Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw has been suspended without pay for one game for unsportsmanlike conduct following Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

The former 49er was seen chasing down referee Brad Allen and berating him at the end of the Week 7 game that saw the Broncos overturn a 19-0 deficit by coring all 33 of their points in the final quarter, eventually defeating a gallant Giants team 33-32 at Mile High. Greenlaw wasn’t the only member of the Denver team unhappy with some of the officiating on the night, but appeared especially riled up by a late pass interference call that put the visitors — who had been struggling to move the ball as they desperately defended their dwindling advantage — within touching distance of the Broncos’ goal-line.

While rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart would punch the ball across the plane for a score that took a second look before being confirmed, the Broncos rallied and, with the extra point having been missed, were able to move quickly down the field and put Wil Lutz in position to kick the winning field goal. Head coach Sean Payton had also questioned the PI call, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of his own for confronting the officials in the endzone.

Greenlaw’s suspension falls under Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(b) of the NFL regulations, which specifically prohibits ‘the use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures to opponents, team-mates, officials or representatives of the League’. He has three days to appeal the suspension under terms agreed in the current collective bargaining agreement. Should he decide not to, or subsequently, lose his appeal, the veteran will be eligible to return to the team next Monday (October 27th).

Having jumped from San Francisco to Denver during free agency, Greenlaw only returned from the injured reserve list in time to play in Sunday’s game, and showed his value to the Broncos with six tackles and a quarterback hit in limited action.