Football Official

Football Official

Zebra

Somewhere in, NJ

Male, 62

I've officiated football for over 30 years, now in my 26th on the college level. I've worked NCAA playoffs at the Division II and III level. In addition, I've coached at the scholastic level and have been an educator for over 35 years. I have no interest whatsoever in being an NFL official! Ever!

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

514 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Best Rated

Do they officiate differently in college than they do in nfl

Asked by Ryan over 9 years ago

That's too broad a question - can you narrow it or clarify it?

its a penalty if a defensive player leads with the helmet to the helmet of an offensive player. However, I've seen repeatedly the offensive player lead with his helmet to the helmet of the defensive player. But there is no penalty. Why not?

Asked by ssrmaineniac over 10 years ago

It's a penalty for anyone to lead with their helmet.  Why it's not called is a tough and good question.  Almost every runner in an attempt to get more yardage "lowers shoulders" which, of course, lowers his head.  It also is usually when they are about to get hit and they are slowing a bit.  My sense is that most officials tend to see it as lowering the shoulders and not using the head as a weapon.  It probably is more common to see defensive players attack the runner, creating a more forceful impact.  But you're right - it should go both ways.

The QB throws the ball to a receiver but backwards, then the receiver throws the ball back to the QB, then the QB is pressured and throws the ball away. Can there be Intentional Grounding??

Asked by Caleb about 9 years ago

A couple of things. First, if the throw back to the QB is forward, then the QB can't throw it forward regardless of the situation. That would be a second forward pass and that is illegal. Second, the only person who has the right to throw the ball away legally is the person who controls the snap, the initial snap or backward pass. The QB no longer has the right to throw it away. So, yes.

if you line up to kick an extra point but the snap is errant can you run or pass for 2 pts.?or will it still be 1 pt.?

Asked by new extra point rules almost 9 years ago

You look at the result of the play, not the intent. It's the same as a fake; the result, if successful, is two points for the run/pass play.

Scenerio: 4th down punt; receiver calls for fair catch; ball hits the ground, then the receiver; ball rolls into the endzone and is recovered by the kicking team... what is the call?

Asked by jason over 10 years ago

Unless I'm really screwing this up - always a possibility - it's a touchback.  The status of the ball is that it is still a kick, even though it touched a receiver.  In high school and college, a grounded kick in he endzone is a touchback.  If it was receovered by the kickers in the field of play (between the goal lines), then it would be K's ball.

On national TV TDay 2015 Panthers routing of Dallas Cam Newton removes his helmet twice on field with 2:30 left with no call (a few weeks after Bryant was schooled on this). Will refs get a earful from the NFL, or "no big deal - Cam's special"?

Asked by Cris Mooney about 9 years ago

The NFL can't determine what a catch is; how can they get this right? I really don't know what they do in that case. I like Newton as a player, but he does get a bit over the top on a lot of the antics.

Very often, on screen passes to wide receivers (bubble screens) other WRs block opposing defensive backs while the ball is in the air. I thought that was offensive pass interference. Why is it so seldom called?

Asked by RJ almost 10 years ago

If a pass is caught behind the line of scrimmage, there can't be OPI. So a WR blocking ahead of that screen is legal.