FILE - Line judge Jeff Seeman (45) works during an NFL preseason football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars in New Orleans, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File)
NFL players have to show sportsmanship or they can draw flags and/or fines and now officiating crews are on notice that they, too, must display appropriate behavior in the heat of the moment.
The NFL flagged two officials Monday, suspending line judge Jeff Seeman and referee Adrian Hill for their actions during a wild Week 4 marked by profane flare-ups that included Pittsburgh's Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy cursing at each other and Dre Greenlaw (Fayetteville, Arkansas Razorbacks) displaying the kind of fiery spirit toward Sean Payton that the Broncos' head coach wished had shown up last season in Denver.
Seeman was banned two games for swearing at Trey McBride after Arizona's star tight end argued for a pass interference call when he was hit by a defender before the ball arrived. Hill received a one-game suspension for unprofessional conduct for yelling at Eric Wilson and pointing for him to get away after the Minnesota Vikings linebacker tried to help him to his feet after a collision knocked him over.
The NFL Referees Association said in a statement Tuesday that the suspensions were excessive and inconsistent with past precedent and it plans to challenge the severity.
"NFL officials have a responsibility to conduct themselves professionally on the field, and the actions in these incidents fell short of that standard," NFLRA Executive Director Scott Green said. "Accountability matters, but that should not result in discipline that is excessive or inconsistent with established precedent."
LB confronts coach
Greenlaw, who rejoined the Niners last offseason, forced a fumble and collected a dozen tackles in San Francisco's 24-14 win over the Broncos on Sunday.
After just about every one of his stops, he pointed and hollered at Payton, assuredly still stinging over his departure from Denver in which he said his agent had to inform him the Broncos were moving on just one year into his three-year, $31.5 million deal.
As Payton was walking across the field to shake Kyle Shanahan's hand after the game, Greenlaw approached him and took one more verbal shot at his old coach as fellow linebacker Fred Warner redirected him toward the 49ers' tunnel.
Payton didn't engage with Greenlaw, who told the San Francisco Chronicle, "I told him to get the (expletive) off the field. That's it: 'Get the (expletive) off the field.' "
Asked if he had any issue with Greenlaw getting in his face Sunday, Payton said, "No, and I said this to Kyle afterwards, I think the world of him. I really love everything about him and he plays with that emotion. So it's all good."
Standing out
Players yelling at the sidelines -- even their own -- is nothing new.
Neither are heated exchanges between players and officials.
But this weekend's stood out, especially because they were caught on camera and quickly raced across social media, not the kind of viral moments the NFL prefers.
McBride knew Seeman's vulgarity was being broadcast -- he pointed toward the camera that caught the line judge's obscenities.
"Obviously, you hate to see it, for obvious reasons," Arizona Coach Mike LaFleur said. "I do want to give the man a little bit of grace, too. 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."
The incident drew the ire of players union leader JC Tretter, a retired offensive lineman who played eight seasons in the NFL: "This kind of behavior from an official towards a player is unacceptable," Tretter, the NFL Players Association's executive director, posted on social media along with a video clip of the incident. "Players are consistently held accountable when the roles are reversed. We expect the NFL to hold officials to the same standard."
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride pauses on the field during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride pauses on the field during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)