NFL: Luke Kuechly Ejection Not Justified, Won't Be Fined

NFL: Luke Kuechly Ejection Not Justified, Won’t Be Fined

Oct 5, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) yells out coverage during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Bears 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

The NFL reportedly told Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera that linebacker Luke Kuechly should not have been ejected from Sunday’s game.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was ejected during Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers after he had made contact with an official. The NFL reportedly told Panthers coach Ron Rivera Tuesday that Kuechly should not have been ejected and that he will not be fined for his actions.

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The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year was ejected after he swung his arm as he was being restrained by back judge Steve Freeman with 1:39 left in the third quarter of the 38-17 loss. It didn’t seem that Luke Kuechly knew it was Freeman holding him back, therefore the ejection was questionable.

Ron Rivera voiced his disagreement with the ejection Monday:

"“I disagreed with it,” Rivera said. “I disagreed with the explanation I was given. I looked at the tape and I felt the tape agreed with what I felt.”"

Luke Kuechly explained that he didn’t know who was restraining him:

"“To tell you the truth, I didn’t know who was grabbing me,” he said after the game. “I was trying to get out of there a little bit. You’ve just got to stay calm in those situations and just walk away and let it take care of itself.”"

The loss to the Packers set the Panthers at 3-3-1 coming off two straight disappointing weeks of a tie to the Cincinnati Bengals and now the loss. Luke Kuechly and the Panthers will look to bounce back and knock off a struggling Seattle Seahawks team next week.

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