DENVER -- Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Elton Brown was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected after bumping an official on the final play of the first half Thursday night against the Denver Broncos.
The contact with the official appeared inadvertent. Brown, a backup guard, apparently was carrying his argument toward an opposing player when he bumped into referee Mike Carey.
Arizona Coach Ken Whisenhunt said from his viewpoint on the field, Brown was engaged in an argument with a Broncos player and did not mean to make contact with the official.
"I don't think it was intentional," Whisenhunt said. "From what I saw, I think Elton was more focused on the football player from the Broncos because of the play and inadvertently bumped into the official. He certainly didn't go after the official. But in those kind of situations, you always have to worry about the official, obviously, when guys are that big. It was unfortunate."
