Refs asking Mike Evans for Autograph

[Donuts and Doritos]

After the bucks game refs caught asking Mike Evans for an autograph. (See below). How is that kosher? 

 

NFL on ClutchPoints on Instagram: "Maybe they can only ask players from the losing teams for autographs 👀 (via @Sheena_Marie3/TW)"
https://www.instagram.com/p/CkEpBV_uwg8

 

[H2o]

[scuba guy]

Maybe he wanted it for and friend 

 

Wink wink

[RochesterLifer]

The ref could have children, nephews or nieces who are a fan. I don’t have a problem with this. To make this an issue is silly.

[US Egg]

…..would’ve asked for his jersey.

[UKBillFan]

He would have probably dropped the pen anyway.

[NewEra]

Maybe a family member is a die hard Mike evans fan?  Sheesh

[Bferra13]

It's not a good look and these guys get paid way too much to be doing this. Shouldn't happen. 

[Shake_My_Head]

Meh.   No different than players trading jerseys after a game.

[mannc]

1 minute ago, Shake_My_Head said:

Meh.   No different than players trading jerseys after a game.

Completely different

[Shake_My_Head]

3 minutes ago, mannc said:

Completely different

How so?     Refs have a job to do.  They do it.    Opposing players have a job to do.  They do it.    All of it takes place on the field.    What happens off it is immaterial.

[Buffalo716]

I know a D1 referee and he completely takes emotion out of it 

 

he likes football not teams and he would never show any inkling of liking a player to any degree 

[Allen2D̶i̶g̶g̶s̶TBD]

This might not necessarily be against league rules, but it's not a great look. Autographing an item increases its value significantly, so it's essentially giving money to someone who's supposed to be an impartial judge.

[Bferra13]

4 minutes ago, Shake_My_Head said:

How so?     Refs have a job to do.  They do it.    Opposing players have a job to do.  They do it.    All of it takes place on the field.    What happens off it is immaterial.

One is a show of sportsmanship and the other could imply bias that affects the integrity of the game. These autographs are like currency these days. Dude is paid plenty as it is.

[mannc]

3 minutes ago, Shake_My_Head said:

How so?     Refs have a job to do.  They do it.    Opposing players have a job to do.  They do it.    All of it takes place on the field.    What happens off it is immaterial.

Players might trade jerseys…what did the ref trade for Evans’s autograph? And don’t you think the ref might be somewhat less likely to call OPI (or more likely to call dpi) on Evans in the future? At a minimum, it’s a horrible look.

[BillnutinHouston]

That has to be a fireable offense.  The optics are unacceptable.

[bdomdbomb]

I cannot believe these posts - somebody responded by saying, "if it happens off the field it is immaterial".  So if the ref is given money off the field is that immaterial?  In a sport where one call can turn the course of a game (Brady this year against Atlanta, Brady last year against Atlanta when the refs moved the ball forward for a first down) the refs need not only be fair and unbiased, they need to put themselves above even the mere possibility of impropriety.  Do I think the ref was helping out the Bucs today? No! - but that is not the point.  The referees need to be be aware of the optics to all fans so fans can believe the outcomes of all games are legitimate.

[Bferra13]

11 minutes ago, bdomdbomb said:

I cannot believe these posts - somebody responded by saying, "if it happens off the field it is immaterial".  So if the ref is given money off the field is that immaterial?  In a sport where one call can turn the course of a game (Brady this year against Atlanta, Brady last year against Atlanta when the refs moved the ball forward for a first down) the refs need not only be fair and unbiased, they need to put themselves above even the mere possibility of impropriety.  Do I think the ref was helping out the Bucs today? No! - but that is not the point.  The referees need to be be aware of the optics to all fans so fans can believe the outcomes of all games are legitimate.

Exactly. And since this is now making its rounds on the internet, I'm sure this dude will get a call from the league to never do that again. If there's one thing Rodg hates its bad optics.

[Buffalo Boy]

2 hours ago, RochesterLifer said:

The ref could have children, nephews or nieces who are a fan. I don’t have a problem with this. To make this an issue is silly.

Quid pro quo….. anybody……Bueller……Bueller?

[Herc11]

Wow... some of you guys are too high strung. It was only a piece of paper. Not like he was signing something of value.