Follow-up

NBC garbles Carl Cheffers penalty announcements to prevent profanity from airing

by Mark Schultz - 2

The NFL is doing its best to play a full season during the covid-19 pandemic. One of the ways the league can get games in is to play in near-empty stadiums. While it is a surreal sight, it also presents challenges for TV sound technicians. In 2020, when referees open their mics

Truncated offseason means less time to consider, vote on rule changes

by Mark Schultz - 1

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

4 officiating observations from Conference Championship Weekend

by Mark Schultz - 0

The crowds were excited and loud, but it was a pretty quiet weekend on the officiating front for Conference Championship weekend, thankfully.  But there are always things to observe and learn from the officials. Here are a few things I saw. Even though the game is decided, it isn't over John Hussey's crew

5 observations from the divisional playoffs, 2019 post-season

by Mark Schultz - 6

Before we turn our attention to the conference championship games, here are five things I noticed from the officials this past weekend. Once-in-a-career calls in the Ravens-Titans game The divisional playoff game in Baltimore featured some weird plays, hence some weird calls were necessary and Bill Vinovich's crew nailed each one. We

4 Wild Card observations, 2019 post-season

by Mark Schultz - 5

It was another memorable Wild Card weekend with two games going to overtime and several officiating observations. Here are four that stuck out to me. Alternates do more than spectate Give a gold star to Mark Steinkerchner for saving the crew on that crazy kickoff situation in Texas. Tony Corrente needed some

Hit on Kalif Raymond was legal, despite media outrage

by Mark Schultz - 3

The media screamed about a "blatant" (aren't they always?) missed hit on the Titans Kalif Raymond. After Raymond completed his catch, defender C.J. Gardner-Johnson delivered a hard hit on Raymond, forcing a fumble and New Orleans Saints recovery and long return (video). https://twitter.com/FTBeard11/status/1208856020597915649 Yes, it was a hard hit. Yes,, Raymond was

When teams are determined to fight, officials go into survival mode

by Mark Schultz - 2

NFL officials have several tools to try and maintain order and prevent the game from degenerating into a fight. The biggest tool, short of throwing a flag, is preventative officiating. Officials don't want to throw flags and throw people out a ball games, so they use their people skills to