Dean Blandino, the NFL's vice president of officiating, began the season today by explaining calls in Week 1 of the 2015 NFL season in the weekly video for the media (download). Some highlights included:In overtime in St. Louis, the officials, according to Blandino, correctly ruled that there was a valid
Tag: Patriots
Six Super Bowl XLIX officiating observations
Walt Anderson’s crew checked all footballs before AFC Championship Game
Crew followed standard procedure to prepare footballs for the game The past 24 hours have featured a media frenzy where the New England Patriots are accused of deflating the game balls to better suit quarterback Tom Brady in the wet weather. The NFL is investigating the matter. By rule, footballs need to
Week 11 officiating video: That punt, that kickoff, and that loose-ball recovery
This week’s officiating video for the media from officiating vice president Dean Blandino covers what appears to be this season’s most difficult calls (video download). As we broke down on Sunday, the fourth-quarter punt return by the Lions was negated by a replay of a Cardinals possession at the goal line.
Week 6 officiating video: preventative officiating is the accepted mechanic
Dean Blandino, the NFL vice president of officiating, released his weekly media tape discussing the calls of the previous week (video download). First, Blandino addressed the preventative officiating mechanics of umpire Carl Paganelli signaling to Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower that he was in an illegal formation over center on the Jets
Abdullah’s prayer is not unsportsmanlike conduct
Week 4: Patriots at Chiefs Post updated 10 a.m. with the league's response On a fourth quarter interception return for a touchdown, Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct foul (video) for violating the rules regarding celebrations that prohibit players from going to the ground. This oddly specific admonition
U Garth DeFelice leaves field for regional supervisor post
Veteran's move leaves 11 vacancies for 2014 Football Zebras exclusive Football Zebras can report that umpire Garth DeFelice will leave the field and become one of the regional supervisors for the officiating office. The supervisors have traditionally been the graders that evaluate the game tapes for accuracy in the officials' calls. This
Despite calls for major change, NFL makes simple tweaks to replay
5 observations from conference championship weekend
It was a great weekend of football, and the conference championship officiating crews did well by their respective games. 1. Umpire Bill Schuster had the game of his life Number 129 was everywhere Sunday night. He jumped in between potential combatants, dug to the bottom of fumble scrums, hustled to get the