During today’s Ravens-Bengals game on CBS Sports, announcer Jim Nantz reported that referee Scott Green and side judge Larry Rose will both retire at the end of this season. Both are still eligible for postseason assignments.
Green entered the NFL as a back judge in 1991. He worked Super Bowl XXXVI and XXXVIII as a back judge and Super Bowl XLIV as a referee.
Rose has been a side judge for his entire NFL career and he officiated Super Bowl XLII.
This opens up a coveted white hat for the 2014 season. This preseason, the NFL auditioned Wayne Mackie, Adrian Hill, Ronald Torbert, and Craig Wrolstad at the referee position. Green’s replacement will most likely come from those four candidates.
I have the pleasure of having Larry on my supervisory staff with the Northwoods League umpire staff. He’s a fine official who had the chance to watch the famous catch the ended the Patriots potential undefeated season in the Super Bowl to the Giants.
He’s a fantastic guy, and the NFL will miss him…