2017 NFC Divisional Playoff
Follow us here for rolling coverage of the calls and rules interpretations of the NFC Divisional Playoff game from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
If you have any questions or comments, use the comments section of this post, or tweet us @footballzebras.
Today’s crew is headed by Gene Steratore.
| Yrs | 2017 crew | College | Occupation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 114 | Gene Steratore | 15 | Kent State | co-owner, supply company | |
| U | 81 | Roy Ellison | 15 | Steratore | Savannah State | technical staff member |
| DJ | 100 | Tom Symonette | 14 | Cheffers | Florida | certified public accountant |
| LJ | 84 | Mark Steinkerchner | 24 | Torbert | Akron | vice-president* |
| FJ | 1 | Scott Novak | 4 | Coleman | Phoenix | sales manager |
| SJ | 41 | Boris Cheek | 22 | Morelli | Morgan State | director of operations and management* |
| BJ | 78 | Greg Meyer | 16 | Vinovich | Texas Christian | banker |
*indicates full-time official
- Replay: Paul Weidner
- Alternates:
- Craig Wrolstad (R)
- Jim Mello (DJ)
- Greg Yette (BJ)
Since when have TV commentators been aware of officiating mechanics?
Please explain the rationale for the mandated “extra point” to finalize games where it truly seems meaningless. Why is it preserved as a rule? Almost as if it’s a form of league sanctioned taunting of a team that has already lost and accepted it by walking off the field. I’m failing to see what interests of justice or fairness it might preserve. Allow the defensive team to waive it. Or allow by consent of both offense and defense to waive it esp if it’s truly “meaningless”.
What if the game were not “finalized” and the defense did not come out for the PAT? Are there fines/sanctions?
Anonymous (immediately above me), in the regular season, net points (points a team has scored minus points a team has given up) is one of the things that can be a tiebreaker between two teams with identical won-lost records (see http://www.nfl.com/standings/tiebreakingprocedures). It is very far down the list, and pretty unlikely to ever actually be used (strength of victory is about as far down the list as the tiebreakers typically get). But the PAT does make a difference in those tiebreaker categories.
In the postseason, the same net points categories could affect draft picks.
Shouldn’t the players should have been penalized for taking their helmets off on the field before the game was over? (Before the final extra point attempt). If we’re going to mandate a PAT, shouldn’t we continue to force teams to follow the rules regardless of whether they affect the outcome or not? That’s always been how they’ve done it.
I have a question about flag Stefon Diggs got after the last touchdown- I’m guessing for removing/throwing his helmet. How do penalties apply here? Do they just let it go since the clock was over? Or should they apply it to th try?
The penalty would be enforced on the ensuing kickoff. However, since clock hit zero there is no ensuing kickoff.
So theoretically a player could commit any sort of unsportsmanlike act if they are in the same situation that Diggs found himself in?? If it is true that there is no way to actually enforce the penalty.
In theory yes, but the NFL is likely to be tougher in terms of discipline for someone who knowlingly commits an unsportsmanlike act in that situation
Looking at the video on Scouting the Ref’s twitter feed, Greg Meyer BJ78 can be clearly seen throwing a flag on the Vikings for the helmet removal/celebration
Steratore showed Jim Tunney calmness with a little Ben Dreith grit. Steratore to the Super Bowl. May want to check out his ncaa basketball schedule to confirm it though.
I think the Big 10 or Big East assignor will let him out of any assignments during Super Bowl week. 🙂
If this same crew had worked the Steelers-Jaguars game, the Steelers would be playing New England on Sunday.
This crew actually called fouls in the secondary.