PFWA Pool Reporter Nicki Jhabvala Interview with Referee Shawn Smith
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Question: Could you explain the ruling for the second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on C. J. Gardner-Johnson? What led to the call that ultimately got him ejected?
Smith: “He’s basically taunting the opponent on the second foul. He already had a first one earlier in the game that we had announced as his first towards disqualification. So, this became his second. He was taunting the players so that’s a disqualification by rule.”
Question: Okay, and on the first one it looked like there was some shoving, pushing by both sides. Was there any thought to penalizing both sides on that first skirmish or just him for taunting?
Smith: “Well, we only had the one foul.”
