The NFL officiating staff usually has a smooth and orderly start to its season. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic will throw monkey wrenches into that smooth and orderly start. No easing into the season The officiating "new year" starts on May 15. That's when the officials meet for a mini-clinic in New
Author: Mark Schultz
Mark Schultz is a high school football official, freelance writer and journalist. He first became interested in officiating when he was six years old, was watching a NFL game with his father and asked the fateful question, "Dad, what are those guys in the striped shirts doing?"
Truncated offseason means less time to consider, vote on rule changes
Embed from Getty Images Updated 4/1/20 to reflect owners approving expanded playoffs As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to run it's dangerous course, it appears that there will be less, if any, traditional offseason time. Already, the in-person league meetings have been canceled. The owners could meet met via teleconference sometime this week, to
NFL Annual Meeting canceled, rules changes vote put off until May
Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today that after "careful consideration and consultation with medical experts," the NFL has canceled the March 29-April 1, Annual Meeting due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Instead, the league will conduct its business at the NFL Spring Meeting, scheduled for May 19-20. This means that the NFL Competition
March is a big month for NFL officiating hopefuls
March is a big month on the NFL calendar as, traditionally, the NFL hires new officials. We already know of four retirements (Byron Boston, Mike Spanier, Jeff Rice and Walt Anderson) and the NFL is incentivizing several veterans to take the gold watch. So the retirement list may grow. Al Riveron, senior
Future clouded for pass interference replay rule
Don't expect the pass interference (PI) replay rule to survive as is for the 2020 season. And, it remains unclear if any sort of PI replay will be on the books this fall. ESPN reports that members of the NFL Competition Committee "remain skeptical" about the one-year experimental rule. Last year, aggrieved
2 XFL rules that could work in the NFL – and 2 the NFL should avoid
John McDaid leaves the field to be SEC officiating boss
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced today that long-time referee John McDaid will leave the field and become the new coordinator of football officials for the SEC and Sun Belt Conference. https://twitter.com/SECOfficiating/status/1224416534363365384 McDaid replaces Steve Shaw, who left the SEC to become college football's national coordinator. In a news release, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey
