Football Zebras

NFL100: When John McDonough called The Longest Game on Christmas Day

by Mark Schultz - December 29, 2019January 3, 2020 17758

It's always hard for officials to be away from home on a special holiday. So it was for referee John McDonough and his officiating crew, scheduled to work the Christmas Day divisional playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the visiting Miami Dolphins. McDonough, who officiated Super Bowl IV, and

Bills DE Jerry Hughes accosts officials in tunnel after game

by Mark Schultz - December 2, 2018December 3, 2018 37884

At the conclusion of the Dolphins-Bills Week 13 game, Jerry Hughes of the Bills ran off the field and up the tunnel to confront Shawn Hochuli's crew. Video was captured by Spectrum News reporter Jon Scott. It appears that Hughes is in a verbal altercation with one official, but with the

Former NFL supervisor: ‘I didn’t think it was an illegal hit’ on Flacco

Calls
Week 8

by Mark Schultz - October 31, 2017October 31, 2017 36976

Former NFL official and officiating supervisor Jim Daopoulos weighed in with his first impression of Kiko Alonso's hit on the Ravens' Joe Flacco, and it could be viewed as a surprise to many fans.Â https://youtu.be/Nj4vetp61e8 Speaking on WCSR-AM, The Score, on the Bernstein and Goff show, Daopoulos said, "I didn't think it

Former NFL official Jerry Bergman passes away

by Mark Schultz - July 3, 2017July 4, 2017 011764

Embed from Getty Images Â Gerard Bergman 1929-2017 Gerard R. "Jerry" Bergman, officiating patriarch who had two sons follow his footsteps to the NFL, passed away in May. He was 87, and had suffered from dementia for the last few years. Bergman wore number 17 on his jersey his entire career. The elder Bergman had

50 Super Bowl calls, Part 3: XXX to XXI

50 Super Bowl calls

by Football Zebras staff - February 3, 2016March 15, 2019 010122

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

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FJ Edwards owns, nails difficult call on Steelers lateral play

by Ben Austro - December 8, 2013 84630

Week 14: Dolphins at Steelers (video) An incredible ending to the game, as a multiple-lateral play could have given the Steelers a game-winning touchdown. Field judge Scott Edwards called the play dead, with Steelers receiver Antonio Brown stepping out of bounds. Edwards could have let the play run out, and let replay

Tomlin fined $100K for ‘interfering with play in progress’

News

by Ben Austro - December 4, 2013 04263

The NFL announced Wednesday that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will be fined $100,000 for stepping on the field during the Thanksgiving night game against the Ravens.Vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said on Tuesday that the Steelers should have been assessed a 15-yard penalty as well, which would have been

Roundtable Week 8: illegal bats in football, Brees’s consecutive false starts

by Ben Austro - November 3, 2013November 3, 2013 04226

Football Zebras Roundtable Because of a couple of scheduling conflicts, our Roundtable was delayed. So before we dive into Week 9 action, we are going to take a look at a couple of calls from Week 8 with former NFL officiating supervisors Larry Upson and Jim Daopoulos. We have also quoted their

Dolphins illegal bat puts Patriots on-deck

Calls
Week 8

by Ben Austro - October 28, 2013 135040

Week 8: Dolphins at Patriots (video) The Dolphins notified the league that a yet-uncalled new rule probably should have been called in Week 6. In Week 7, the Patriots were penalized by that rule, which the league office made a point of emphasis to the officials. In Week 8, the Patriots

Media tape: 10-sec runoffs, holding by hair, no touchback on ‘force-out’

News

by Ben Austro - October 25, 2013September 12, 2016 03896

Dean Blandino, vice president of officiating at the NFL, has released his weekly tape for the media on rules clarifications (140 MB download). Here are the items under discussion: During the final minute of the second quarter of the Seahawks-Cardinals game, the discussion of a 10-second runoff came up twice. The