After their strong and completely misguided criticism of the referees in the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes were hit with drastic fines.
After the Chiefs’ bitter 17:20 loss to the Bills in Week 14, both Reid and Mahomes caused a stir with their sometimes disgruntled comments about the referees’ correct decision that wide receiver Kadarius Toney was short at the snap before his spectacular supposed touchdown play was offside before the end of the game. Both subsequently apologized for the statements, but the NFL took drastic action.
Reid was fined a hefty $100,000 for publicly criticizing the referees, while Mahomes has to pay $50,000 for being unsportsmanlike and insulting the referees.
Reid and Mahomes chose conciliatory tones in the days after the game and Mahomes in particular declared that he would have to “show better sportsmanship” in the future after he only complained about the referees during the handshake with Bills QB Josh Allen instead of congratulating them on their victory.
NFL: Commissioner Goodell stands behind referees
Commissioner Roger Goodell also commented on the incident on the sidelines of the Owners Meeting in Irving, Texas, and emphasized: “I find it a little ironic when you say that the attention is on the referees’ performance, when as far as I know everyone has commented that the referees We were absolutely right here.” Goodell followed up: “It’s their job to punish the action when there is a foul. There was no doubt about this foul. It was absolutely the right decision. If they don’t punish it, then we or our referees are also responsible Criticism.”
With this loss, the Chiefs have a record of 8-5 and are in danger of losing touch with the top of the conference in the battle for the top seed in the AFC with just four games left.