Should NFL officials be allowed to make commercials?

Commentary by Mark Schultz This past season, line judge Sarah Thomas, the first permanent female official in the NFL, was a spokesperson for Activia yogurt. The commercials told the inspiring story of her journey to the NFL and how she broke the glass ceiling for women to officiate in the pros. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLcrFzI0vlw Thomas

4-time Super Bowl umpire Art Demmas passes away at 82

Former NFL umpire Art Demmas died August 6 in Nashville at the age of 82, according to Mike Organ of The Tennessean. Demmas was originally hired by the American Football League and continued in the NFL beginning in 1970 after the two leagues merged.Born in St. Louis, Demmas earned fame

Mike Carey exits CBS

Embed from Getty Images  Report: CBS and Carey 'mutually agreed to part ways'Former NFL official Mike Carey will no longer analyze NFL calls and rules for CBS sports. According to reports, Carey and CBS mutually agreed to go their separate ways.Carey surprised the NFL in the summer of 2014 when he announced

Burl Toler blazed a trail 50 years ago

Before Al Jury and Bob Beeks were assigned to five Super Bowls. Before Johnny Grier was promoted to referee. Before Mike Carey headed a Super Bowl crew. Before all of them, one man blazed a trail for them. Burl Toler. In 1965, the NFL hired Burl Toler into the NFL as a

BJ Kirk Dornan’s late retirement leaves vacancy, 14th this year

#158811399 / gettyimages.com Football Zebras has learned from multiple sources that back judge Kurt Dornan has retired. He is now the 14th official to have left the NFL since last February's Super Bowl. Dornan was listed on the final roster by the NFL back in June, attended the clinics in Dallas

Mark Pellis is 13th offseason hire by NFL

The league announced that Mark Pellis has been hired to fill the vacancy left by the surprise retirement of Mike Carey, who left the field to become an officiating analyst for CBS Sports. He is the 13th college official hired by the NFL this offseason. Pellis comes to the NFL from

Officiating Dept. has late shuffle to fill spot

With 12 vacancies filled in the last few months, how will the NFL approach filling a 13th spot after the resignation of referee Mike Carey?  The NFL could hire another official from college, persuade a recently retired official to come back for one more season, or they could go

Brad Allen named crew chief in 1st NFL season

First rookie-season R since 1966 On the heels of the surprise announcement that Mike Carey is retiring from the NFL, Football Zebras can confirm that rookie official Brad Allen will call his first NFL season at the referee position.  To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time a

Boger, Carey, Parry out of playoffs

In an attempt to narrow down potential assignments, Football Zebras has learned from multiple sources that last year's Super Bowl referee, Jerome Boger, did not receive a playoff assignment this season. Also not receiving an assignment are Mike Carey and John Parry. Missing the playoffs the year following a Super Bowl