We argued on Sunday night's podcast that Carolina Panthers All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly should not have been ejected for making contact with an official in Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Ron Rivera agrees.
"No," Rivera said emphatically when asked about a league-imposed fine, per ESPN.com's David Newton. "Not at all. Zero chance."
Replays show that Kuechly was grabbed from behind by the official and swung his arm to get out of the hold. Contact from the linebacker was not malicious, with Kuechly later telling reporters that he simply was trying to break free from the scrum.
"I disagreed with it," Rivera said of the ejection. "I disagreed with the explanation I was given. I looked at the tape and I felt the tape agreed with what I felt."
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport was told by a league source that Kuechly will not face a suspension. In the meantime, Rivera said general manager Dave Gettleman will lobby the NFL to prevent a fine for last year's Defensive Player of the Year.
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