View image | gettyimages.com Referee overcomes life threatening illness and long layoff You might excuse Bill Vinovich if he feels a little extra emotional on Sunday. Eight years ago, the thought of working a Super Bowl was the last thing on the referee’s mind. In April 2007, Vinovich’s goal was to survive for 48 hours.…
If you are a fan of basketball, you are well aware of flopping — the art of exaggerating contact to try to draw a foul on your opponent. Well, the art of flopping is also alive and well in the NFL, fans just haven’t been heard a referee call it such. That is, until referee…
Veteran’s move leaves 11 vacancies for 2014 Football Zebras exclusive Football Zebras can report that umpire Garth DeFelice will leave the field and become one of the regional supervisors for the officiating office. The supervisors have traditionally been the graders that evaluate the game tapes for accuracy in the officials’ calls. This position used to…
At least three have worked the Final Four Several officials work multiple sports from Pop Warner to the pros. There is quite a history of NFL officials working major college basketball. Currently, Gene Steratore (pictured) and Bill Vinovich work major college basketball. But they are just the current in a long line of pro football officials…
After wild card weekend, it always strikes me — only seven more meaningful football games this year. In an attempt not to get too maudlin, here are five things that stuck out to me in regard to the officiating this past Wild Card weekend. Jeff Triplette’s crew called an awesome game Triplette, rightly or wrongly,…
NFC Wild Card Playoff Follow us here for rolling coverage of the calls and rules interpretations of the Saints-Eagles Wild Card Playoff game from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (If you see continue reading below, click it to see the entire feed.) If you have any questions or comments, use the comments section of this…
Football Zebras has confirmed the officiating crews for the Wild Card weekend. Officials are listed with their uniform number, years experience (including this season), the crew each official worked with in the regular season (by the referee’s name), college, and outside occupation. All times are Eastern. Three alternates are assigned to each game: one is…
Ultimately would be 4th down again, not automatic 1st down Week 9: Colts at Texans (video at :53) “The Texans looked to have got away with one,” said NBC announcer Al Michaels, as the Texans snap the ball to eliminate the possibility of the previous play being challenged. On a 4th-and-9 punt, Colts punter Pat…
Some of the officiating news items from Sunday: A couple of puzzling replay reviews: Mike Carey allowed a catch to stand, despite clear evidence the pass was incomplete, according to our Roundtable experts [Ben Austro, Football Zebras]. Bill Vinovich ruled a player touched a loose ball with his foot while out of bounds to reverse…
The latest media tape by Dean Blandino has been posted by the NFL, which we will use as the weekly training tape on unusual calls. The vice president of officiating discussed these calls: The clock remains stopped on penalties inside 2:00 of the first half and 5:00 of the second half. This was key in…