Football Zebras

Throwback to the finest officiating sequence I’ve ever seen

History

by Mark Schultz - June 30, 2020 2

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

Anderson and crew will be downgraded, but no further discipline

by Mark Schultz - November 12, 2016November 12, 2016 9

Embed from Getty Images The NFL will not fine or suspend any members of Walt Anderson's crew for some missed calls in a controversial Monday Night Football game between the Seahawks and Bills. In the past, the NFL has fined officials game checks and suspended officials due to judgement calls, rule misapplications, or

Steratore crew defeated in Monday night game

Week 11

by Ben Austro - November 24, 2015November 24, 2015 41

It takes a lot for this space to turn on the crews. This year has been particularly troubling for officiating, although a fair share of the criticism has been a mixture of trumped-up rhetoric and outrage over quick judgement calls without the benefit of replay. Improved technology that offers crisp

Gerry Austin still out at ‘MNF’; Jim Daopoulos to assist crew

News

by Ben Austro - October 27, 2014October 27, 2014 0

ESPN rules analyst Gerry Austin has been notably absent from the Monday Night Football booth. Football Zebras has learned that Austin was, in fact, hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. During the 49ers-Rams telecast, announcers Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden sent their best wishes, and Tirico said that Austin is now

NFL officials have to work harder in blowouts, poorly played games

Calls

by Mark Schultz - December 21, 2012December 21, 2012 2

The Monday Night Football game between the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans was almost universally panned as a boring and poorly played game. Walt Coleman's crew was, by far, the best and most efficient of the teams on the field that night. While the fans could head for

Gerald Austin to be ‘MNF’ rules analyst

News

by Ben Austro - August 10, 2012September 3, 2012 1

Buried in the fourth quarter of the Monday night game was an announcement of interest to us NFL rules wonks. Play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico on the introduction with analyst Jon Gruden: This gentleman, Gerry Austin, has worked three Super Bowls, two -- as Jon likes to say -- wearing the white

Refs gain 310 yards on Packers, Ravens

by Ben Austro - December 8, 2009December 30, 2010 0

Week 13: Ravens at Packers The Ravens and Packers gave the spotlight to the officials on Monday Night Football, as both teams were assessed a combined 310 yards in penalties, tied for second all-time. The Ravens, while being penalized 175, managed to outdo the referees by 10 yards with 185 yards

El árbitro habló español en Fútbol de la Noche de Lunes

Calls
Week 5

by Ben Austro - October 12, 2009October 26, 2009 0

Week 5: Jets at Dolphins In the first quarter of the Jets–Dolphins Monday Night Football game, referee Alberto Riverón paid tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month with the first penalty call of the game. We asked the public relations staff at Land Shark Stadium for the text of the call, but they were

Week 2 “Official Review” with the usual suspects (and answers you read here first)

by Ben Austro - September 23, 2009September 25, 2009 0

Without getting into tremendous detail, the Week 2 edition of "Official Review" (two-part video that aired on NFL Net and NFL.com) covered the same topics we covered this week. The assessments we gave on the calls were entirely backed up by the league's vice president of officiating, Mike Pereira. The

2nd string MNF crew certain it was TD; overruled on replay

Calls

by Ben Austro - September 14, 2009September 15, 2009 2

Week 1: Chargers at Raiders Near halftime of the second part of the Monday Night Football doubleheader, the Raiders were driving for a go-ahead touchdown, which they scored on the initial call. The replay booth initiated a replay. During the review, the announcers (not the weekly crew, but morning-show and game-show credentials