By Brad Gelber / Billswire.usatoday.com
Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes is once again speaking out about NFL officiating, this time on social media.
Hughes took to Twitter on Tuesday, to share of video of Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady, confronting the referees following a loss to the Carolina Panthers. (The video was later removed due to a copyright claim by the NFL.)
In the tweet, Hughes writes, “how come only defensive players get fined”?
Hughes then called out the Buffalo media for recording a video of him back in December, where he confronted referee Roy Ellison following a Bills loss to the Miami Dolphins. The video came via Spectrum News.
Hughes could be hurt shouting at the official, “You called me a b—-, though. I’ll catch you.”
Despite the incident being captured on camera, Hughes later denied that it took place when speaking to the media.
Hughes ultimately avoided suspension, but was fined one week’s pay ($53,482) for the incident.
Hughes is not the first person to accuse Brady of getting preferential treatment from officials, but a random Tuesday in February seems like an odd time to bring all of this up.
While Brady may, in fact, get away with more than others, it is hard to compare the two situations where one player approached the officials as he exited the field, while the other sought out the referee in the tunnel, one-on-one long after the game had ended.
As has been the case in the past with player’s voicing opinions on social media, it is hard to see Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane being a fan of this sort of behavior.