Football Zebras

Mike Evans suspended 1 game for hit that incited fight

by Ben Austro - September 19, 2022September 19, 2022 0285

http://gty.im/1424995659 The NFL has suspended Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans for one game for steamrolling Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore during a post-play skirmish that escalated quickly. Evans and Lattimore were both ejected. Evans was singled out because he forcibly inserted himself into the dead-ball activity. He was almost off the field after the

NFL kicks off its first regular season without a rule change* since 1968. *There are changes you should know about.

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by Ben Austro - September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 0365

Could it be that the game of football could not be improved and the rulebook has reached a state of perfection? While you try to continue to read through the tears of laughter, it is what the NFL's Competition Committee has decided at least for this year by deferring any corrections

5 officiating things I’m looking at in 2022

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by Mark Schultz - September 8, 2022September 9, 2022 1487

It is here. The NFL is ready to start its 103rd season and there are several things I'm looking for as I zebra-watch this fall. 1. New referee Tra Blake is the new referee, replacing the retired Tony Corrente. Blake is a referee in his third NFL season after spending his rookie

Big Ten referee John O’Neill retires, joins NFL as position coach

by Mark Schultz - August 31, 2022August 31, 2022 01104

Football Zebras as learned through multiple secondary sources, that long-time Big Ten college football referee, John O'Neill, has retired from on-field officiating, and has joined the NFL as a referee position coach. Despite multiple requests, the NFL declined to confirm O'Neill's new position with the league or confirm the

Jeff Bergman becomes the 8th official in the ’30 Club’ as he enters his final season

by Cameron Filipe - August 30, 2022August 30, 2022 0428

Line judge Jeff Bergman officiated the 2022 edition of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, as a crew consisting of the longest tenured official at each position suited up for what is likely the first time in league history. By doing so, Bergman began his 30th NFL season, an

8th on-field official is not likely to be implemented soon in the NFL, if ever

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by Mark Schultz - August 17, 2022August 17, 2022 0701

Football Zebras has confirmed that for the fourth time in five years, the NFL will not experiment with an eighth on-field official position in the preseason. The NFL hasn't experimented with an eight-person crew since 2019. The NFL currently has seven on-field officials -- referee, umpire, down judge, line judge, field

A numbers game: 2 officials change uniform numbers

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by Mark Schultz - August 13, 2022August 13, 2022 11000

When players join new teams, there are often jersey numbering issues that need to be worked out. But it is not something we typically see in officiating. For 2022, field judge Nate Jones (pictured above at the Browns-Jaguars preseason game) will wear the number he wore as a NFL player: 33.

NFL officials honor late colleague with patch on hats

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by Mark Schultz - August 12, 2022August 13, 2022 0843

NFL officials are honoring former colleague and officiating vice president Wayne Mackie with a commemorative "WM" patch, shown here at the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony on the hat of Carl Cheffers. Mackie passed away suddenly in March at the age of 62. Al Riveron, former senior vice president of officiating,

5 officiating observations from the 2022 Hall of Fame Game

by Mark Schultz - August 5, 2022August 11, 2022 0781

Reporting from Canton, Ohio I haven't watched a NFL game in person for a long time. Last night I was able to watch the 2022 Hall of Fame Game live while sitting in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. While you may not have been riveted to your seat, Cam and I

NFL renames officiating development program to honor Wayne Mackie

by Ben Austro and Cameron Filipe - July 31, 2022July 31, 2022 0702

The development roster for the 2022 season has been released by the National Football League. Part of the news included the second name change in the program's history -- becoming the Mackie Development Program (MDP) to honor the late Wayne Mackie. Mackie, a former head linesman, served as the vice president