NFL Refs

NCAA and NFL Referee news

Jim Haslett fined $20K for cussing out the refs

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St. Louis Rams interim coach Jim Haslett has been fined $20,000 by the NFL for “going onto the field and directing profanities at a game official” during a game a few weeks ago against the San Francisco 49ers.  It’s not clear what he was upset about, and the Rams had just completed a 29-year pass.

It’s also not clear who the official was that he was yelling at, though we know that Alberto Riveron was the referee for that game.

Is it just me, or is the number of fines for things related to the officials (complaining, mostly) much higher this year than in years past?

Urlacher fined $20,000 for verbal abuse of an official

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Brian Urlacher, linebacker for the Chicago Bears, has been fined $20K by the league for “abusive conduct toward a game official”.

The words came following a bizarre play last week in which the Falcons fumbled the ball, the Bears recovered it, then they fumbled, and the Falcons got the ball back.  The result of that was a first down for the Falcons, because the ball had changed possession.  It was a confusing play, but it certainly seemed that Al Riveron and his crew took their time and made sure to get it right.

I guess Urlacher was just frustrated with the play, because the refs certainly got it right.

Other players were recently fined for similar incidents, including Miami’s Joey Porter, Denver’s Dre Bly and the Rams Richie Incognito.