Throwback to the finest officiating sequence I’ve ever seen

I remember several post-season classic games and the officiating that goes with such games. It is hard after a year or two for me to remember a classic regular-season game where the officiating actually enhanced the quality of the contest. But, there is one regular-season game that I remember almost 26-years

Umpire Chad Brown has died at age 69

Embed from Getty Images   Chadwick Brown 1947-2016 Football Zebras has learned that former umpire Chad Brown died Friday morning after battling a long illness. The 23-year veteran wore number 31, and was assigned to Super Bowl XXXV and XLV. Our sources say he died on his 69th birthday. Brown retired in the middle

NFL preparing to hire new officials

View image | gettyimages.com Commentary by Mark Schultz We are coming up on a critical few weeks in the NFL as vice president for officiating, Dean Blandino, will be hiring new officials, assigning positions, and beginning the orientation process for the new pro zebras. While 2014 saw a near-record number of retirements

Float like a butterfly…dodge like a ref

How NFL officials stay out of the way to preserve life and limb We've all seen it.  For the fans it is a funny sight but for anyone who has been knocked down by a football player always cringes when a football official gets knocked down.  The officials do not wear

Indecisiveness erases big Steelers gain

Roethlisberger: umpire 'thought he saw a trip, but wasn't sure' Week 2: Steelers at Bengals While a third quarter gain of 33 yards by the Steelers was being marched back by a tripping penalty, each replay on ESPN displayed the cringe-inducing conclusion: that wasn't a trip. (There is no video available of

Anderson leads Super officiating crew

Super Bowl XLV: Steelers vs. Packers Here are the officiating assignments for Super Bowl XLV in Dallas, listed with the head referee they worked under  in the regular season: R — #66 Walt Anderson (15th year, 8th as referee) U — #31 Chad Brown (19th year, Ed Hochuli) HL — #79 Kent Payne (7th