"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

[BryanBusby]

Leave it to the NFL to determine a guy flashing a peace sign is unsportsmanlike.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Maybe the Chiefs shouldn’t give the refs a reason on top of getting calls against them?

Nnandi demolishing a Center before the ball was snapped, Murray’s dumbass going helmet-to-helmet, more personal fouls, poor playcalling at the end, not controlling your QB and giving him better options with 1:49 left in the game.

You can suck Andy’s cock as long and hard as you want, but history is history. He doesn’t have a ring because when he plays the best, he monumentally ****s it up.

Are you ****ing serious? The call wasn’t even for helmet to helmet it was for hitting a defenseless receiver and it was clearly complete and utter bullshit.

Watch the ****ing game again you stupid ****.

All this is is your opportunity to place blame on Andy because that’s the narrative you’ve chosen to go with since before the season, just look at your ****ing sig. Did Andy commit 5 turnovers? Did Andy drop the INT to seal the game?

Go **** yourself pillowbiter

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Leave it to the NFL to determine a guy flashing a peace sign is unsportsmanlike.

Yeah, total bullshit like the rest of the "All Star" Officiating.

An excessive celebration would have been a stretch, but Unsportsmanlike- ****ing pathetic.

[Mr. Plow]

I'm not one to blame officiating, but man the first 2 LA drives were tough to watch. Fun, entertaining game decided by calls & non-calls.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by RunKC

And what about our stupid ass penalties on us? This wasn’t a one time thing. It happens every goddamn week and every week posters like you bitch that the league is out to get us.

We had some horrible calls against us. We also shot ourselves in the dick over and over and over again.

Andy has no control of his team

Thats a really silly comment. They are legit SB contenders, you don't get there with no control over your team.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Thats a really silly comment. They are legit SB contenders, you don't get there with no control over your team.

Look at his sig that’s been there since before the season. It’s obvious what he’s trying to do here.

[bobbything]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Maybe the Chiefs shouldn’t give the refs a reason on top of getting calls against them?

Nnandi demolishing a Center before the ball was snapped, Murray’s dumbass going helmet-to-helmet, more personal fouls, poor playcalling at the end, not controlling your QB and giving him better options with 1:49 left in the game.

Lol. That call was utter bullshit. First, it wasn't "helmet to helmet," it was a "defensively receiver" call. And furthermore, it was a load of shit. (1) He barely hit him. (2) Outside of just standing there and letting him catch the ball and walk into the endzone, there was nothing that Murray could have done differently.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Are you ****ing serious? The call wasn’t even for helmet to helmet it was for hitting a defenseless receiver as was clearly complete and utter bullshit.

Watch the ****ing game again you stupid ****.

All this is is your opportunity to place blame on Andy because that ‘s the narrative you’ve chosen to go with just look at your ****ing sig. Did Andy commit 5 turnovers? Did Andy drop the INT to seal the game?

Go **** yourself pillowbitergot

It was a penalty and Murray absolutely hit that guy in the helmet which was a reason to throw the flag in the first place. That was a legit call.

Once again you have Andy’s log jammed down your throat and can’t see that this happens 99% of the time in Andy’s long ass career. Continue to ignore the obvious.

“Andy Reid’s team makes epically stupid mistakes and has no discipline against good teams and shits the bed.” More news at 11!

[O.city]

If that Murray play is a penalty, theres no reason to ever invest in a safety or DB. You can't play it any better than he did.

[The Franchise]

RunKC changes his mind more than anyone on here.

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Worst officiating I have ever seen. It is hard to take the NFL serious when they try to fix back to back games in one weekend. First, they tried to help the Chargers, then ****ed us all game.

National Football Entertainment

Not the worst. But close

See Iowa/Florida bowl game. Video on youtube

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by The Pest

RunKC changes his mind more than anyone on here.

Dude is a ****ing idiot. I’m so tired of playing nice because there are times where he’s not, but **** that shit. He’s a butt****ing moron at the end of the day and shit like this is the reason why.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by The Pest

RunKC changes his mind more than anyone on here.

Yea pretty odd, especially using the Murray play as an example as it is really the perfect example of a bad call.

[dirk digler]

Did it right in front of the ref and no call. This crew was the worst.

Chiefs-turned-Rams cornerback Marcus Peters seemingly sealed last night’s game with an interception late in the fourth quarter. And Peters, while leaving the field, removed his helmet in celebration.

For years, removing the helmet in the field of play has been prohibited, triggering a 15-yard penalty. And the rule has been applied on many occasions — including on the first Sunday of the 2002 season, when former Browns linebacker Dwayne Rudd removed his helmet (and threw it) on the final play of a shootout against the Chiefs, resulting in a 15-yard penalty on Cleveland, an untimed down, and a field goal that allowed Kansas City to win the game, 40-39.

Peters did it in plain view of back judge Tony Steratore, who says something to Peters as he walks by, with his helmet off.

“A player removing his helmet in celebration or in anger is just one of those fouls that has to be called regardless of game or situation,” former NFL referee and Sunday Night Football rules analyst Terry McAulay told PFT by text message.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by bobbything

Lol. That call was utter bullshit. First, it wasn't "helmet to helmet," it was a "defensively receiver" call. And furthermore, it was a load of shit. (1) He barely hit him. (2) Outside of just standing there and letting him catch the ball and walk into the endzone, there was nothing that Murray could have done differently.

That call was complete horeshit. If you are going to make that call, it should be reviewable, IMO.