Walt Coleman

Kickoff 2013: The officials by the numbers

News

by Ben Austro - September 5, 2013September 5, 2013 2

Click the image to enlarge. It is time to kick off the new football season! Here are some numbers for all of the zebra watchers out there. Enjoy! Designed and researched by Ben Austro. Sources: NFL Record and Fact Book (2013, 2008, 2000); Pro-Football-Reference.com (Coleman, Freeman, McKinnely); Football Zebras, "Officiating crews for the

6 NFL officiating things to watch for in 2013

by Mark Schultz - September 5, 2013September 5, 2013 4

Commentary by Mark Schultz Here are the things I am pondering as I "zebra watch" this year. 1. Â Will some high-profile officials make a playoff comeback? Â Gene Steratore, Ed Hochuli, John Parry, Tom Stabile, Â John McGrath, Rob Vernatchi, and Walt Anderson missed out on an on-field playoff assignment in 2012. Â Will they

NFL ref experts break down divisional playoffs

by Mark Schultz - January 15, 2013 5

Pereira and Daopoulos disagree on the Peyton Manning fumble/tuck rule As has been the case all season, former NFL vice president for officiating Mike Pereira and former NFL official and officiating supervisor Jim Daopoulos talked about the correct, incorrect, and strange calls in last weekend's divisional playoffs. Pereira, who is an officiating

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.Â Walt Coleman's crew was, by far, the best and most efficient of the teams on the field that night.Â While the fans could head for

Officiating experts grade Week 14 officials

by Mark Schultz - December 10, 2012December 10, 2012 1

Referee in Colts - Titans game never got replay shot to overturn Luck pick six The NFL's most prominent officiating experts had much to say about the officiating for Week 14.Â Former NFL vice president for officiating and FOX Sports officiating analyst Mike Pereira and former NFL supervisor and NBC Sports

Microphone is ref’s friend for no-sense rules

by Ben Austro - November 25, 2012November 25, 2012 1

It elicits snickers from football fans when it happens, and it sometimes trends on Twitter. Referee Ed Hochuli turns on his microphone to explain a ruling, and some fans joke that it is NFL open mic night. An example from 2009: We reviewed whether the ball was fumbled down near the

Was Rodgers-Cromartie hard hit a flag test?

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

Steelers at Eagles 1st Qtr | 1:12 | Steelers 3-0 | Steelers ball | 3rd & 16 @ PIT 24 | video Eagles safety Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will obviously be the first player lined up to pay at the NFL disciplinary fine window. In the first quarter, Rodgers-Cromartie laid a hit on Steelers quarterback

Muffed kickoff gives Lions an easy 2 pts; Chargers, similar play, down at ½-yd line

by Ben Austro - January 1, 2012January 1, 2012 1

Week 17: Lions at Packers 1st Quarter | 13:00 remaining | Lions 7-0 | Lions kickoff | video Updated below to include similar play from Chargersâ€“Raiders. Tough break for the Packers, as Patrick Lee muffs the Lions kickoff in the end zone. Lee remained in the end zone, but the ball rolled out

Week 2 open forum, assignments

by Ben Austro - September 18, 2011September 19, 2011 0

Entering Week 2, let us know in the comments or @footballzebras if you see anything in this week's games that seems to be the wrong call. Referee assignments after the jump. Quick calls Browns at Colts | 2nd quarter | :38 remaining. A touchdown run by Peyton Hillis was reviewed and reversed.

NFL fines, non-fines reveal official evals

Calls
Week 1

by Ben Austro - September 18, 2011September 19, 2011 0

We noted the players who were fined for on-field conduct in Week 1. Hidden in this list are some of the league's evaluations of its officials. If a fine is issued for a play where no flag was thrown, this is graded as a missed call. Also, in the case