NFL suspends Seeman and Hill after separate exchanges with players

The NFL suspended line judge Jeff Seeman for two games and referee Adrian Hill for one game on Monday following separate exchanges with players during Sunday’s games. The league described both incidents as unprofessional conduct toward a player, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Yahoo Sports.

Seeman’s suspension followed his sideline exchange with Cardinals tight end Trey McBride during Arizona’s loss to the Giants. Hill’s followed an interaction with Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson during Minnesota’s win over Miami. The decisions came after the league had confirmed it was reviewing both incidents.

A sideline camera showed Seeman appearing to swear toward McBride as the tight end argued a non-call. The Associated Press reported that the exchange happened with just under five minutes left after officials did not call pass interference or illegal contact on a third-and-2 pass intended for McBride.

NFLPA executive director JC Tretter responded by calling for officials to be held accountable under the same standard applied to players. His statement accompanied a video of the interaction and made the union’s objection public before Monday’s discipline.

CBS sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala supplied a firsthand account. She said she was standing beside the exchange and heard McBride begin by asking for a pass-interference flag. She described him as upset but said she did not hear him swear at Seeman. Her account adds context to what the sideline camera captured.

Hill’s incident began when Wilson was knocked into the referee after a play had been whistled dead. Hill fell, then got up and confronted the linebacker. Wilson said afterward that he had apologized and explained what happened, and that Hill understood the collision. Wilson also said Hill told him he was trying to prevent a fight.

The NFL’s decision puts specific disciplinary consequences on the two interactions: Seeman will miss two games and Hill one. Tretter’s public statement, the sideline accounts and the league’s subsequent response make this a conduct story beyond the calls disputed during Sunday’s games.