Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid fined for criticism of refs. Here are the amounts
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes have been fined by the NFL after they were critical of officials this past week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Reid was fined $100,000 for “violating long-standing league rules prohibiting public criticism of game officials,” according to Schefter. Meanwhile, Mahomes was docked $50,000 for both referee criticism and “unsportsmanlike conduct” in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The Chiefs’ anger stemmed from an offensive offside call on receiver Kadarius Toney. The call wiped away a potential 49-yard go-ahead touchdown play that started with a pass from Mahomes to Kelce; Kelce lateraled the ball to Toney, who caught it and took it to the end zone.
The Chiefs failed to score on their drive after the call, and Mahomes was restrained by teammates on the sideline from the official who threw the flag while screaming at him.
After the game, Reid called the ruling “a bit embarrassing” for the NFL, also saying he “didn’t have a protractor out there” to judge whether Toney was slightly misaligned.
Mahomes indicated none of the three officials he spoke to gave him an explanation for the flag.
“I’m lost for words, man. It’s just tough,” Mahomes said after the game. “Because regardless of if we win or lose, man, just for it to end with another game we’re talking about the refs, it’s just not what we want for the NFL or for football.”
Reid clarified Monday that he was frustrated the officials hadn’t warned Toney about a potential penalty before he was flagged. Procedurally, Reid indicated, coaches are typically told by officials in-game that their players are out of position, and coaches tell their guys from there to pay close attention from that point forward.
By Wednesday, Reid said he was done talking about the flag, telling reporters, “We’re moving forward.”
When asked about the ruling this week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defended the officiating crew.
“I find it ironic that I’m answering a question about the officials getting it right and they’re getting criticized,” Goodell said, per USA Today.
While talking with 610 Sports Radio in Kansas City on Monday, Mahomes said he “can’t be that way towards officials and really anybody in life. So I probably regret acting like that.”
The Chiefs play on the road against the New England Patriots at noon Central on Sunday.
