Football Zebras

New officiating leadership team strong and prepared

Follow-up

by Mark Schultz - May 15, 2017July 14, 2017 36290

Embed from Getty Images Â The new officiating year starts todayÂ and the NFL leadership team is in placeÂ -- Al Riveron as senior vice president of officiating, Wayne Mackie as vice president of officiating evaluation and development and Russell Yurk as vice president of replay and administration. Due to the relatively short notice

Penalty enforcement is an entire-crew effort

Mechanics

by Mark Schultz - August 1, 2014August 1, 2014 16266

NFL looks for 'efficient, accurate penalty enforcement' I've joked about it before: when Terry McAulay is the referee of a game, when there is a penalty flag the cameras had better find him quickly, because chances are he could be finished with his penalty announcement before the camera gets him in

Despite calls for major change, NFL makes simple tweaks to replay

News

by Ben Austro - March 28, 2014March 23, 2017 74737

2014 rule changes The 2014 replay process is going to be much the same as the process from 2013; the changes being made to the system probably will barely register with most fans. There were too many hurdles to implementing a true centralized replay system, so a simple change will allow the

Ball carriers subject to a foul if they use helmet as a battering ram

by Mark Schultz - September 5, 2013September 5, 2013 14407

2013 rule changes In what will be the most scrutinized rule change this season, the NFL has modified the rules that will restrict ball carriers from using their helmets to inflict punishment on would-be tacklers. Â Starting this year, ball carriers are not allowed to lower their heads and initiate contact with

Riveron promoted to senior director of officiating

News

by Ben Austro - February 19, 2013February 19, 2013 14437

The first hire under the leadership of the new vice president of officiating, Dean Blandino, has brought Alberto Riveron into the league office as senior director of officiating. Adam Schefter reported the hire Tuesday morning. Riveron was in New York City in January to, presumably, interview for the vice-president position, when

Our playoff predicitions: Steratore ranks high, Wild Cards include Hochuli, Corrente

by Football Zebras staff - January 2, 2013January 6, 2022 45894

For a moment here, we will disregard our previous reporting on the playoff assignments (as the league thinks you should) and present our predictions for playoff assignments. We have chosen our assignments for the referee position only, not the entire crew. This year, all officials are assigned on individual merit, and

Inadvertent whistle play should have been blown dead before it was blown dead

by Ben Austro - November 25, 2012November 29, 2012 164946

Week 12: Raiders at Bengals (video at 2:50) On a 3rd-and-6, the Bengals completed a five-yard pass which was immediately fumbled near the sideline. The Raiders managed to keep the ball from going out of bounds by batting the ball in bounds. The Raiders then recovered the loose ball to return

NFL: Broncos TD should have been reversed on premature celebration

by Ben Austro - November 12, 2012November 13, 2012 13732

Week 10: Panthers at Broncos One week ago, it was the Panthers who scored a touchdown that, according to the rules, should not have been granted due to an inadvertent whistle. This time, it was the Panthers who gave up a touchdown when it should not have counted. On a punt return

Officially, close calls not subject to review

by Ben Austro - January 23, 2012January 23, 2012 94584

AFC Championship 4th Quarter | :27 remaining | Patriots 23-20 | Ravens ball | 2nd & 1 @ NE 14 | video The Ravens, driving for a potential conference-winning touchdown against the Patriots, found themselves a dropped pass short in their effort. They had to settle for a field goal attempt to

Hochuli, Triplette, Corrente flag most; Green, Morelli, RiverÃ³n under 11 per game

Profiles

by Ben Austro - December 12, 2010December 29, 2010 03959

A post over at NBC Philadelphia's Birds Nest blog adds up the statistics of penalty flags per game through the first 13 weeks. The most over-officious (thanks for the term, Marv Levy) of the crews are: Ed Hochuli Jeff Triplette Tony Corrente Least likely to penalize are, starting at the least are: Scott Green Pete Morelli Alberto