The NFL has suspended line judge Jeff Seeman for two games and referee Adrian Hill for one game after separate instances of what the league described as unprofessional conduct towards players during Sunday’s fixtures.
The league said its vice-president of officiating, Ramon George, issued both sanctions. The NFL confirmed the sanctions on Monday. The punishments concern exchanges between officials and players rather than the merits of the decisions made during the respective games.
Seeman was involved in an incident with Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride late in Arizona’s 36-24 defeat away to the New York Giants. Hill’s sanction followed his reaction after a collision with Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson during Minnesota’s 15-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Seeman receives two-game ban after McBride exchange
The NFL confirmed that Seeman’s two-game suspension arose from his conduct towards McBride at MetLife Stadium. Television footage appeared to show Seeman swearing at the tight end during the fourth quarter, according to the NFL and BBC Sport.
The interaction came with just under five minutes remaining. McBride had been the intended receiver on a third-and-two pass from Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Officials did not call pass interference or illegal contact against Giants defensive back Andru Phillips after contact before the ball arrived, the NFL said.
McBride then challenged the non-call and Seeman appeared to respond with a profanity. Arizona had to punt on the ensuing possession, and New York later completed a 36-24 win after a defensive touchdown on the final play.
Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur said he disliked seeing the exchange and accepted that it could not happen. He also said he knew Seeman to be a good person and urged some understanding of the official.
The episode also prompted a response from NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter. Tretter said on social media that such behaviour from an official towards a player was unacceptable and argued that officials should be held to the same standard as players.
The suspension is significant because it identifies Seeman’s conduct, rather than McBride’s objection to the contact, as the basis for league discipline.
Hill banned for one game after Wilson collision
Hill received a one-game suspension following a different incident in the Vikings’ home win over Miami. The NFL said Wilson accidentally collided with Hill. The BBC reported that Wilson had been pushed into the official by Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II after a play was stopped for a Minnesota penalty.
The BBC reported that the sequence came midway through the first quarter. As Wilson attempted to help Hill back to his feet, Hill appeared to shout and point at the linebacker to move away, according to BBC Sport and Sky Sports. The league included that encounter in its announcement of disciplinary action for unprofessional conduct towards a player.
Wilson subsequently told reporters that he had apologised and explained what had happened. He said Hill had understood the situation.
Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell characterised the moment as a high-energy situation and said he had no major concerns about Hill, whom he described as a good official. O’Connell nevertheless said he hoped the matter could be put behind them.
The difference in the length of the bans is clear in the league’s decision: Seeman will miss two games, while Hill will miss one. The supplied NFL report identifies both cases as unprofessional conduct toward a player and lists different suspension lengths.
By acting on two separate episodes from different games at once, the league has made official-player behaviour the immediate focus after Sunday’s games. The incidents occurred in different games and under different circumstances, so they should not be treated as evidence of a shared on-field dispute. What is established is that the NFL judged each official’s conduct serious enough to warrant time away from games.