Roy Ellison

Extra Points: Referee, Saints, Ingram, Colts, Receivers

A strange incident happened last week when Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes got into an altercation with an official. Hughes accused the official of cursing at him, which provoked his response. The NFL launched an investigation, and fined Hughes a hefty $53,482. The league placed the official, Roy Ellison, on administrative leave. Apparently the investigation remains open, as Ellison will not officiate a game this Sunday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link).

The situation is relatively unprecedented, and it will be fascinating to see what the league does. The NFL already has drawn the ire of the referees union by making the rare move of firing an official in-season earlier this year, so what they decide to do with Ellison could cause major headaches.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • The odds that Mark Ingram is a member of the Saints beyond this season are not high, according to Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com. Katzenstein thinks there’s a roughly one in three chance that Ingram is back next year, and writes “it’s sensible business not to pay an aging running back when there’s a young stud already on the roster”, meaning Alvin Kamara. Katzenstein thinks Ingram’s four game suspension to start the year also hurt his relationship with the team, and the Saints will look for a cheaper option next year to split time with Kamara.
  • The Colts will make major moves at wide receiver this offseason, predicts Stephen Holder of The Athletic. Holder points out the team has very little at receiver for 2019 behind T.Y. Hilton, and that the “unit is mostly a bare cupboard” for next year. Holder notes that the lack of playmakers behind Hilton was made very noticeable in their shutout loss to the Jaguars last year, and GM Chris Ballard will surely be working hard this offseason to acquire a number two option, either through free agency or the draft.
  • In case you missed it, breakout Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd is open to signing an extension with Cincinnati.