3 officials to audition for referee

Three NFL officials will audition this preseason for future referee openings. Deep judges Jonah Monroe, Land Clark, and Don Willard will work all or part of a game at the referee position with a regular referee and other NFL observers watching their performance.  The NFL used to send potential referees to

50 Super Bowl calls, Part 4: XX to XI

The Football Zebras staff -- with the assistance of our affiliated forum, Behind the Football Stripes -- has examined the Super Bowls of years past for the work of the officials who, in a given year, achieve the honor of the best of the best. While every team competes for

R Bill Leavy retires after 20 seasons

Football Zebras exclusive View image | gettyimages.com Football Zebras has learned from two sources that Bill Leavy, an official in the NFL since 1995, wearing number 127, is stepping aside after 20 years to take the northeastern regional supervisor position for the officiating department, where he will observe other officials and grade

HL Ed Camp sidelined indefinitely

#77448615 / gettyimages.com Head linesman Ed Camp has been off the field this season, apparently sidelined by a grave illness earlier this year. Sources familiar with the situation say that Camp was in intensive care for an undisclosed illness. While we have heard he was in serious condition during the preseason, we

3 officials audition for referee position

Football Zebras exclusive Updated Aug. 13, 2014 The NFL will audition three officials at the referee position this week in the second preseason week.  Three current NFL officials will don the white hat for at least one preseason game where the NFL will scout them as potential future referees.  Last year, the

Boger, Carey, Parry out of playoffs

In an attempt to narrow down potential assignments, Football Zebras has learned from multiple sources that last year's Super Bowl referee, Jerome Boger, did not receive a playoff assignment this season. Also not receiving an assignment are Mike Carey and John Parry. Missing the playoffs the year following a Super Bowl

Pereira: Officials botch two penalty enforcements in Week 3

Last year it was a rash of inadvertent whistles.  This year the officials are having trouble enforcing penalties.  Former NFL vice president for officiating and current Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira says the officials missed two penalty enforcements in two different games on Sunday. Pereira broke down the play in Minneapolis

Rule rewrite on coach’s challenge misapplied

Week 3: Browns at Vikings (video) Update: Bill Leavy interview with pool reporter is below, video link from Deadspin is above. Bill Leavy's crew is now two down on very costly, very visible downgrades. In both cases, it wasn't judgment calls that proved to be wrong, but it was a misapplication of