Two NFL referees could be in hot water after appearing to ask Tampa Bay Bucs star Mike Evans for an autograph – as the league ‘opens a review into their possible rule-breaking behavior’
- The NFL is looking into two referees’ behavior after the Bucs-Panthers game
- Jeff Lamberth and Tripp Sutter stopped Bucs’ Mike Evans for his signature
- Officials are prohibited from asking players for autographs, according to the rules
- Fans on social media were divided over the incident following Tampa Bay’s loss
- There is a chance that Evans, a team captain, was signing an official scoresheet
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The NFL is reportedly investigating the conduct of two referees who seemed to ask for Tampa Bay WR Mike Evans’ autograph after the Buccaneers game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the league launched a review of the events shortly after the two were seen running up to Evans with a pen and piece of paper for him to sign.
The footage was shot inside the tunnels at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with the two officials identified as Jeff Lamberth and Tripp Sutter.
According to the NFL-NFLRA collective bargaining agreement, officials are prohibited from asking ‘players, coaches or any other team personnel for autographs or memorabilia.’
It isn’t clear if there are any rules that lay out punishment for officials who do go seeking signatures.
A reporter in the tunnel at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte spotted officials looking for Mike Evans to sign something for them
More specifically, it is not clear if there will be any punishment for the two referees involved in this incident.
This might also be a case where the officials weren’t seeking autographs, rather, Evans – who is a captain – may have been signing an official scoresheet or game notes, which he is required to do.
DailyMail.com reached out to an NFL spokesperson for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
The NFL is investigating the two officials to see if their conduct violated the NFLRA’s CBA
Fans on social media had varied responses to the incident – with some pointing out the possibility of game notes, with others calling for punishment.
Captains have to sign information cards after every game. This is standard procedure. You guys are reaching too hard on this one,’ wrote one Twitter user.
‘This would be a bad look if the Bucs would’ve won lol,’ tweeted another.
One described the interaction as ‘weird’ while another said: ‘man what the hell is going on.’
Tampa Bay lost the game Sunday by a score of 21-3.
Fans weren’t sure if the referees were looking for his signature for a personal keepsake or for the official scoresheet as a part of typical everyday Sunday procedures
The Bucs defeat was a huge Week 7 shock and came a week after they lost 20-18 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Evans dropped a wide-open 64-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game.
‘No one play is the only reason you lose, but that was definitely the biggest reason,’ Evans said postgame.
‘I saw the life go out of us. It took me a while to get back playing. We’re taught to play the next play, but it was tough — wide open, one of the best in the game — I’ve got to catch it.’
Evans was referring to star quarterback Tom Brady, who issued another rallying cry to his team following the disappointing loss on Sunday.
The Bucs fell below .500 as the Panthers sealed just their second win of the season.
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