"All-star" officiating crew for Rams-Chiefs game

[Eleazar]

NFL ups intensity with all-star officials for Rams-Chiefs game

Kevin Seifert
ESPN.com NFL Nation



The NFL took the unusual step this week of assigning an "all-star" officiating crew to the most highly anticipated game of the season, adding to the playofflike frenzy for Monday night's matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams.

Referee Clete Blakeman will work the game with only two members of his regular crew, umpire Ramon George and down judge Dana McKenzie. The other five officials -- including Jim Lapetina, who will handle replay -- were plucked from four other crews.

The approach is similar to how the NFL assigns officials to playoff games, a process that is based on performance and seniority rather than crew. But it is rarely, if ever, employed before the postseason. Officials typically work on the same eight-person crews throughout the regular season to maximize continuity and familiarity among members.

Individual crew members are occasionally juggled for health or scheduling reasons. But a series of actions this season have indicated the league is moving away from the consistent crew concept, in favor of a more aggressive administration of officiating. Earlier this season, the league bounced down judge Hugo Cruz among four crews before ultimately making him its first-ever official to be fired for performance during the season.

NFL spokesman Michael Signora confirmed Sunday that "there is a rotation amongst the crews throughout the season." Signora did not provide details on the decision to overhaul Blakeman's crew for Monday night's game.

An officiating source said Sunday that the five officials added to Monday night's crew are all highly respected and have performed well this season.

The Chiefs-Rams game, originally scheduled to be played in Mexico City before it was relocated to Los Angeles, is a rare matchup. Since 1970, there have been only four other games pitting teams with one or fewer losses this late in the season. And according to the Elias Sports Bureau, this is the latest matchup ever between two teams averaging at least 33 points per game.

The following is the full crew for Monday night's game, as listed on the official flip card published by the NFL, with the officials' permanent referee in parentheses:


Referee: Clete Blakeman

Umpire: Ramon George (Blakeman)

Down judge: Dana McKenzie (Blakeman)

Line judge: Rusty Baynes (John Hussey)

Field judge: Dale Shaw (Jerome Boger)

Side judge: Brad Freeman (Clay Martin)

Back judge: Tony Steratore (Boger)

Replay: Jim Lapetina (Brad Allen)



http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2...ff-rams-chiefs

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

Reverse argument says you want the league to be rigged so you can cope with all these hard Chiefs losses.

Regrettably my eyes show me that the NFL is biased toward the most profitable outcomes and the league is willing to promote those outcomes through selective officiating. I also see that they'll allow just enough lesser-profitable outcomes to provide for an argument that says they aren't biased at all.

But I agree, the best way for a small market team to perhaps get the nod is to seek-out and invest in an allstar QB, it seems to give them something in return. Green Bay for example.

As "rigged" as WWE? No, but the missed calls suggest NFL officials can turn their backs (eyes) to penalties just like the WWE. And it's not always the number of calls they make per team (even if they hide behind that number), often times it's the timing of the call.

Again, subtly influencing the game. One of the main reasons the officials are protected from at all cost once they trot off the field.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

Reverse argument says you want the league to be rigged so you can cope with all these hard Chiefs losses.

I actually don't, I would be more than happy with just a fairly called game. We have advantage enough already if Mahomes had the refs we would win every game 77-0.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Regrettably my eyes show me that the NFL is biased toward the most profitable outcomes and the league is willing to promote those outcomes through selective officiating. I also see that they'll allow just enough lesser-profitable outcomes to provide for an argument that says they aren't biased at all.

But I agree, the best way for a small market team to perhaps get the nod is to seek-out and invest in an allstar QB, it seems to give them something in return. Green Bay for example.

As "rigged" as WWE? No, but the missed calls suggest NFL officials can turn their backs (eyes) to penalties just like the WWE. And it's not always the number of calls they make per team (even if they hide behind that number), often times it's the timing of the call.

Again, subtly influencing the game. One of the main reasons the officials are protected from at all cost once they trot off the field.

My main problem with this is it's very subjective despite what some imply. Sometimes it's the total amount of penalties, sometimes the subtle ones. It's just a difficult thing to discuss when it's subjective and you are saying that a lot or a small amount both can be evidence of your theory.

It's not that I don't understand your point. It's not that I don't get furious myself at times. And not just Chiefs games. I just think it's about bad officiating, confusingly subjective rules, and good teams getting the benefit of the doubt. I wouldn't be knocked into a coma if it turned out to be more than that but that's how I feel.

Also as has been mentioned, outside of the market KC is exactly what the league seems to want. The entire neutral fan base in the country was talking about wanting to see them.

I know people have their "they don't want KC in the SB" ready to go for the playoffs but is that actually true? IMHO the league would sign up for last Mondays game in a heartbeat.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by SuperBowl4

Go on YouTube and watch Marv Levy's "You've been bought" video. Someone needs to post it to this thread

Why can't that somebody be you? Right click the youtube video select copy embed then paste into your reply.

[srvy]

Did Suh get a fine?

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by srvy

Did Suh get a fine?

There's no video of him making a peace sign.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

My main problem with this is it's very subjective despite what some imply. Sometimes it's the total amount of penalties, sometimes the subtle ones. It's just a difficult thing to discuss when it's subjective and you are saying that a lot or a small amount both can be evidence of your theory.

It's not that I don't understand your point. It's not that I don't get furious myself at times. And not just Chiefs games. I just think it's about bad officiating, confusingly subjective rules, and good teams getting the benefit of the doubt. I wouldn't be knocked into a coma if it turned out to be more than that but that's how I feel.

Also as has been mentioned, outside of the market KC is exactly what the league seems to want. The entire neutral fan base in the country was talking about wanting to see them.

I know people have their "they don't want KC in the SB" ready to go for the playoffs but is that actually true? IMHO the league would sign up for last Mondays game in a heartbeat.

One of the reasons the NFL keeps their officials out of the media when the rest of the league's moving parts are 100% required to be in the media, is probably because they probably can't defend even the most basic "why did you miss that call", especially when it happens almost every play (Ford/Houston being held). Back it up with clear pictures of terrible calls, and they'll be left with a press conference that 90%, "sorry, I didn't see it (even though I was facing that way)." Again, because i played D-line, I HATE that the same standard for a "hold" 10-15 yards down the field isn't the same at the LoS.

That being said, back when we started the local youth football league, I had many dealings with the officials at the non-coach level. I remember telling one of the officials the obligatory, "you have a hard job" comments (I'm actually a nice person!!), and his reply kinda shocked me, he said, "no it isn't, just don't take side, don't cheat, call a fair game, call it the same both ways, and don't get emotionally involved." HE was the one who told me that, "you can't only see what you want."

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by SuperBowl4

Go on YouTube and watch Marv Levy's "You've been bought" video. Someone needs to post it to this thread

[eDave]

Dang!

[GloryDayz]

What's NOT shown was if the Bills adjusted to the officials and started doing the same thing(s)? Like a strike zone, Marv should have at least seen if his DBs would have been granted the same amount of "we're letting them play."

But again, this is why officials need to have pressers, look at calls the made and/or didn't make, and explain themselves.

Yeah, I know, the NFL will never allow their officials to answer. Nor will they ever explain how they're judged (what metrics), or where each officials stands.

[suzzer99]

What's also unknown is if only the Redskins somehow were clued in that the refs were going to swallow their whistles on DPI.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

What's also unknown is if only the Redskins somehow were clued in that the refs were going to swallow their whistles on DPI.

Maybe the cameras missed a wink.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by srvy

Did Suh get a fine?

Nope
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/fines-suspensions/

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Um. I expected to see some egregious shit but I don't disagree with any of those (non) calls. Defender has a right to the ball and each time they were going for the ball.

Bills fans are idiots.

Sent from my LGLS992 using Tapatalk

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Um. I expected to see some egregious shit but I don't disagree with any of those (non) calls. Defender has a right to the ball and each time they were going for the ball.

Bills fans are idiots.

Sent from my LGLS992 using Tapatalk

Interesting take. That take seems to live in the closet until officials use it as an out to defend not calling plays consistently.