The NFL refuses to discipline or fine 2 refs who fist-bumped each other on the goal line following a Denver Bronco’s touchdown in Sunday’s 24-17 win over the Buffalo Bills.
The NFL quickly released a statement after the game saying the refs’ fist-bump was an acknowledgement of a good call.
“It was an acknowledgment of good mechanics between the two officials involved in making the call,” NFL spokesman Michael Signora told The Associated Press.
Regardless of the NFL’s co-sign of the fist-bump, the refs’ fist-bump did not sit well with Bills defensive back Aaron Williams who took to this Twitter page to gripe about it.
From the Denver Post:
In the second quarter of the Broncos’ 24-17 win over the Bills at Sports Authority Field on Sunday, Anderson bulldozed his way into the end zone for a one-yard score, his second of three touchdowns on the night.
As he got up to celebrate, line judge John Hussey and umpire Carl Paganelli turned to each other and did the same in their own way: a first bump for making the correct call. From Hussey’s position, it was hard to tell if the ball crossed the plane of the goal line before Anderson’s knee hit the ground. So Paganelli sorted it out, and gave a thumbs up to Hussey, who threw his hands up to signal the touchdown.
The fist-bump went mainstream after then-presidential candidate Barack Obama fist-bumped his wife, Michelle, during a televised campaign speech on June 3, 2008.
