Coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots grabbed an official’s arm at the end of Sunday night’s game after the Ravens kicked a winning field goal. The NFL fined Belichick $50,000 for the grab. Washington Redskins assistant Kyle Shanahan was also fined $25,000 for his conduct toward replacement officials. Shanahan was cited by the league for “abuse of officials” in Washington’s loss to Cincinnati.
The fines announced Wednesday come as the league and its referees’ union are meeting amid reports they are close to ending the lockout of the regular officials.
“Whatever the league decides to do, I’ll respect and just try and do my job,” Belichick said before his fine was announced.
On Monday, the league fined Broncos Coach John Fox $30,000 and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio $25,000 for berating officials during a loss to Atlanta on Sept. 17 which included lengthy delays and needed more than an hour to play the first quarter.
“There is a Longstanding NFL Rule prohibiting verbal or physical abuse of game officials,” NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson said in a statement. “Two coaches have been notified that they have each been fined for violating this rule.”
Anderson also said incidents from Sunday involving game officials and Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh, New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan were under review.
“When the game was over, I went out and I was really looking for an explanation from the officials as to whether the play was under review and I did try to get the official’s attention as he was coming off the field to ask that, but I really wasn’t able to do that,” Belichick said at a news conference on Monday.
“I have never meant any disrespect or in any way tried to abuse or be disrespectful to the officials and the job that they do. I was just trying to get an explanation for obviously an important call in that game.”
Harbaugh knocked into an official during the 31-30 win while he was trying to get his attention while Shanahan received an unsportsmanlike penalty for berating an official during his team’s 38-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Last week the National Football League levied almost $250,000 in fines. While it remains to be seen if the individual teams will turn a profit this season, it seems almost certain that the NFL will be doing rather well, thank you.
