Football Zebras

Instant replay mistake in AFC Championship Game confirmed

by Mark Schultz - January 26, 2021December 28, 2021 19803

Sources tell Football Zebras that the NFL has internally acknowledged that replay incorrectly reviewed whether or not Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen stepped out of bounds before he threw a pass in Sunday's AFC Championship Game. https://streamable.com/c7ex0s Referee Bill Vinovich ruled that Allen had stepped out of bounds before he threw the

COVID-19 forces a rushed offseason for NFL officials

by Mark Schultz - April 6, 2020July 25, 2020 14075

The NFL officiating staff usually has a smooth and orderly start to its season. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic will throw monkey wrenches into that smooth and orderly start. No easing into the season The officiating "new year" starts on May 15. That's when the officials meet for a mini-clinic in New

NFL Annual Meeting canceled, rules changes vote put off until May

by Mark Schultz - March 12, 2020July 25, 2020 02999

Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today that after "careful consideration and consultation with medical experts," the NFL has canceled the March 29-April 1, Annual Meeting due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Instead, the league will conduct its business at the NFL Spring Meeting, scheduled for May 19-20. This means that the NFL Competition

2 XFL rules that could work in the NFL – and 2 the NFL should avoid

by Mark Schultz - February 20, 2020February 20, 2020 14974

The XFL has several experimental rules to add excitement, minimize the kicking game, and finish the game in under three hours. After watching bits and pieces of the first two weeks of XFL play, there are a few rules that I think could make it into the NFL. Try for point XFL

Get instant replay out of making judgement calls

Commentary

by Mark Schultz - October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 03661

Commentary by Mark Schultz #NFL100 was supposed to be a year-long celebration of pro football. But sadly, the year has featured frustration from media and former officials confused about what is and what isn't pass interference. Former vice president of officiating and current Fox Sports officiating analyst, Mike Pereira has just about

NFL100: 90-year-old rules made for a different game

by Mark Schultz - October 4, 2019 014259

People who saw a NFL game 90-years ago would almost not recognize the game played today. Back in the 1930s, the pro game had some rules that are mind-boggling. In the early years of the NFL, if a player fell or was knocked down, he could still crawl or get up

Centralized replay will intercede in all potential ejections this year, not just fights

by Mark Schultz - August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 02561

http://gty.im/1076317506 Starting this year, centralized replay in the Art McNally Game Day Center can weigh in on all potential game ejections. The rule is an expansion to a rule last year that made certain ejection situations reviewable. Last year, the rule called for centralized replay to step in and review fights and

NFL brass getting behind push to add sky judge

News

by Mark Schultz - March 7, 2019March 7, 2019 03491

Expect talks to get serious later this month about the NFL adding an eighth official to the crew...but this official will be in a suit and tie instead of a striped shirt. https://twitter.com/SeifertESPN/status/1101533229197262848 The Alliance of American Football employs a sky judge. This official steps in to correct obvious officiating mistakes in

Does the offense get a delay of game fudge factor?

Mechanics

by Mark Schultz - October 26, 2018October 3, 2019 08425

Several times a season, we get fans asking us about delay of game. The play clock on the TV screen hits :00, and an instant later the quarterback snaps the ball. It certainly looks like the offense is guilty of delay of game, but there is no flag. Why? Officiating mechanics build

A slow flag is not always a bad flag

by Mark Schultz - September 30, 2018September 30, 2018 09370

http://gty.im/869156920 If you watch a game, there are times you may notice that officials take a few extra moments to throw a flag after the infraction takes place. Sometimes people comment that "theÂ flag was pretty late." But many times the official throws a late flag because they are weighing the impact