Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes was fined $53,482 for unsportsmanlike conduct on Saturday in the wake of his confrontation with umpire Roy Ellison following last Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.
Hughes was shown on video yelling at an official in the tunnel of Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium after Buffalo’s 21-17 loss.
The video showed Hughes accusing the official of calling him a b–. He continued to shout at the official while being restrained by a Buffalo staffer and Bills offensive lineman John Miller yelling “I’ll catch you” before adding: “Guarantee it! Gonna knock his (expletive) out when I see him on the streets.”
Inside the locker room, Hughes denied the confrontation took place while speaking to reporters. He said he did not recall whether the official called him a “b— during the game.
“I lost the game so I’m supposed to be angry,” Hughes said. “We just played our butts off for four quarters and we came six inches short of winning the football game. So I think myself, with a lot of Buffalo Bills fans, are probably upset right now. That’s just the nature of sports. Someone is going to win and someone is going to lose.”
Ellison was placed on administrative leave on Tuesday but ESPN reported he is not expected to be suspended.
Ellison, who is in his 16th season as an NFL official, was previously suspended one game without pay in 2013 for making a profane and derogatory statement to Washington Redskins offensive lineman Trent Williams in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Hughes was not the only player assessed a fine for behavior on Saturday.
Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan was fined $26,379 for yelling at referee Jerome Boger following a 26-22 win over the New York Jets.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith and Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Jatavis Brown were fined $26,379 for unnecessary roughness incidents.
Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh was fined $20,054 for a horse collar tackle while Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekie Ansah was fined the same amount for an illegal hit on quarterback Jared Goff.
Also fined $20,054 were Baltimore Ravens linebacker Za’Darius Smith for roughing the passer and Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel for a horse collar tackle on an interception.
Kansas City’s Eric Murray, Oakland’s Jared Cook and Atlanta’s Vic Beasley Jr. were assessed $13,369 fines for unsportsmanlike conduct. San Francisco 49ers linebacker Malcolm Smith was fined $10,026 for unnecessary roughness while Jacksonville teammates C.J. Reavis (unnecessary roughness) and Ronnie Harrison (taunting) were fined the same amount.
