This Might Be the Weirdest NFL Penalty of the Year

Seahawks' Earl Thomas penalized for hugging referee
By Daniel Kay,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 30, 2016 3:20 PM CDT
This Might Be the Weirdest NFL Penalty of the Year
An NFL penalty flag lying on the turf.   (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks did his team a huge favor Sunday when he recovered a New Orleans Saints fumble and returned it for a touchdown. In his jubilation after the play, Sports Illustrated reports, Thomas ran over and hugged side judge Alex Kemp. (See the video here.) Kemp threw a flag immediately, calling Thomas for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that was assessed on the kickoff. Dan Hanzus at NFL.com speculates Thomas may have been the latest victim of an NFL crackdown on on-field celebration, but it's also possible he may have simply invaded this referee's personal space. (Read more NFL stories.)

We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy.
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X