2021 conference championship odds and ends

Here are some interesting officiating factoids to consider as we watch the NFC and AFC Championship games, lead by Bill Vinovich and Carl Cheffers (pictured above). For all statistics, we include on-field assignments, not alternate assignments. Pro Bowl assignments are also excluded. Congratulations to the first-timers! Congratulation to field judge Mearl Robinson

Instant replay mistake in AFC Championship Game confirmed

Sources tell Football Zebras that the NFL has internally acknowledged that replay incorrectly reviewed whether or not Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen stepped out of bounds before he threw a pass in Sunday's AFC Championship Game. https://streamable.com/c7ex0s Referee Bill Vinovich ruled that Allen had stepped out of bounds before he threw the

5 observations from championship weekend, 2020

We've made it all the way through the conference championships, and here are my officiating impressions from the weekend. 1. Umpire hustle https://streamable.com/38ntps Both Barry Anderson and Ramon George showed lots of hustle this weekend. It is hard to see in snippets of them running through the frame, but experienced zebra-watchers could tell

NFL takes a hit after four referee retirements

Embed from Getty Images Every generation of NFL officiating gives way to the next. This past offseason, we saw, very quickly and dramatically, one generation give way to the next. Referees Ed Hochuli, Gene Steratore, Terry McAulay and Jeff Triplette represent 88-years of experience at the referee position. That is 88-years

Officials not afraid to use ejection in Week 9

Umpire Fred Bryan informs the Bengals' A.J. Green he is ejected after a Week 9 altercation.

NFL officials ejected five players in Week 9 for fighting. It should have been six. And the one who avoided the ejection ended up suspended. Ejection after several warnings It all started in the Bengals-Jaguars game. A.J. Green (pictured with umpire Fred Bryan above) and Jalen Ramsey had been going at it all