Football Zebras

Referee assignments, preseason week 3

by Cameron Filipe - August 24, 2021August 23, 2021 06248

Embed from Getty Images Jerome Boger will close out the 2021 NFL preseason with the final game of the week -- Sunday night's game between the Browns and Falcons in Atlanta. All times Eastern. Live games on NFL Network will be blacked out and telecast on local stations in both teamsâ€™

Faked extra point is good, but it’s worth 0 points

by Ben Austro - August 16, 2021August 17, 2021 06571

In the first quarter of their preseason opener, the Buccaneers threw open their playbooks to back section with all of the razzle-dazzle plays. However, they found one play that they can tear out of the book. On an extra-point attempt the Buccaneers opened up with a spread formation and punter

Referee assignments, preseason week 2

by Cameron Filipe - August 16, 2021August 15, 2021 06369

Embed from Getty Images Shawn Hochuli will lead off the NFL's second preseason week with Thursday's exhibition game in Philadelphia between the Patriots and Eagles. All times Eastern. Live games on NFL Network will be blacked out and telecast on local stations in both teamsâ€™ markets. Alex Kempâ€™s crew is off this

Low-key low-block foul debuts in preseason

by Ben Austro - August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 03367

Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Will Parks unwittingly provided the first case study of a pervasive new rule governing low blocks. It was an understated rules change, although teams were made aware of the intent of the new rule in March. A video was distributed to all the teams to get

What is the officiating like at a training camp scrimmage?

by Mark Schultz - August 12, 2021August 12, 2021 03432

This past week and in the coming few weeks, NFL teams will hold inter-squad scrimmages or scrimmage with another NFL team. It is not a formal game. It's a chance for players to get a semi-real feel of a game. The NFL assigns officials to these scrimmages to work the

Referee assignments, preseason week 1

by Cameron Filipe - August 9, 2021August 9, 2021 06917

A full slate of football has finally returned. Fortunately, it appears that the 2021 NFL season will be played under some normalcy following the ups and downs of last year. John Hussey, pictured above, will be working the final game of the first preseason week as the Colts take on

Preseason officiating: no referee tryouts, no development officials, no 8th official experiments planned

2021 Preseason

by Cameron Filipe and Ben Austro - August 9, 2021August 9, 2021 02677

The NFL preseason is the time for the NFL officials to get back in the swing of things to prepare for the upcoming season. Officiating leadership at Art McNally Gameday Central also uses this time to experiment with new protocols and to allow for certain college officials to test their

Shawn Smith to officiate 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game

by Cameron Filipe - August 1, 2021August 4, 2021 13069

Embed from Getty Images The NFL's 102nd season begins Thursday night at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Football Zebras has confirmed that Shawn Smith, who is beginning his 7th season and 4th as referee, will lead the crew in the