Super Bowl 50 photo album

Officiating photos from Super Bowl 50 courtesy of team photographers and Getty Images.From team photographers (click on any image to view as a slideshow):From Getty Images:Clete Blakeman and field judge Boris Cheek talk to Peyton Manning before the game.Embed from Getty Images Jeff Rice escorts Denver captains onto the field for

Hurry-up offense means hurry-up officiating mechanics

Hurried mechanics increase the danger of officials making a mistake The two-minute offense has been in effect since the invention of the scoreboard clock.  The no-huddle offense became in vogue 25-years ago.  Both strategies are here to stay and offenses are getting plays off at an even faster pace.  With increased pre-snap duties,

All in the family: NFL referee style

Sunday night was Hochuli ×2 ('Gun and Pistol' night?) Earlier this week, NFL back judge Steve Freeman officiated a game with his son, Brad.  Also this week, Ed Hochuli got to officiate a preseason game with his son, Shawn.  Both Brad Freeman and Shawn Hochuli are part of the developmental program

Officials can find fountain of youth on field

[Update: Because Tom Barnes was scheduled to officiate today's game, we carried this story despite the lack of a second source to confirm he was still active. A decision was made by the editor, based on other press commentary Barnes made regarding the collective bargaining process, that he was certain

Are full-time stripes a negotiation snag?

From that I’ve read and heard, the most talked about lockout issue coming from the NFL Referees Association is the pension plan. Currently the officials receive a traditional pension when they retire, and, apparently the NFL wants to make the officials’ retirement funda self-managed 401(k)-type plan. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in January that