Ben Austro, Author at Football Zebras

Marshawn Lynch suspended for pushing official after running onto field

Week 7

by Ben Austro - October 20, 2017October 22, 2017 4

The heavy hammer of discipline was fast, as the league suspended Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch less than 24 hours after he was ejected from an epic Thursday night game against the Chiefs. Lynch was ejected for physically contacting an official when he pushed line judge Julian Mapp. A late hit

Jets lose the touchdown (and the ball) on very tight replay reversal

Week 6

by Ben Austro - October 15, 2017October 16, 2017 28

Week 6: Patriots at Jets (video) Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins scored what appeared to be a clear touchdown. On review, not only was the touchdown reversed, the ball went to the Patriots on a touchback. Seferian-Jenkins bobbles the ball at the 1-yard line and subsequently re-controls the ball. The bobble makes the ball

John Fox blames officials for delay of game foul

Week 5

by Ben Austro - October 10, 2017October 10, 2017 0

Week 5: Vikings at Bears The Bears opening drive of the game ended with this bizarre sequence facing a 4th and 2 (with the time remaining on the play clock): 7 — Bears offense broke the huddle 5 — Bears called timeout 25 — Punt team was on the field coming out of the

Officiating video looks at punts: downing at the 1, lining up over center, and kick-catch interference

by Ben Austro - October 6, 2017 1

In the Week 4 media tape issued by the officiating department, senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron covered the following calls from Week 4: When a kicking team does not present a standard punt formation or shifts in a punting situation, the defense is not longer restricted from lining up

Browns missed momentum shift on an ‘incomplete backward pass’

by Ben Austro - October 4, 2017October 4, 2017 0

Week 4: Bengals at Browns The Browns were trailing 21-0 entering the third quarter, and needed a big break to potentially turn the game around. On a first down, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton fired a quick lateral pass that was broken up by Browns cornerback Jason McCourty. As soon as the

Trevathan suspended 1 game for helmet-to-helmet hit

Calls
Week 4

by Ben Austro - September 29, 2017October 6, 2017 1

Week 4: Bears at Packers Update 10/3: Trevathan was initially suspended two games on Sept. 30, which was reduced to a one-game suspension on appeal. The original post appears below. Danny Trevathan's hit may have made the highlight reel, but it has surely made another dubious reel: the officiating department's clip-and-save file. In

Officiating video: Out-of-bounds kickoff spots, Double/After enforcement, and reviewing nullified TDs

by Ben Austro - September 22, 2017September 22, 2017 0

In the weekly officiating tape to the media, senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron addressed three plays from the past week (see below). Kickoff out of bounds with another foul. In the Lions-Giants Monday night game, an unsportsmanlike conduct foul was committed on a touchdown, with the assessment going to