Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jeff Seeman was officiating in a fixture between the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants
ByMike PeterBBC Sport journalist- Published16 minutes ago
The NFL has suspended two officials for instances of unprofessional conduct towards a player.
Line judge Jeff Seeman has been suspended for two games and referee Adrian Hill for one fixture following the incidents on Sunday.
Seeman was caught on camera seeming to curse at Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, whose side lost 36-24 away to the New York Giants.
McBride felt he had been interfered with by Giants cornerback Dru Phillips from a pass from Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett that fell incomplete.
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."
Hill's incident involved linebacker Eric Wilson, who featured for Minnesota Vikings as they defeated the visiting Miami Dolphins 15-10.
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.
