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A couple of substitutions this week at the head referee position. Scott Green, as we reported last week, is sidelined again. Mike Pereira tweeted that it was a knee injury that in keeping Green out. Tony Corrente is out with an illness. We wish both a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing them on the field again.

Pete Morelli pulls double duty this week, heading his crew on Thursday and filling in for Green on Sunday. Mike Carey’s crew is off this week, however, Carey is in Miami for Corrente.

Thursday, Dec. 1

• Philadelphia at Seattle – Pete Morelli

Sunday, Dec. 4

• Titans at Bills: Alberto Riverón
• Chiefs at Bears: Jerome Boger
• Ravens at Browns: Ed Hochuli
• Raiders at Dolphins: Mike Carey (heading Tony Corrente’s crew)
• Bengals at Steelers: Carl Cheffers
• Panthers at Buccaneers: Gene Steratore
• Jets at Redskins: John Parry
• Falcons at Texans: Bill Leavy
• Broncos at Vikings: Terry McAulay
• Colts at Patriots: Ron Winter
• Rams at 49ers: Pete Morelli (heading Scott Green’s crew)
• Packers at Giants: Jeff Triplette
• Cowboys at Cardinals: Walt Coleman
• Lions at Saints: Clete Blakeman

Monday, Dec. 5

• Chargers at Jaguars: Walt Anderson

Jeff Triplette, meet Dante Hicks. Much like the downtrodden cashier from Clerks, Triplette was not even supposed to be here this Sunday. Triplette was heading Scott Green’s crew while the rest of Triplette’s crew had the holiday weekend off.

So when overtime began in San Diego between the Broncos and Chargers, Triplette had a slight sleight of mind. During the coin toss, he announced to both teams:

Each team must have an opportunity to possess the football and score.

Except, that’s not the rule. At least not in the regular season. He was citing the newly enacted, never used rule that overtime goes into “modified sudden death” in the playoffs. But first score always wins during the regular season.

[Video link at NFL.com changed on us. We are looking for a new link to the announcement.]

Of course, there is much ado over nothing, as Triplette corrected his announcement. He is not the first referee to recant a misstated rule. With a 123-page rule book and 113-page case book that must be recalled on a moment’s notice, it’s actually a surprise that the officials are right more than 98% of the time.

But, it would be nice to not have an overtime coin-toss controversy on Thanksgiving weekend (see: 1998).

Week 12: Bears at Raiders

4th Quarter | :04 remaining | Raiders 25-20 | Bears ball | 1st & 10 @ CHI 46 | video

After completing a pass to receiver Matt Forte, Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie called for a spike to stop the clock. Hanie delayed, as if he intended to fake the spike, then committed to spiking the ball. Because a clock-stopping spike (ruled an incomplete pass) must occur immediately, the fact that Hanie delayed caused the play to be ruled intentional grounding, as if it was any other pass play. Also, the penalty carries a 10-second runoff, so the remaining four seconds were docked from the clock, and the game ended right there.

Refreree Ron Winter briefly conferenced on the penalty before the announcement, but it is absolutely the correct call.

From Rule 8, Section 2, Article 1:

Item 3: Stopping Clock. A player under center is permitted to stop the game clock legally to save time if, immediately upon receiving the snap, he begins a continuous throwing motion and throws the ball directly into the ground.
Item 4: Delayed Spike. A passer, after delaying his passing action for strategic purposes, is prohibited from throwing the ball to the ground in front of him, even though he is under no pressure from defensive rusher(s).

Week 12: Buccaneers at Titans

4th Quarter | 1:08 remaining | Titans 23-17 | Buccaneers ball | 3rd & 10 @ TEN 34
In a downpour with the clock running, Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman completed a pass to running back Kregg Lumpkin for 9½ yards. Although short, it was close, but the officials did not call for a measurement, nor did the replay official stop the play for a review.

Rather than clock the ball on fourth down (which would end the game on downs), Freeman hastily carried the ball, fumbling the wet ball in the process. With the clock under two minutes, the only Buccaneers player eligible to recover the fumble and advance it would be Freeman, since he was the fumbler.

Of course, the Bucs fans were looking for confirmation of the first down in the process. NFL.com posted video of the fourth-down play, but not the spot of the ball following the third-down play.

EXCLUSIVE

Zebra Blog has learned that referee Scott Green has been on leave the past two weeks with an injury. Gene Steratore substituted for Green in Week 11 and Jeff Triplette will head Green’s crew today. A league source has indicated that Green has an unspecified injury, with no word on when he will return.

Photo credit: Life magazine from Week 8 game between Jaguars and Texans.

By now, you have heard that Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was ejected Thursday for stepping on Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith (video). Of course, Suh says he shouldn’t have been tossed, because his foot was tangled with Dietrich-Smith (although the video shows otherwise). As Fox Sports analyst Troy Aikman aptly put it, “That’s an excellent block on [Dietrich-Smith's] part, and Ndamukong Suh doesn’t like it.” It was referee Terry McAuley’s second ejection in the game, with Packers cornerback Pat Lee being tossed before halftime for landing a punch (video).

The Suh ejection was for the kicking Dietrich-Smith. The league will review the entire video which shows Suh slamming Dietrich-Smith’s head to the turf a few times.

The NFL is mulling over a 1- or 2-game suspension for Suh, according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. However, it would be an odd statement of priority if Suh is suspended for two games.

There were two multiple-game suspensions for an on-field incident in NFL history. Both incidents were far more serious than Suh’s conduct, so the precedent would be Suh has a one-game suspension on the way:

• 1986. Packers defensive lineman Charles Martin hit Bears quarterback Jim McMahon well after a pass, separating McMahon’s shoulder. Referee Jerry Markbreit ejected Martin, which was rare at the time for a non-fighting incident. Martin was suspended two games by commissioner Pete Rozelle.
• 2006. Titans defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth stomped on Cowboys offensive lineman Andre Gurode’s face. Referee Jerome Boger assessed a rare double personal foul and ejected Haynesworth. Gurode needed 30 stitches to close the wound caused by Haynesworth’s cleats.

The last suspension for an on-field incident was Dante Wesley’s flagrant hit in 2009 which resulted in a one-game suspension (Zebra Blog coverage).

We are looking for official word as to why Scott Green has been sidelined the past two weeks. While Jeff Triplette’s crew has the week off, Triplette will head Green’s crew, just as Gene Steratore did last week.

Thursday, Nov. 24

• Packers at Lions: Terry McAulay
• Dolphins at Cowboys: Pete Morelli
• 49ers at Ravens: John Parry

Sunday, Nov. 27

• Vikings at Falcons:
• Browns at Bengals: Walt Anderson
• Buccaneers at Titans: Bill Leavy
• Panthers at Colts:
• Texans at Jaguars: Walt Coleman
• Cardinals at Rams: Mike Carey
• Bills at Jets: Carl Cheffers
• Bears at Raiders: Ron Winter
• Redskins at Seahawks: Clete Blakeman
• Patriots at Eagles: Jerome Boger
• Broncos at Chargers: Jeff Triplette (heading Scott Green’s crew)
• Steelers at Chiefs: Ed Hochuli

Monday, Nov. 28

• Giants at Saints: Gene Steratore

Off this week: Jeff Triplette’s crew

Thursday, Nov. 17

Jets at Broncos: Bill Leavy

Sunday, Nov. 20

Titans at Falcons: John Parry
Jaguars at Browns: Terry McAuley
Panthers at Lions: Gene Steratore (heading Scott Green’s crew)
Buccaneers at Packers: Alberto Riverón
Cowboys at Redskins: Ed Hochuli
Bengals at Ravens: Ron Winter
Bills at Dolphins: Walt Coleman
Raiders at Vikings: Jerome Boger
Cardinals at 49ers: Pete Morelli
Seahawks at St. Louis: Carl Cheffers
Chargers at Bears:  Jeff Triplette
Eagles at Giants: Mike Carey

Monday, Nov. 21
Chiefs at Patriots: Clete Blakeman

Off this week: Gene Steratore’s crew, Walt Anderson

Credit: Football-refs.com

Back on track here, as we had a very difficult interruption at our site. Let’s pick up with the Week 10 officiating assignments:

Thursday, Nov. 10
Raiders at Chargers: Ed Hochuli

Sunday, Nov. 13
Saints at Falcons: Terry McAulay
Lions at Bears: Pete Morelli
Steelers at Bengals: Bill Leavy
Rams at Browns: Clete Blakeman
Bills at Cowboys: Jerome Boger
Jaguars at Colts: Jeff Triplette
Broncos at Chiefs: Ron Winter
Redskins at Dolphins: Carl Cheffers
Cardinals at Eagles: Walt Anderson
Texans at Buccaneers: John Parry
Titans at Panthers: Walt Coleman
Ravens at Seahawks: Scott Green
Giants at 49ers: Tony Corrente
Patriots at Jets: Gene Steratore

Monday, Nov. 14
Vikings at Packers: Mike Carey

Credit: Football-refs.com

Oct. 5, 1986: Bills at Jets

Rarely does the referee make the highlight reel for anything positive. But, 25 years ago Ben Dreith made the call that turned quite a few heads. While calling Jets defensive lineman Marty Lyons for unnecessary roughness on Bills quarterback Jim Kelly — well, I will let Dreith explain:

View at Dailymotion

Dreith had other calls through his career that made him one of the first household names in the officiating circuits. In 1990, he was asked to work as a replay official. He declined, and the league reassigned him as a line judge. After being fired in the ensuing offseason, Dreith sued the NFL for age discrimination and won a settlement from the league in 1993.