Assignment Controversy

It never was about black or white, but whether stripes were earned fairly

by Ben Austro - February 1, 2013September 20, 2013 5

Controversy not about Jerome Boger, but about broken system Special report: Super Bowl XLVII assignment controversy The NFL is defending its referee assignment system that many of its referees find is broken. "Jerome Boger was the number one rated official in 2012, and is here because he deserves to be here and for

Playoff assignment criteria a moving target

by Ben Austro - January 28, 2013January 29, 2013 1

So what, exactly, is the criteria for an official to qualify for the Super Bowl? The NFL asserts, "that criteria has not changed since at least 2007," but based on our prior reporting and confirmation with two officials, the criteria is now a moving target. We have always known the Super

NFL fixed grades for desired Super Bowl ref

by Ben Austro - January 20, 2013January 20, 2023 24

Boger has clean slate as bad marks were wiped a Football Zebras special report This season began with the NFL using a pool of replacement officials who were retired or came from lower college divisions and junior colleges. It will end with the NFL using a referee who might not be the

Jerome Boger confirmed for Super Bowl

by Ben Austro - January 15, 2013January 27, 2013 15

Jerome Boger will head to New Orleans lead the officiating crew for Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3. We have confirmed the assignment that was first reported by us as rumor on Dec. 30. The entire officiating staff was told of the assignment today. Boger's assignment is not without controversy. He

Super Bowl officials on field for divisionals?

by Ben Austro - January 11, 2013January 26, 2013 3

McAulay, Leavy likely for conference title games Boger, lacking prerequisites, still rumored as top referee This year, the speculation of the postseason assignments seems to be rampant, compared with previous years. For the past decade, regular season officiating crews stayed largely intact, qualifying as a group, with a few substitutions for higher

Officials frozen out of playoffs learn fate

by Ben Austro - January 5, 2013January 26, 2013 1

Although it won't be until the middle of next week (at the earliest) that the Divisional Playoff assignments will be known, some officials have already been informed that their services will not be needed this postseason. While the message may be cold, it spares officials from sitting on pins and

HL McKenzie moved off Redskins game

by Ben Austro - January 3, 2013January 26, 2013 1

Head linesman Dana McKenzie won't have to worry about Redskins safety DeAngelo Hall this weekend. To avoid a potential issue, the league has moved his assignment some 35 miles up the road. CSN Washington reporters Rich Tandler and Tarik El-Bashir are saying that McKenzie is not working the Redskins home playoff

NFL denies playoff assignments set

by Ben Austro - December 31, 2012January 26, 2013 4

The NFL is denying the Football Zebras.com report that the playoff assignments for the officials have already been decided. "Postseason assignments have not yet been determined," said NFL vice president of football communications Michael Signora. "The evaluation and grading process continues for Week 17 games. Once that process has concluded, assignments

Playoff officials won’t be best officials

by Ben Austro - December 30, 2012January 26, 2013 15

Source: Jerome Boger to be Super Bowl referee Hochuli, Steratore apparently shut out of postseason In the first three weeks of the regular season, the NFL put an assorted group of officials on the field with questionable qualifications and tried to pass them off as professional caliber. That was a miserable failure.