The NFL owners have approved expanding the playoffs to include number 7 seeds in each conference and adding 2 wild card playoff games starting in the 2020 postseason. The vote was taken by owners via conference call during what was to be their annual owners meeting in West Palm Beach,
Author: Ben Austro
Ben Austro is the editor and founder of Football Zebras and the author of So You Think You Know Football?: The Armchair Ref's Guide to the Official Rules (on sale now)
On cancelling sports
Odds are that team rules proposals are paper shredder food
The NFL released the first tranche of modified rules proposals with 7 team-submitted recommendations from the Eagles, Dolphins, Ravens, and Chargers. Typically, the team-backed proposals are dead on arrival; only 4 of the 44 team proposals passed in the last 5 years, plus 2 others that were absorbed into a larger
Happy 95th birthday to the great Ben Dreith. Here’s a supercut of some memorable calls
Ben Dreith is one of the first referees to become a household name, known by the spectators as the referee with the colorful announcements and by players and coaches as one of the most-respected and shrewdest game managers. His unbusinessmanlike demeanor on the microphone was his trademark and an endearing
Officiating crews for the 2020 XFL season
Special rules in place for the 2020 Pro Bowl
The NFL has furnished Football Zebras with the rules modifications in place for the Pro Bowl. For player safety and exhibition purposes, there are restrictions on formations, pass coverage, and rushing the quarterback or kicker. In addition, there are some rules and procedures in place to test for a possible
Blue-ribbon panel rejects Art McNally for Hall of Fame, leaving no official enshrined for NFL’s 100th anniversary
Who will be the Super Bowl LIV referee? It looks like there is only one choice
Officiating moments of the 2010s, part 3
Procedures for assigning mixed crews for the NFL playoffs
The process of assigning playoff officials has been largely a secret, with some of the details not even shared with officials. However, there is a general framework that has been established by the league and the officials' union. Senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron determines the assignments by placing officials in