Watch as it appears NFL refs ask Tampa’s Mike Evans for autograph after Panthers loss
Football officials are being scrutinized Monday, a day after it appears they asked Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans for an autograph after the Bucs’ loss to Carolina.
The video shows a game official stop Evans in the tunnel and asked for an autograph as he was heading to the locker room. It’s possible the official needed something else following the game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports the NFL is reviewing the incident involving side judge Jeff Lamberth and line judge Tripp Sutter.
He cites the NFL-NFLRA CBA, which specifically states game officials “shall not… ask players, coaches or any other team personnel for autographs or memorabilia.”
Take a look for yourself.
Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell below .500 with a stunning 21-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers, who won just their second game of the season Sunday despite playing with a third-string quarterback and interim head coach.
Brady was 32-of-49 passing for 290 yards for the Bucs. One of those incompletions came when Evans dropped a wide-open 64-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the game.
Brady hasn’t had a losing record this far into a season since the 2002 New England Patriots dropped four straight games to reach 3-4. Brady has never been under .500 after eight games.
Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.