NFL referee Alex Kemp hardly needed time to think about it. As soon as the enthusiastic Earl Thomas finished hugging him and let his arms go free, Kemp threw his flag in the air. Thomas had just run back a fumble for a TD and after celebrating with the crowd and his teammates, he still had more love to give. Kemp was his target. But it was inappropriate PDA. It’s good to remember everywhere — not on just the football field — that just because you want to hug someone doesn’t mean they want you to. Or that it’s all right. It isn’t.
unsportsmanlike conduct hahaha pic.twitter.com/3v0RKlhmFI
— spooky hombre ? (@whoisjoserivera) October 30, 2016
Here’s the whole play, so you can see exactly why Thomas is so excited. But the hug clearly isn’t appropriate, no matter how happy you feel. Among other things it disrespects the ref and diminishes his authority.
On espère pour Thomas qu’il ne va pas se retrouver avec une amende pour ça #WeAre12 pic.twitter.com/UaXOqJCatU
— NFL France (@FirstDownFR) October 30, 2016
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