There was a postgame exchange between a referee and Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans that had social media talking because the ref in question can be heard saying “Mike! Mike!” before chasing him down and asking him to sign his autograph.
The scene was captured by Panthers beat reporter Sheena Quick:
NFL referees cannot be fans of individual players or teams, and it’s not hard to see why as they have to be objective while calling a game. Otherwise, it throws the objectivity of every whistle under investigation.
Now, because of the actions of an official, the NFL has started an investigation, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
According to Pelissero, the NFL-NFLRA CBA says officials are prohibited from asking “players, coaches or any other team personnel for autographs or memorabilia.”
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The two refs seen above have been identified as side judge Jeff Lamberth and line judge Tripp Sutter.
The Bucs lost the game 21-3.
