National Football League

Josh Norman wants to know why he was fined $25k for saying a referee 'sucks'

Published Nov. 15, 2016 1:44 p.m. ET

Nick Schwartz

Redskins corner Josh Norman called out referee Brad Freeman following Washington's tie with Cincinnati last weekend in London, and the NFL responded by hitting Norman with a $25,000 fine

Norman only found out about the fine Sunday morning, as he joined NFL on FOX during the Redskins' bye week. He asked Jay Glazer to explain why the fine was so severe, and called the judgment "excessive."

Former NFL VP of Officiating Mike Pereira explained that had Norman not identified the official by number, he might have avoided a fine altogether.