Harrison Smith avoids punishment for referee shove

Harrison Smith escaped a fine and suspension for his shove of a game official. (Hannah Foslien, Getty Images)

Minnesota Vikings rookie safety Harrison Smith will be neither fined nor suspended for his shoving of an official during the Vikings' 30-7 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Reports in the aftermath of the game suggested that Smith would be  fined but not suspended for his actions. Turns out, according to Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, it was neither.

The shove occurred after a play was dead and side judge Steve Freeman was leading Smith away from a post-interception scrum. Smith shoved Freeman out of the way, was ejected from the gme, and was immediately apologetic afterwards.

"I (was) kind of caught up in the heat of the moment and was kind of jawing back and forth with some of the Titans players," Smith told Twin Cities radio station 1500 ESPN. "I shouldn't have even been doing that. Just go to the sideline, celebrate the play with Antoine. I just kind of got caught up in it and accidentally put my hands on him. I realized afterwards that right when I touched him, that's an official, and that's just stupid."

Smith has had a nice start to his first year in the NFL with the Vikings, playing in all five games and contributing to 25 tackles with six deflected passes to his name.