Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes said something naughty to an official on Thursday night, and he’ll pay for it.
The NFL has fined Hughes $22,050 for unsportsmanlike conduct. Specifically, according to the NFL, Hughes “directed abusive language towards an official.”
We don’t know exactly what Hughes said, but he insisted that it was nothing that warranted a penalty. Hughes said all he did was tell the officials that they had missed a holding penalty that should have been called on the Dolphins.
“There really wasn’t one,” Hughes said when asked what explanation he got from the officials. “I did yell because I did get held on that play. I made sure I yelled, ‘Holding.’ Whatever else came after that, I really don’t know. I don’t know. . . . I’ve never really seen a holding call missed at the point of attack like that. So I really don’t know. I’m at a loss for words right now.”
This was the second time referee Walt Coleman’s crew gave Hughes an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty this season. The last time was Week 6 against the Patriots, when Hughes appeared to do nothing warranting a penalty. Hughes says he doesn’t know what the deal is with this officiating crew.
“It’s the same crew from New England, from when we played New England, so it just doesn’t surprise me,” Hughes said.
But in this case, the NFL obviously agrees with the officials that Hughes said something wrong. Something that will cost him $22,050.
