"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

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Where is that in the rule book? Or is it documented somewhere else?

How many small market dynasties are there? Pittsburgh gets calls but their fan base is massive.

Do we really find it some coincidence that the favored teams are either huge markets or fan bases.

Manning always did his thing in Indy but he got jobbed several times in the playoffs and only won once...to many the greatest QB of our time won 1 bowl.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Mecca

How many small market dynasties are there? Pittsburgh gets calls but their fan base is massive.

Do we really find it some coincidence that the favored teams are either huge markets or fan bases.

Manning always did his thing in Indy but he got jobbed several times in the playoffs and only won once...to many the greatest QB of our time won 1 bowl.

I'm on your side. I'm just playing the role of the, "if it's not documented, it's not true" crowd for a second. I wanted to see if ignoring everything my eyes see made me feel any better or smarter. It didn't, it just made me realize I was ignoring reality because I didn't want it to be true.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Why would that matter when the outcome has already been predetermined?

It’s GloryDayz, man. Rational thought left him long ago.

[SuperBowl4]

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

[crayzkirk]

If the market size matters that much, why was Dunger so successful? Not counting the 60s and early 70s, of course. The one thing that has made the teams successful is the willingness to take a chance on the position which seems, based upon the past SB winners, to make the most difference in team success.

The old guard is nearing the end of it's run, the new guard is coming into it's own.

[philfree]

Screw this diatribe it's Raiders Week!

[ARROW2]

We will find out once and for all. Is arrowhead cursed or was it just bad qb play? last home playoff win was 25 years ago by montana. I think you know where I side. Mahomes will break the 25 year curse.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by philfree

Screw this diatribe it's Raiders Week!

I remember a Raiders game from not too long ago where they were given penalty after penalty at a chance to win it and finally did. I can't remember who they were playing but i'm certain one Marcus Peters wanted to kill someone in that game.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by crayzkirk

If the market size matters that much, why was Dunger so successful? Not counting the 60s and early 70s, of course. The one thing that has made the teams successful is the willingness to take a chance on the position which seems, based upon the past SB winners, to make the most difference in team success.

The old guard is nearing the end of it's run, the new guard is coming into it's own.

Easy answer, cheating and Elway was close to retirement. The media had labeled him one of the greatest to never go to a SB prior to the cooking spray game/playoffs/season.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Drafting a QB in 83 didn’t set the franchise back 3 decades. What set the franchise back was an inept owner, GM and HC up until Lamar died.

Duh, that is essentially what I said. Ownership pulled in it's horns after that as the team was not drawing fans.

I remember in the 80s walking up to the stadium at gametime and getting good seats at a bargain.

It is an entertainment business.

[Imon Yourside]

Anyone remember when we had Montana? I don't recall any shitty calls to kill us to take us out. I remember Bruce Smith ending our playoff run in the AFCCG in the 3rd quarter though. Krieg came in and couldn't find Largent.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

It’s GloryDayz, man. Rational thought left him long ago.

48 years buddy, 48 years.

Sent from my 9+ using Tapatalk

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by ARROW2

We will find out once and for all. Is arrowhead cursed or was it just bad qb play? last home playoff win was 25 years ago by montana. I think you know where I side. Mahomes will break the 25 year curse.

I hope you're right.

Sent from my 9+ using Tapatalk

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by ARROW2

We will find out once and for all. Is arrowhead cursed or was it just bad qb play? last home playoff win was 25 years ago by montana. I think you know where I side. Mahomes will break the 25 year curse.

I was at the first game ever played at Arrowhead. I was 7 then. I'm now 53.

In the intervening years, they've won two playoffs games there. TWO.

They've won as many playoff games in ****ing Houston as they have in Kansas City. That's beyond pathetic.

He damned well better break the curse.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

I'm on your side. I'm just playing the role of the, "if it's not documented, it's not true" crowd for a second. I wanted to see if ignoring everything my eyes see made me feel any better or smarter. It didn't, it just made me realize I was ignoring reality because I didn't want it to be true.

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