"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

[TEX]

Originally Posted by crayzkirk

The Chiefs are having a good season, the past is the past. The Chiefs have a QB and the players on offense to overcome bad (or biased, rigged, etc.) referees. The Chiefs have had opportunities to win in all of the heartbreaking losses they have had. If I had one thing to blame it would be the Chiefs themselves; passing in the Colts game when Marcus Allen was tearing them up on the ground, replacing Gannon with GrBac against the Broncos, continued throwing the ball and no deep safety help against the Colts, being unable to score more than 18 points against the Steelers, etc. The Chiefs have had a big hand in all of their losses.

I am not going to let the failures of the past ruin my enjoyment of the Chiefs now.

What about the refs? Can they ruin it for you now? Given the chace, they will.

[Rasputin]

I think there needs to be an investigation on Rams paying off the refs. Blatant missed calls and a wink from a ref. I think there is a conspiracy.

[crayzkirk]

Originally Posted by TEX

What about the refs? Can they ruin it for you now? Given the chace, they will.

Quit committing stupid penalties and things will change. The bias (unconscious or not) will change. When your team is at the top of the league in penalties per game, the referees are going to keep looking for it. It's like driving a red sports car and complaining about the police giving you speeding tickets.

Only I can choose to ruin my own enjoyment. This might be the last QB that I live to see for the Chiefs, why would I want to ruin that?

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

I think there needs to be an investigation on Rams paying off the refs. Blatant missed calls and a wink from a ref. I think there is a conspiracy.

Why the **** would ANYONE believe that "the Rams paid off the refs"?

have you been paying attention?

The refs were HANDPICKED by the NFL because these refs call the games the way the NFL wants them called.

The refs have these ear pieces in their ear...The league office in NY watches every single play...and communicates to the refs on the field. There was a Patriots game last year where the league actually stopped play on the field to initiate a replay - the order came from NY.

So, every eye in the football world was watching on Monday Night. Including the league office. The refs had their earpieces in...

If ANYTHING had happened, official-wise, that the league didn't 100% cosign to, they would stop the game to "make it right".

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by -King-

Cool. I expect you not to comment on any games the rest of the season? Talk about a win/win.
Posted via Mobile Device

Speak for yourself only.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

Why the **** would ANYONE believe that "the Rams paid off the refs"?

have you been paying attention?

The refs were HANDPICKED by the NFL because these refs call the games the way the NFL wants them called.

The refs have these ear pieces in their ear...The league office in NY watches every single play...and communicates to the refs on the field. There was a Patriots game last year where the league actually stopped play on the field to initiate a replay - the order came from NY.

So, every eye in the football world was watching on Monday Night. Including the league office. The refs had their earpieces in...

If ANYTHING had happened, official-wise, that the league didn't 100% cosign to, they would stop the game to "make it right".

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I don't know if its funny or scary that you actually believe this.

Like I said earlier, it's a coping mechanism.

Perhaps clinging to the hope that he deeply cares (just silently) is a coping mechanism too. I'm just saying I've not seen anything that says he cares.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Being a loud mouth, in your face owner that is always flapping to the media only appeases the neanderthal fans that drive 4 wd camaros and chew red man tobacco.

It will do nothing but alienate the NFL, the team and employees. It pretty much works this way in the business world as well.

Well we've been alienated from a SB appearance for 48 years.

[-King-]

If they needed a special reffing crew in order to rig this game, how do they rig all the other ones?
Posted via Mobile Device

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

Of course you can. But Blackops is talking about not watching yet we know he will. You talk about others giving the NFL what it wants, but what are you doing if not the same thing by watching?

Do what you want, but acting like others are sheep while you are watching as well seems confusing. If anything, I think it makes less sense that you believe it's rigged and are still invested.

Coming to grips with it being rigged influenced doesn't make you hate the game you grew up playing, it makes you wonder if this is the year the NFL gives your small market team the nod.

And for those on the other side of the ledger, those who think the NFL is 100% unbiased toward certain teams fulfilling the most profitable script, and those thinking the Hunt family actually cares deeply about getting a SB victory, still can't explain how we've been SB dry for 48 years in a league of 32 teams and 6.25% of the teams attend the SB every year? Hell, the law of averages has us in the SB 3 times in the last 48 years, yet we've never sniffed one. Why? Just a coincidence? A run of bad luck? C'mon, the Hunts are the ONLY constant in the Chiefs organization for those 48 years, they never seem to say a ****ing thing, but we're supposed to conclude that they really care, they just can't bring themselves to express it publically?

I'm putting my money on the side of "don't care" (at least not much) instead of "silently care".

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

So you are done watching? Like if we get to the AFCCG or the SB, you are not watching?

Why do you care?

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by crayzkirk

Quit committing stupid penalties and things will change. The bias (unconscious or not) will change. When your team is at the top of the league in penalties per game, the referees are going to keep looking for it. It's like driving a red sports car and complaining about the police giving you speeding tickets.

Only I can choose to ruin my own enjoyment. This might be the last QB that I live to see for the Chiefs, why would I want to ruin that?

1) Why? It seems with the cash these officials are getting paid, the lack of bias they claim to have, and knowing that there's a hold (on the line) on every play, why don't they start doing their job?

2) What if got you to the top is bullshit? IOW, what if our folks aren't doing anything more than any other team does?

3) If you truly believe it's subliminal (not on purpose), not suggested/directed/nudged from NFL NYC, perhaps it's time for the NFL to look into something better than the current officiating paradigm. Don't the fan deserve a balanced and unbiased officiating experience?

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by -King-

If they needed a special reffing crew in order to rig this game, how do they rig all the other ones?
Posted via Mobile Device

Perhaps the flip question is, why did they need a specially crafted crew?

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Perhaps the flip question is, why did they need a specially crafted crew?

Exactly.

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Coming to grips with it being rigged influenced doesn't make you hate the game you grew up playing, it makes you wonder if this is the year the NFL gives your small market team the nod.

And for those on the other side of the ledger, those who think the NFL is 100% unbiased toward certain teams fulfilling the most profitable script, and those thinking the Hunt family actually cares deeply about getting a SB victory, still can't explain how we've been SB dry for 48 years in a league of 32 teams and 6.25% of the teams attend the SB every year? Hell, the law of averages has us in the SB 3 times in the last 48 years, yet we've never sniffed one. Why? Just a coincidence? A run of bad luck? C'mon, the Hunts are the ONLY constant in the Chiefs organization for those 48 years, they never seem to say a ****ing thing, but we're supposed to conclude that they really care, they just can't bring themselves to express it publically?

I'm putting my money on the side of "don't care" (at least not much) instead of "silently care".

The answers to those questions, imho, lie in :

The merger
Super Bowls III & IV
The Kansas City Shuffle