Zebra Blog

ROBERT LAWING 1951–2010

Bob Lawing (Credit: T.R. Lawing Realty)

Bob Lawing, a back judge in the NFL for 12 seasons, died Thursday after a long battle with cancer, as reported by the Charlotte Observer. He was 58.

Lawing (who wore #17) was listed on the 2009 roster of officials (which was finalized in May 2009) but did not officiate because of his illness. He also took leave in 2007 for similar reasons. His last game was Ravens–Titans AFC Divisional Playoff game after the 2008 season. In the final, game-winning drive, an apparent delay-of-game penalty was not assessed on the Ravens, which was Lawing’s responsibility. His head referee, Terry McAuley backed up the non-call: Because Lawing had to watch the play clock hit zero, then see if the ball is snapped,  there is an understood, built-in, fraction-of-a-section delay if such a penalty is called.

Lawing served as an ACC basketball referee, a property manager, and a Realtor and was involved in various civic organizations. He officiated six NFL playoff games.

NFL OWNERS APPROVE ‘MODIFIED SUDDEN DEATH’

We think that the overtime format, more than 50 years removed from its first use with no modification, has worked just fine. However, if we were on the Competition Committee—and we had to make a modification to overtime—we would have considered the following proposals before “modified sudden death.”

1. Move the kickoff to the 35. The simplest solution to reverse the field-position advantage gained when kickoffs were moved back to the 30 yard line is to move the overtime kickoffs to the 35.

2. Replace the coin toss in overtime. Rather than let an arbitrary coin flip “decide overtime,” as is often (incorrectly) argued (roughly a 60/40 advantage goes to the coin-toss winner), use an on-field element to determine the first possession in overtime. By giving possession to the team last in the lead, a team couldn’t score a last-second tying field goal in regulation and then have the first possession in overtime (essentially preventing two consecutive possessions at the end of the game to the trailing team).

3. Start overtime from the fourth quarter dead-ball spot. A slightly more radical proposal would do away with the coin toss and kickoff to start overtime, and have the teams merely switch sides of the field as if the beginning of regulation was the same as the beginning of the second or fourth quarters. The only way overtime could have a kickoff would be if the final play of regulation is the game-tying score. The downside is a tie game at the two-minute warning gives no urgency, as the offense could grind out a ten-minute drive through the first eight minutes of overtime. (There would also be no kickoff starting the third overtime period, either, but that has never happened in an NFL game.)

4. Best kickoff return. This is the most radical suggestion, but only slightly better than the proposal voted by the owners. Essentially conduct two kickoffs to start overtime, with the team attaining the best field position keeping the ball. Of course, back-to-back runbacks to the house would turn overtime into a home-run derby.

NFL OWNERS APPROVE ‘MODIFIED SUDDEN DEATH’

The Competition Committee moved on changing the dynamic of postseason overtime on a nonexistent platform: field position after a kickoff gives a short field for an easy put-the-game-away field goal.

In postseason play, this situation has happened only three times. Yes, only three times has a team advanced the ball in overtime from kickoff to field goal in a playoff game, most recently in the 2009 NFC Championship game where the Saints advanced over the Vikings.

The Vikings, not one to sour on their lost destiny, voted against the modified sudden-death proposal. The Bills, Bengals and Ravens were the only others to reject the proposal

NFL OWNERS APPROVE ‘MODIFIED SUDDEN DEATH’

Unintended consequences of the new rule (that we see) are:

• Overtime can end on an unspectacular loss on downs, or worse, a measurement.
• There is less risk in tying the game at the conclusion of regulation, rather than boldly going for the lead.
• A team scoring the opening-possession field goal can follow up with an onside kick, ending the game if they recover (OK, that would be kinda cool, I suppose).
• The inequity supposedly created by the kickoff return offering field-goal prime field position is not remedied if both teams score field goals on their first possessions. This is because the next possession is sudden death, and it begins with the oh-so-dreaded kickoff.
• Defensive errors, magnified in overtime, can be softened when a second chance is awarded after surrendering a field goal.
• Somehow, a single drive in overtime ending in a field goal is unacceptable, but a game-winning field goal that breaks a tie at the expiration of the fourth quarter is just fine without a retaliatory possession by the losing team.

We will be adding to this list as a stream of consciousness. Add your suggestions in the comments.

1st major modification in league history

Yes, that headline is screaming. And for good reason. The NFL now can’t simply resolve a tie game much like Major League Baseball (if necessary, play till 5 a.m. to resolve .006  percentage points in the standings), the NHL (after five minutes, go to a shootout that resembles pregame warmups), and NCAA football (a sudden-life format that was called “last licks” in my elementary school days).

The NFL owners approved a “modified sudden death” system, in that a field goal on the first possession of overtime extends the overtime period for a retaliatory possession by the other team. If the score is then equalized, then the next score wins the game. Therefore, the “catch-up” team must score at least a tying field goal on the second possession to stay alive. A touchdown at any time ends the game.

Oddly, this is only implemented for the postseason. The league stance is that there are already separate rules for regular season and the postseason. (This difference is merely that one overtime is permitted in the regular season and an additional timeout is given in postseason.) This may be to avoid an odd, but plausible, circumstance where an overtime session only lasts two possessions because of two conservative, ball-controlling offenses.

Competition Committee members Bill Polian and Rich McKay (Colts and Falcons presidents) explained that there were fundamental inequities to the team losing the coin toss in overtime. We will dissect them in another post. You can watch the news conference here.

Super Bowl XLIV: Saints vs. Colts

Scott Green will serve as the crew chief in Sunday’s Super Bowl. It is his third Super Bowl, having officiated in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII as a back judge. After his last Super Bowl assignment in 2004, he was promoted to the head referee position.

The Super Bowl is officiated by an “all-star” crew, based upon detailed examination of every call (and non-call) made and written tests. However, if the highest rated official at any position has (1) served in last year’s Super Bowl, (2) has not officiated a playoff game, or (3) has less than five years of NFL seniority, then the next highest rated official is appointed.

This year’s crew includes the following (and the head of the crew each worked with during the regular season):

• U — Undrey Wash (Carl Cheffers)
• HL — John McGrath (Tony Corrente)
• LJ — Jeff Seeman (Gene Steratore)
• FJ — Rob Vernatchi (Pete Morelli)
• SJ — Greg Meyer (Don Carey)
• BJ — Greg Steed (Terry McAuley)
• Replay Assistant — Jim Lapetina (Morelli)
• Video Operator — Jim Pearson (Morelli)

While Green has officiated two other Super Bowls, no other on-field official has prior Super Bowl experience. Also of note, Seeman is the son of former referee and director of officiating Jerry Seeman, who was the crew chief in Super Bowls XXIII and XXV (1998 and 1990 seasons).

The NFL, after a long search plagued with false starts, has named line judge Carl Johnson as vice president of officiating. He officiated on Don Carey’s crew and will take over for the retiring Mike Pereira after the Super Bowl.

Outside of his appointment to Super Bowl XLII (as part of the crew headed by Mike Carey, Don’s brother), Johnson is not a household name. That is not by accident; to be known is to be analyzed for questionable calls. The league specifically cited Johnson’s high ratings in the weekly evaluations every official is subject to.

Johnson will be thrust into a league executive position that is more visible (and under heavier public scrutiny) than anyone else, even the commissioner. The position includes not only being highly analytical of the rules, but also be able to address a weekly television audience on NFL Total Access on the NFL Network.

Periera was a side judge for Mike Carey’s crew in 1996 and 1997, before being promoted to the league office and eventually to the department’s vice president in 2001. (Periera also officiated a Week 1 game in 2001 due to an official’s strike.) By contrast, Johnson has been on the field since 2001.

Prior to Periera, the previous two department heads (which was not vice-president level until Pereira) both served as the head referee on the field.

The press release from the NFL:

CARL JOHNSON, one of the NFL’s highest-rated officials who has worked eight postseason games since joining the league in 2001, has been named NFL vice president of officiating.

Johnson will take over leadership of the NFL Officiating Department this year from MIKE PEREIRA, who is retiring in April after nine years in the position.

Johnson has been an NFL line judge since 2001. He officiated in Super Bowl XLII (Giants-Patriots), four divisional playoff games including this year’s Dallas-Minnesota game, two wild card playoff games, and one Pro Bowl. Pereira was an NFL side judge when he joined the officiating department as a supervisor in 1998 and then replaced JERRY SEEMAN as the head of NFL officiating in 2001.

Johnson, a native of Thibodaux, Louisiana, officiated high school football in Thibodaux from 1982-1993. He then became a head linesman and line judge in the Southland Conference in 1994 and 1995. From 1996-2000, he officiated as a head linesman in the Big XII Conference and worked the 1996 and 1997 Sugar Bowl games, the 1998 Rose Bowl, and the 1999 Big XII Championship Game.

“Carl Johnson is highly respected both by his on-field and off-field officiating colleagues for his stellar body of work and his integrity,” said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations RAY ANDERSON. “His teamwork-first philosophy and his excellent communication skills will provide terrific leadership to our officiating department.”

In addition to his on-field officiating expertise, Johnson has 30 years of business management experience. This has included training and managing a large sales force for a major company in Louisiana. He has overseen staff hiring, performance reviews, promotions, discipline, and terminations, and has conducted numerous meetings and coaching initiatives to improve the performance of his staff.

“Carl’s skill set is an outstanding match for this position and we look forward to his leadership in this critical area of our operations,” Anderson added.

As alluded to earlier, the league has placed a new rule for replay regarding the clock. Up until now, only a reversal of an on-field call would allow the clock to be changed via replay.

The new rules, which are only in effect for the playoffs and the Super Bowl, summarized:

• Only the last play of a half or overtime period would be subject to this review.
• Replay can determine if the clock should have or should not have expired.
• For the end of the first half, the clock won’t be adjusted following a scoring play. For the end of the second half, the clock may be adjusted to allow for a kickoff as long as neither team leads by more than eight points.
• For the end of the second half, the clock can be reviewed to allow for a snap if a team is trailing by eight points or less, or the game is tied. In overtime, it would be automatic, as both teams are tied.

For the overtime session, there has never existed a situation in the history of the NFL postseason where the clock was ever a factor. That is because the conclusion of the first overtime period is treated as a change in quarter: teams just switch sides of the field, and the next play is from the succeeding spot. I suppose there could be an advantage in an outdoor stadium to allow one play before a switch because of field conditions or wind, but that is highly unlikely.

In a USFL postseason game, however, the clock was a factor. In the 1984 Quarterfinal Playoff, the Michigan Panthers and the Los Angeles Express played to a 21–21 tie through two overtime periods. The third overtime period begins with a kickoff, so the team in possession at the end of the sixth quarter might lose the ball to start the seventh quarter. This is really the only situation where the clock review will come into play in overtime.

(The longest NFL game was Christmas Day, 1972, when the Dolphins and Chiefs had 7:20 remaining in the second overtime period. In NFL/AFL history, only five games went in the second overtime.)

All of that said, there is a strong possibility that this is all moot and there will not be any review of the clock in any of the 11 postseason games. (Glad I could waste your time reading this!) The rule automatically expires at the end of the Super Bowl, and then is placed on the Competition Committee’s agenda for review.

My apologies, as we were nt intending to break away this long around the holidays. Life sometimes has other plans. We will go back and write-up our assessments of the “Official Review” segments that we missed in the coming days. Thanks for your patience.

Pro Football Talk is reporting that Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco is planning on honoring teammate Chris Henry by wearing Henry’s number 15 jersey. Henry, who was on injured reserve, died on Friday at the age of 26 after falling out of a moving vehicle.

The league said that, while Ochocinco can wear number 15 in practice, he will be fined if he does not wear his usual number 85. The players’ union said that it would pay the fine.

Bengals commemorative patch in memory of Chris Henry. Source: Cincinnati Bengals

This is not a new stance for the NFL. Commemorative patches have been allowed frequently to mark the passing of an indivdual, but these must be preapproved for the entire team, rather than for an individual or group of players. The Bengals plan to wear an approved “15″ patch on their jerseys.

Being fined would be inevitable, but, should Ochocinco enter the field wearing number 15, could he be excluded from playing?

The rulebook does not address whether a change in uniform number is disallowed within the context of game administration. In 2007, previous to Ochocinco’s legal name change from Chad Johnson, he wore a uniform with a removable flap with OCHO CINCO covering C. JOHNSON. The league fined him $5,000. He did not draw a flag for an altered uniform, because he removed the flap prior to entering the game.

The rulebook addresses jersey numbers in the context of position-specific numbering only in Rule 5, Article 2. Since Henry was a wide receiver, Ochocinco would still be in compliance. But, an overarching rule could be applied to Ochocinco:

5–4–8. Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office. Items … to honor or commemorate individuals, such as helmet decals, and arm bands and jersey patches on players’ uniforms, are prohibited unless approved in advance by the League office. All such items must relate to team or League events or personages.

And, if the league chooses to do so, it could advise its officials to be aware and enforce this section accordingly. The penalties that can be enforced:

(a) For violation of this Section 4 discovered during pregame warmups or at other times prior to the game, player will be advised to make appropriate correction; if violation is not corrected, player will not be permitted to enter the game.
(b) For violation of this Section 4 discovered while player is in game, player will be advised to make appropriate correction at the next change of possession; if violation is not corrected, player will not be permitted to enter the game. …
(c) For repeat violation: Disqualification from game.
(d) For illegal entry or return of a player suspended under this Section 4: Loss of five yards from succeeding spot and removal until properly equipped after one down.
(e) For violation of this Section 4 detected in the bench area: Player and head coach will be asked to remove the objectionable item, properly equip the player, or otherwise correct the violation. The involved player or players will be disqualified from the game if correction is not made promptly.

According to Football-refs.com, Carl Cheffers’ crew is officiating the game against the Chargers.

So, yes, the league could do something. But will they in the wake of a team and fans who are grieving. Likely, we will see a substantial fine levied on Ochocinco, but no in-game discipline.