In a statement to The Athletic, the NFL Referees Association acknowledged that the actions of line judge Jeff Seeman and referee Adrian Hill “fell short” of the standard for professionalism in separate incidents Sunday but said the suspensions levied on the individuals “were excessive and inconsistent with past precedent.”

“The NFL Referees Association believes the suspensions imposed by the NFL on two officials following incidents this past weekend were excessive and inconsistent with past precedent,” the statement said. “Given these concerns, the NFLRA will challenge the severity of those suspensions and meet with the NFL Officiating Department to discuss the League’s disciplinary standards. The association also plans to meet with NFL Players Association leadership to address on-field conduct and the growing levels of confrontation between players and officials.”

The incident between Seeman and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride happened when McBride argued for a pass-interference penalty. Broadcast cameras appeared to show Seeman shouting expletives at McBride while he stood on the sideline after the play. The incident involving Hill occurred after Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson inadvertently collided with the referee, knocking him to the ground. Wilson offered to help Hill to his feet, but Hill got up on his own and had an animated reaction toward Wilson.

Seeman was given a two-game suspension while Hill was suspended for one. Both suspensions are without pay, sources told The Athletic. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t allowed to speak publicly on the matter.

“This kind of behavior from an official towards a player is unacceptable,” NFLPA executive director JC Tretter wrote on X regarding the incident with McBride, before the punishments were issued. “Players are consistently held accountable when the roles are reversed. We expect the NFL to hold officials to the same standard.”

Scott Green, the NFLRA executive director, pointed to the “highly charged” interactions directed at officials from players and coaches as something that “shouldn’t be dismissed as simply part of the game.” In the incident involving Seeman and McBride, CBS sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala posted on social media that she was standing near the interaction and never heard McBride curse.

“NFL officials have a responsibility to conduct themselves professionally on the field, and the actions in these incidents fell short of that standard,” Green said in the statement to The Athletic. “Accountability matters, but that should not result in discipline that is excessive or inconsistent with established precedent. Officials are routinely subjected to highly charged interactions and, at times, verbal abuse from players and coaches. While that never excuses misconduct by an official, it shouldn’t be dismissed as simply part of the game. The League expects the highest level of professionalism from its officials, and it should demand the same from everyone on the field.

“We will defend the principle that discipline must be fair, consistent and proportionate. Holding officials accountable while ignoring or minimizing the conduct directed at them is neither fair nor an effective way to address this issue. We look forward to working with the League and NFLPA toward that shared goal.”