Colts safety Shamarko Thomas became the unwitting test case for the new helmet rule, as he was ejected in the fourth quarter of the first preseason game against the Seahawks. The helmet-to-helmet contact foul is the first ejection of the 2018 season. Thomas's hit is in a rare category. Football Zebras and
Author: Ben Austro
Ben Austro is the editor and founder of Football Zebras and the author of So You Think You Know Football?: The Armchair Ref's Guide to the Official Rules (on sale now)
Corrente: Tweak to fumble rule would change TD by AS-J to be A-OK in 2018
Reporting from Florham Park, N.J. A wording change in the rules would not reverse the touchdown that was controversially taken away from Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins last season. The play in question had Seferian-Jenkins, who had clear possession and had completed the catch process, running toward the end zone. As he
Walt Coleman joins officiating’s exclusive 30 Club
39 officials are on the NFL Officiating Development Program roster
Football Zebras has learned most of the officials that will make up this year's development roster. The Officiating Development Program began in 2013 as a way to give certain college officials advanced training by working in NFL training camps and preseason games. Initially, the program had 21 officials, but has
Al Riveron faces extraordinary challenges at 2018 officiating clinic
Commentary and analysis by Ben Austro Al Riveron has opened the annual officiating clinic in Plano, Texas, with an extraordinarily busy agenda to complete. It is not hyperbole to say the success of the season depends on what is accomplished at the clinic. There is also ample evidence that Riveron is in
Staff changes highlight chaotic officiating offseason
Senior vice president Al Riveron is nearing the end of his first full offseason in charge of the officiating department after seeing seismic turnover in the staff. The exodus of four referees is unprecedented not only in number but also in their late timing. The NFL Referees Association confirmed that six
NFL restores the 2-member replay crew
Football Zebras has learned that for the 2018 season, the NFL will once again have a replay official and a replay assistant assigned to each on-field officiating crew. This is a slight change in personnel which ends an assignment practice in place for 2 seasons. When replay was reintroduced in 1999,
