CHARLOTTE, NC (SNN-TV) – A postgame interaction between two game officials and Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans DID NOT involve a request for an autograph.
Following the Buccaneers’ 21-3 loss Sunday to the Carolina Panthers, 1340 AM Fox Sports captured video of side judge Jeff Lamberth and line judge Tripp Sutter calling Evans’ name. Evans then wrote something on a card they handed him. Following conversations with the individuals involved, however, the league determined that Lamberth and Sutter weren’t asking for an autograph. The league did not specify why they called out to Evans nor what was said during the interaction.
But, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Lamberth was getting Evans’ phone number to pass it along to a golf pro to give Evans lessons. Lamberth didn’t have paper, so he borrowed it from Sutter. The NFL statement made no mention of discipline for either official.