Seahawks Practice Squad Player Joey Hunt Will Be Fined For Sideline Altercation With AJ Brown

Getty Image / Stephen Brashear

Just a few weeks after a sideline altercation involving San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw and Philadelphia Eagles security personnel Dom DiSandro, another sideline altercation involving the Eagles will involve discipline from the league office.

On Monday Night Football in the Seahawks’ 20-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle practice squad offensive lineman Joey Hill was seen giving a shoulder to star Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown.

Here’s the clip. Note that the person ESPN play-by-play announcer Joe Buck calls a staffer is believed to be Joey Hunt.

According to Pro Football Talk, a fine for Hill is coming. PFT is also wonder why practice squad players even need to be on the sideline, since they’re ineligible to play. Here’s more.

Per the NFL, the person on the sideline is not susceptible to getting the same kind of ban applied to Eagles’ security chief Dom DiSandro. In this case the person not in uniform is a player. Per the Seahawks, it was practice-squad center Joey Hunt.

Two other people not in uniform can be seen taunting Brown as he leaves the sideline to return to the field.

The league explains that the player faces a potential fine for his interaction with Brown. The player does not, however, fall within the broad prohibition against making non-players on the sideline making contact or verbally jawing with players in uniform.

The incident underscores the point that people not in uniform should not be touching or barking at the players in uniform. It also renews a fair question as to whether too many people are on the sidelines during games.

It’s one thing, for example, for inactive members of the 53-man roster to be down there. Why are practice-squad players necessary to the effort? Perhaps the league needs to take a closer look at the necessity of every person who currently is permitted to be on the sideline during games. If there’s a way to further trim the sideline fat, the league should definitely do it.

I have to agree with their point here. There’s no reason for non-essential personnel to be on the sidelines during games. There are too many things that can go wrong, and just being on the sidelines is hazardous when it comes to inadvertent sideline collisions.

As for the fine, hopefully it’s not too severe, as practice squad players don’t make a ton of money compared to even low-round draft picks on active rosters.