Mike Vrabel, Nick Sirianni, Aaron Glenn Reportedly Fined $250K Each for Conduct Toward NFL Refs

A trio of NFL coaches received stiff fines for their interactions with NFL officials, as the league revealed during this week's owners' meetings.

According to Albert Breer of SI.com, Inside the meeting room, the league did address the heightening tension between coaches, players and officials on the game field. They cited examples, including this news: New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn and Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni were fined $250,000 for conduct toward officials. That, of course, is a pretty stiff penalty and a clear statement. I've also heard that the fines are in abeyance, meaning they'd be on hold, and could be repealed with good behavior."

It's unclear if the potential fines were in response to specific incidents or from a pattern of behaviors.

Vrabel was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct in Week 4 after telling an official he made a "f--king terrible" call during a 29-26 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Vrabel was pretty surprised by the penalty.

"I told him it was a terrible—I'm not going to say effing—call," he told reporters . "I've said that 87 times since I've been a head coach. It was nothing derogatory. You'd have to ask him. I think he was a little sensitive."

"I probably shouldn't have swore, but I can tell you in my history of being on the sidelines as a head coach, I've said that. And I apologized to him," he added. "It was unfortunate and I have to be better in those moments."

The relationship between officials, players and coaches has felt particularly under the spotlight this season. A pair of officials were suspended early in the season—line judge Jeff Seeman for two games and referee Adrian Hill for one—for conduct deemed unprofessional towards players.

Seeman was caught on video yelling a profanity at Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, while Hill pointed and yelled at Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson while Wilson attempted to help him up after a play.