Football Zebras

Crews need to work together, get it right

by Mark Schultz - September 10, 2013November 15, 2018 2

Football is one of the most team-oriented games in the world. It is a joy to watch a team function on the field as a well-oiled machine as they work to win the game. The seven-person third team on the field must also function as a well-oiled machine to give

After Further Review: Teamwork saves crew on 1st play of season

by Football Zebras staff - September 9, 2013September 10, 2013 0

A roundup of the calls from Sunday Bill Leavy's crew has a very visible downgrade coming their way. The attention it received swooned mostly due to the fact that Mike Pereira -- Leavy's former boss and current Fox Sports rules analyst -- pointed it out during the game broadcast and that

Quick calls: Week 1

Calls
Week 1

by Ben Austro - September 8, 2013September 11, 2013 9

Did you see a call in the kickoff weekend that needs our attention? Let us know in the comments or tweet us @footballzebras. We have the week 1 assignments and the crew lists available for your review. 7761

NFL officials have to work harder in blowouts, poorly played games

Calls

by Mark Schultz - December 21, 2012December 21, 2012 2

The Monday Night Football game between the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans was almost universally panned as a boring and poorly played game. Walt Coleman's crew was, by far, the best and most efficient of the teams on the field that night. While the fans could head for

Officiating experts grade Week 14 officials

by Mark Schultz - December 10, 2012December 10, 2012 1

Referee in Colts - Titans game never got replay shot to overturn Luck pick six The NFL's most prominent officiating experts had much to say about the officiating for Week 14. Former NFL vice president for officiating and FOX Sports officiating analyst Mike Pereira and former NFL supervisor and NBC Sports

Bucs get no measurement on final drive

by Ben Austro - November 27, 2011December 6, 2011 0

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

Suh a turkey after stuffing foot at OL; McAulay DQs 2 on Thanksgiving

by Ben Austro - November 27, 2011September 30, 2019 0

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

Quick calls: Week 5

Calls
Week 5

by Ben Austro - October 11, 2011August 2, 2012 0

Saints at Panthers | 1st quarter | 3:05 remaining | video. Panthers receiver Steve Smith scored a touchdown and was immediately plowed over by Saints safety Roman Harper. You don't need to drag out the Pythagorean theorem to see that Harper's angle on the play only has him meeting Smith

Week 3 discipline report

by Ben Austro - September 29, 2011July 28, 2012 0

Each week, we keep track of the fines assessed by the NFL for on-field incidents. Total through Week 2: 11 fines, $170,000. Zebra Blog fine meter $ 2 3 5, 0 0 0 FINES 1 9 SUSP 0 Titans tight end Daniel Graham, $5,000, throwing ball into stands. Titans defensive end Jason Jones, $15,000, facemask-to-helmet hit. Falcons safety William Moore, $7,500, helmet-to-helmet hit. Browns defensive lineman Phil Taylor,

Non-call du jour: Disconcerting signals?

by Ben Austro - September 28, 2011August 2, 2012 2

Apparently there is an epidemic of disconcerting signals that is breaking out. It is illegal for a defensive player to simulate or override the quarterback's snap count. Rarely is the disconcerting signals penalty called (one instance from 2010 against the Colts is all we can recall), but when it is,