, but does not describe the process or its possible outcome.
- The exact words Hill used toward Wilson. Documents describe Hill yelling at and confronting Wilson but do not quote what he said.
- Whether the league is reviewing player conduct in either incident. Documents describe the officials’ conduct and say no flags were thrown on the Hill-Wilson play but do not say whether players face discipline.
- The location of the Minnesota-Miami game. Documents identify the Cardinals-Giants game at MetLife Stadium but do not give the site of the Vikings-Dolphins game.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- NBC News reports the NFL suspended line judge Jeff Seeman for two games and referee Adrian Hill for one game, with Ramon George issuing the suspensions. [ 1 ]
- Newsweek reports the punishments and JC Tretter’s criticism of Seeman’s conduct, and gives the scores of both games. [ 2 ]
- Reuters publishes a headline reporting that the NFL suspended two officials for unprofessional conduct. [ 3 ]
- Fox News reports the suspensions, citing OutKick’s Armando Salguero and detailing both incidents. [ 4 ]
- CNN reports the suspensions with additional game details and comments from Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell. [ 5 ]
- Fox News publishes a summary saying the two same-day suspensions were the first since 1968 and that coaches and executives want the league to rein in officials. [ 6 ]
- The Associated Press reports the NFL Referees Association will challenge the severity of the suspensions, quoting executive director Scott Green. [ 7 ]
- Newsweek reports the referees union plans to challenge the league’s ruling. [ 8 ]