Football Zebras

For NFL officials, thankfully it is not 2020 anymore

by Mark Schultz - September 11, 2021September 11, 2021 02073

When I wrote a recap of the 2020 season, I closed my column by saying "may we never again have another like it." This season, covid-19 is still with us, but for the officials, it will not be a repeat of 2020. Vaccines The NFL reported that 99% of its employees have been

3 NFL officials have retired so far

by Mark Schultz - March 5, 2021March 5, 2021 28759

Retiring officials sometimes leave their shoes on the field after their last game. Football Zebras has learned that officials Ruben Fowler, Tom Symonette and Bart Longson will not return to the National Football League in the 2021 season. Typically, the NFL does not announce why an official leaves the league, although

With a thin bench, the NFL hopes to have full crews for the final weeks of the season

by Mark Schultz - December 14, 2020December 14, 2020 03702

NFL teams have no more bye weeks for the rest of the 2020 season. That means only one crew will be on a bye week in Week 17 (16 games, 17 crews). With covid-19 a constant threat, the NFL has to be crossing its fingers that full crews of seven will be

NBC garbles Carl Cheffers penalty announcements to prevent profanity from airing

by Mark Schultz - November 24, 2020November 25, 2020 24257

The NFL is doing its best to play a full season during the covid-19 pandemic. One of the ways the league can get games in is to play in near-empty stadiums. While it is a surreal sight, it also presents challenges for TV sound technicians. In 2020, when referees open their mics

Officials can now flag coaches for not wearing a mask

by Mark Schultz - October 10, 2020October 10, 2020 03398

The NFL has given officials the authority to penalize coaches who "approach them in an innappropriate way" without a face covering, 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. This follows a Week 3 complaint by the NFL Referees Association that Baltimore Ravens coach, John Harbaugh, pulled his mask down and got in line

Electronic whistles too quiet for stand-alone option

by Mark Schultz - October 1, 2020October 1, 2020 05975

In order to prevent the spread of covid-19 through the air, the NFL and the NCAA wants its officials to wear a mask as much as possible. This means the officials have to modify their whistle technique. So, this year many officials are using electronic whistles (you can see the whistle

Al Riveron back at work after recovering from covid-19

by Mark Schultz - September 20, 2020September 20, 2020 03403

Al Riveron, senior vice president, in charge of centralized replay on game day, missed Week 1 due to covid-19. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Riveron is back in the Art McNally Game Day Center for today's games. Russell Yurk, vice president of replay, and three assistants were handling replay challenges in Week 1. We

6 officiating things I’m watching in the 2020 NFL season

2020

by Mark Schultz - September 9, 2020September 13, 2020 23534

It's here. I never thought it would get here. Despite the 2020 covid-19 pandemic, we will start the 2020 NFL season Thursday.Â Here is what I'm looking for as I zebra-watch this season. 1. What will the officials do to protect themselves? I have already stated my concerns about how officials can properly

NFL officials have until August 13 to opt out of season

by Mark Schultz - August 9, 2020August 9, 2020 23153

The NFL and the NFL Referees Association, the officials' union, have negotiated the working conditions for the 2020 season. The NFLRA leadership will meet with rank-and-file members on Monday to discuss the details of the agreement. According to a news release, the officials have until August 13 to decide if they will