For player safety and exhibition purposes, there are restrictions on formations, pass coverage, and rushing the quarterback or kicker.
News, Rules School
Rule changes for the 2015 Pro Bowl
by Ben Austro • • 0 Comments
Author Archive for Ben Austro
Ben Austro is the editor and founder of FootballZebras.com
News
John Parry heads 2015 Pro Bowl crew
by Ben Austro • • 2 Comments
John Parry will lead this year’s officiating crew at the Pro Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., the second time it has been played on the mainland, since it moved to Hawaii in 1980. The other continental-based Pro Bowl in that time was 2010 in Miami. Yrs 2014 crew College Occupation R 132 John Parry 15 Purdue…
Follow-up, News, Playoffs
Tony Corrente was scheduled to referee Fail Mary game
by Ben Austro • • 7 Comments
Football Zebras reported in September that referee Tony Corrente was originally scheduled for the Fail Mary game — the infamous 2012 Monday Night Football game between the Packers and the Seahawks. The league kept two sets of schedules through that season’s referee lockout, but without a resolution in the labor impasse, the league’s backup schedule…
Assignments, Playoffs
Bill Vinovich confirmed as referee for Super Bowl XLIX
by Ben Austro • • 42 Comments
Football Zebras exclusive Bill Vinovich will be the referee heading the Super Bowl officiating staff on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Ariz. Multiple sources have confirmed the Vinovich assignment and most of the crew that Football Zebras determined last week after reviewing qualification criteria and playoff assignment patterns. The assignments were officially given to the crew…
Assignments, Playoffs
Tony Corrente and Walt Anderson are referees in Conference Championships
by Ben Austro • • 17 Comments
Football Zebras exclusive Football Zebras has confirmed that Tony Corrente and Walt Anderson will be the referees for the conference championship games. Corrente will have the NFC game between the Packers and Seahawks; Anderson will be heading the crew for the AFC title match between the Colts and the Patriots. View image | gettyimages.com NFC…
News
Replay reversals don’t come easy
by Ben Austro • • 0 Comments
View image | gettyimages.com 2014 final replay statistics The replay reversal rate crashed this year, based largely on the interventionist role vice president of officiating Dean Blandino played this year. Referees were allowed to consult with the officiating command center starting this year, but Jarrett Bell of USA Today reports that Blandino and senior supervisor…
Assignments, Grades, Playoffs
Vinovich appears to be a lock for Super Bowl nod
by Ben Austro • • 40 Comments
Referee Bill Vinovich will likely have this crew on hand for Super Bowl XLIX on February 1.
News, Playoffs
Playoff assignment is more than just making the grade
by Ben Austro • • 7 Comments
The methodology of determining playoff assignments changed slightly when Dean Blandino was named vice president of officiating in 2013. It largely resembles the system previously in place. Rather than a straight 1-to-17 grade ranking, Blandino places the officials at each position into one of three tiers. Tier 1 is, for the lack of a better…
Assignments, Playoffs
Divisional assignments: Leavy, McAulay, Steratore, Vinovich
by Ben Austro • • 64 Comments
Football Zebras has confirmed the referees that will be heading the Divisional Playoff crews next weekend. As reported earlier, the Super Bowl officials are mixed in with the Divisional Playoff crews. (McAulay is ineligible due to last year’s assignment.)
Calls, Playoffs
Faceguarding call lead to bizarre pass-interference flag pickup
by Ben Austro • • 48 Comments
View image | gettyimages.com During the fourth quarter, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a third-down pass to tight end Brandon Pettigrew, and there was a flag for pass interference on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens. Referee Pete Morelli announced the penalty, but then picked up the flag. The television broadcast did not carry the second announcement,…