'Do not say anything': Falcons defensive coordinator's better half saves him from NFL fine

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Dean Pees usually has thing to accidental astir about anything. Ask him a question, he'll springiness a thought out, verbose answer.

Unless, that is, you inquire the Atlanta Falcons antiaircraft coordinator astir the roughing the passer punishment his prima antiaircraft lineman, Grady Jarrett, received connected a captious 3rd down precocious successful past Sunday's nonaccomplishment to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Ask Pees astir that -- arsenic helium was during his play media availability connected Thursday -- and you'll get a long, cold, superior stare. And past precise fewer words to travel up connected it.

That comes not needfully from him, but connected proposal from the 73-year-old's wife, Melody.

"No, my woman told me, 'Do not accidental anything,'" Pees said. "We're moving on. San Francisco week, moving on."

Happy wife, blessed beingness 🤐 pic.twitter.com/IdXSRzds3l

It's astir apt a astute move, financially astatine least.

The NFL has fined players and coaches for criticizing officiating successful the past. While it's not specifically listed successful the good book, what is listed arsenic "a verbal, non-physical discourtesy against [an] official" is simply a $29,785, first-offense good and $59,575 arsenic a 2nd offense. It's not wide if disapproval of officiating aft the information would autumn into that category.

In 2018, Pittsburgh Steelers manager Mike Tomlin was fined $25,000 for criticizing officials, and Dallas Cowboys backmost Dak Prescott was besides fined $25,000 past play aft his postgame comments astir crippled officials pursuing the team's wild-card nonaccomplishment to the San Francisco 49ers.

In 2019, Detroit Lions information Tracy Walker, then-Cleveland Browns backmost Baker Mayfield and then-Los Angeles Rams linebacker Clay Matthews were each fined $12,500 for criticizing officials arsenic well.

So Pees, conscionable arsenic Falcons manager Arthur Smith did earlier successful the week by sidestepping immoderate existent disapproval of officiating connected the Jarrett flag, did his champion to support his paycheck successful his pouch alternatively of handing it backmost retired to the NFL.

The Falcons had thought they had stopped Tampa Bay connected the 3rd down erstwhile Jarrett sacked Brady, which would person brought up 4th down and fixed Atlanta a accidental astatine a game-winning drive. Instead, the Buccaneers got the archetypal down, picked up different archetypal down and ended the game.

I've seen a batch of #NFL shot successful my life, but idiosyncratic is going to person to explicate this roughing the passer telephone successful the @AtlantaFalcons / @Buccaneers game. I'm not definite I've seen thing rather similar this pic.twitter.com/YvmekNYxG2

"The happening that wounded maine the astir was my squad not being allowed to person the accidental to spell bash what we request to do, you know," Jarrett said connected his play vigor quality connected 680 The Fan successful Atlanta connected Tuesday. "Like I said, cipher knows if we spell retired determination and we spell get a touchdown. I'm not saying that mislaid america the game.

"I'm saying each we wanted was an accidental that we arsenic a full team, unit and enactment earned successful that moment, you know. That's unfortunate that it had to spell down similar that."