NFL suspends two officials after incidents in Sunday games
The NFL has suspended line judge Jeff Seeman for two games and referee Adrian Hill for one fixture after separate incidents during Sunday’s games involving the Arizona Cardinals at the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings against the visiting Miami Dolphins. The NFL has suspended two officials for instances of unprofessional conduct towards a player.
Seeman was caught on camera appearing to curse at Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride after McBride felt he had been interfered with by Giants cornerback Dru Phillips on a pass from Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett that fell incomplete. The Cardinals lost 36-24 away to the New York Giants. Having been hit, McBride complained to Seeman, who appeared to yell a profanity at McBride. "It's a tough one for me. You hate to see it for obvious reasons. I don't need to go further than that, but I do want to give the man a little bit of grace too," Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur said Monday. "I know Jeff. He's a good man. It's unfortunate it happened. It can't happen obviously and I'll leave it at that."
Adrian Hill's incident involved linebacker Eric Wilson during Minnesota's 15-10 win over the visiting Miami Dolphins. Wilson was pushed into Hill by Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II midway through the first quarter after a play was whistled dead because of a Minnesota penalty. As Wilson tried to help Hill up, the official jumped up while pointing and shouting at Wilson to move away. "That was funny, honestly," Wilson told reporters after the match. "I ended up apologising to him and explained the situation. He was cool about it. He understood what was going on. He just said he didn't want us fighting."
In Monday night's fixture the Atlanta Falcons won 45-24 on the road at the New Orleans Saints. Bijan Robinson scored an early touchdown following a 53-yard run, while fellow running back Brian Robinson Jr. also reached the end zone three times. The Falcons now sit second in NFC South, following two opening defeats with consecutive victories, while the Saints are third with a 1-3 record.
The Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings are the only teams with a 4-0 record.
As a result of the league’s disciplinary action, Seeman will be sidelined for two games and Hill for one fixture; both suspensions follow the incidents on Sunday.