Ref accused of calling Bills DE Jerry Hughes a bitch reportedly placed on leave
On Sunday, Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes was seen screaming in the tunnel at an official after the team’s loss to the Miami Dolphins.
“You called me a bitch,” Hughes yelled in the official’s direction. “I’ll catch you. Trust me. I’ll catch you, guaranteed.”
Official reportedly placed on administrative leave
On Tuesday, NFL Network reported that the official involved in the incident was Roy Ellison and that the league has placed him on administrative leave.
It marks the second time Ellison has been disciplined for an incident involving a player.
ESPN reports that the league will not suspend Hughes for his outburst toward Ellison.
Ellison’s past of disrespecting players
The NFL suspended Ellison in 2013 for one game without pay for making “a profane and derogatory statement” to Washington Redskins tackle Trent Williams.
“When you have a ref come up to you while you’re at the line about to run a play, and call you — excuse my language — but a ‘garbage ass disrespectful motherf—–’ — to me, you know this is a players league. I just don’t think there’s no room for that,” Williams told reporters in 2013 after the Redskins loss that day to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The league is still investigating Sunday’s incident involving Hughes, NFL Network reports.
Hard to imagine Ellison keeps his job if true
If confirmed, Ellison’s second strike is too large a hurdle for the NFL to justify keeping him employed.
Beyond being hugely disrespectful, a referee who calls players “bitches” and “motherf——” isn’t capable of maintaining the impartiality needed of an official at any level of sports.
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