Football Zebras

Throwback to 1989: Referee Bob McElwee allows Bengals coach to give geography lesson

History

by Mark Schultz - May 20, 2021May 20, 2021 04720

The Cincinnatti Bengals were hosting the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14 of the 1989 season. The Bengals needed a win to stay alive in the AFC playoff hunt. The Seahawks were hoping a win and a little help would keep their slim-to-none playoff hopes alive. It was a snowy, cold day

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

by Mark Schultz - November 21, 2019 24712

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

Too many ejections in Week 1

by Mark Schultz - September 9, 2019September 9, 2019 03844

The NFL officials had to issue too many ejections in Week 1. Of the three, two were for unsportsmanlike conduct and one was due to a flagrant helmet foul. One of the first games of the day features a disqualification The yellow laundry starting flying early in Jacksonville. Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack

Riveron: 12 of 14 roughing-the-passer calls correct through Sunday

News
Week 1

by Mark Schultz - September 11, 2018September 11, 2018 57259

Senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron says that 12 of the 14 roughing the passer fouls on Sunday were correct. The 14 roughing the passer calls are double compared to Week 1 last season. Riveron's remarks were in an interview with NFL Media reporter Tom Pelissero. Riveron says referee Shawn

Football officials in danger every time debris flies

by Mark Schultz - December 13, 2015December 12, 2015 25014

A photo this past week from the Dallas Morning News (cover photo) illustrates the dangers of being an official. In Washington, a fan threw a full drink can on the field and it barely missed field judge Eugene Hall.There have been many stories and accounts of fans throwing debris on

R Bill Leavy retires after 20 seasons

News

by Josh Lewis - May 13, 2015May 13, 2015 1015108

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

Happy belated birthday to Ben Dreith

by Mark Schultz - February 15, 2015June 26, 2015 410397

View image | gettyimages.com Former NFL referee still giving them the business at age 90 February 1, 2015 was a big day for former AFL and NFL referee Ben Dreith.Â He celebrated nine decades on earth by watching Super Bowl XLIX.Â Dreith, who lives in Denver, was profiled by a local television

Week 3 Officiating Video: pass interference, sideline plays, and the momentum rule

Calls

by Josh Lewis - September 27, 2014September 26, 2014 23357

NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino released his weekly video highlighting some calls from Week 3. Items discussed included pass interference, illegal touching and where receivers can line up if and if not on the line of scrimmage. During the Browns-Ravens game on Sunday, a missed unsportsmanlike conduct foul

After Further Review: Reunions, points of emphasis, and roughness fouls

by Josh Lewis - September 8, 2014September 8, 2014 24691

Quick calls for Week 1 [Football Zebras] You make the call on the punt coverage for the Browns [Ben Austro/Football Zebras] The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks realize they may be the motivation behind the highly enforced illegal contact penalty [Sam Farmer/LA Times] Calls for illegal contact and defensive holding, points of emphasis

Do Browns shoulder burden of avoiding touchback?

Calls
Week 1

by Ben Austro - September 7, 2014September 8, 2014 04155

Week 1: Browns at Steelers The Browns nearly pinned the Steelers down on the goal line with a fourth-quarter punt. It looks like the Browns were successful, but a touchback was ruled. Let's review the call. Once the ball is possessed by the kicking team, the ball is dead (unless the receiving