'08 NFLN:TA/Official Review Summaries (Thru Week 3)

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SPECIAL EDITION NFL Annual Meeting Episode Dated 09-Apr-08 http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d807a506c
Host: Rich Eisen, With: Mike Pereira, Length: 7:29
NFLN TA/OR Summary: VP of NFL Officiating Mike Pereira discusses the rule changes made during the NFL Annual Meeting.

My summary:

• Rich and MP briefly mention the politicing in the rule change issues
• Force-out rule is gone, and MP is happy about that, and that the situations will be more consistently
• Rich mentions adding the defensive player with the communication device
• Rich mentions removing the 5-yard facemask
• MP discusses the bad snap to QB is now a fumble and not a false start
• A non-issue to request TO just before a snap
• Rich suggests only player can request TOs under 5s on the play clock

Week 4 Episode Expected 01-Oct-08 http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=
Host: , With: Mike Pereira, Length:
NFLN TA/OR Summary:

My summary:

• Expected 01-Oct-08

Week 3 Episode Dated 24-Sep-08 http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80b18e47
Host: Rich Eisen, With: Mike Pereira, Length: 4:40
NFLN TA/OR Summary: VP of NFL Officiating Mike Pereira takes a look at some of the tough calls from Week 3.

My summary:

• 0:16 in video - 1st Game discussed is Sun 21-Sep-08: PIT 6 @ PHI 15, 4Q @ 8:06 (IG in EZ)
  • Roethlisberger's forward pass is knocked down in EZ, flag thrown for IG; was DBC anyways
  • Crew Chief is R 66 Walt Anderson
• 2:26 in video - 2nd Game discussed is Sun 21-Sep-08: DAL 27 @ GB 16, 4Q @ 1:52 (2nd fwd pass)
  • 2nd forward pass from behind the LS thrown
  • MP says Jerry Seeman writes exams and includes this sitch and low and behold - it happens!
  • Crew Chief is R 94 Mike Carey

Week 2 Episode Dated 17-Sep-08 http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80ae6b20
Host: some new guy, With: Mike Pereira, Length: 7:14
NFLN TA/OR Summary: VP of NFL Officiating Mike Pereira looks at some debated calls and non-calls from Week 2.

My summary:

• 0:11 in video - 1st Game discussed is Sun 14-Sep-08: SD 38 @ DEN 39, 4Q @ 1:14 (Cutler fumble)
  • NFL will look at rule change, with down by contact now reviewable, as a template to beyond DBC to the situation in question
  • MP supports Ed Hochuli and his long-time high-quality NFL service and being a consumate professional
  • Crew Chief R 85 Ed Hochuli
• 2:22 in video - 2nd Game discussed is Mon 15-Sep-08: PHI 37 @ DAL 41, 4Q @ 1:14 (Early TD celebration)
  • MP notes some similarity with play in 1st game discussed
  • SD/DEN game the Team B recovery was immediate - not so in this game
  • MP says big question is how long do we let players play through a ruling on the field
  • Crew Chief R 77 Terry McAuley
• 4:02 in video - Next situation discussed is Sun 14-Sep-08: SD 38 @ DEN 39, 1Q @ 11:30 (Replay equipment failure)
  • Chambers' possibly striped of ball by Bailey and after SD challenge, call on field stands, a turnover to DEN, due to failure
  • MP says a computer hard drive failure was the cause, says more intense pre-game equipment testing will be done prior to games
  • Crew Chief R 85 Ed Hochuli
• 5:50 in video - 3rd game discussed is Sun 14-Sep-08: OAK 23 @ KC 8, 3Q @ 12:33 (Muffed punt)
  • KC punts and first touches ball
  • MP says OAK can risk-free try to recover and return for a TD; if OAK fumbles and KC gains possession, OAK can accept the first touch foul, and re-take ball
  • Crew Chief R 66 Walt Anderson

Week 1 Episode Dated 10-Sep-08 http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80ab4f60
Host: Rich Eisen, With: Mike Pereira, Length: 6:14
NFLN TA/OR Summary: VP of NFL Officiating Mike Pereira looks at some debated calls and non-calls from Week 1.

My summary:

• 0:26 in video - 1st Game discussed is Sun 07-Sep-08: SEA 10 @ BUF 34, 3Q @ 2:27 left (Fake FGA)
  • Mike confirms it's legal to throw to BUF DE 92 who reported as eligible
  • MP's concern is of BUF DE 92 is not part of an substitution package
  • Lingering is UNS and prevents departing or entering substitutes being part of the deceptive aspect of this play
  • MP notes that he doesn't know if BUF DE 92 was part of the substitution package
  • Crew Chief: R 65 Walt Coleman
• 2:36 in video - 2nd Game discussed is Sun 07-Sep-08: CHI 29 @ IND 13, 2Q @ 4:05 left (Safety Touch)
  • Rich didn't know that the whole ball had to leave the EZ
  • MP mentions that it seems like a contradiction, but obviously it isn't, and logically explains how the whole ball must leave the EZ
  • Challenge issued: call on field upheld
  • Crew Chief: R 132 John Parry
• 3:52 in video - 3rd Game discussed is Sun 07-Sep-08: DAL 28 @ CLE 10, 2Q @ 9:55 left (Celebration after TD)
  • Owens earns a UNS flag for doing a Usain Bolt imitation after a TD
  • Rich notes that the NFL is accused of standing for No Fun League
  • MP says the rule is to show sportsmanship and team concept as these are paramount as the NFL is emulated by lower levels of football
  • Going to the ground is only permitted to Praise the Lord (MP doesn't wish to be hit by lightning)
  • Crew Chief: R 63 William F. Carollo

Pre-Season Episode Dated 03-Sep-08 http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80a7b1bc
Host: Fran Charles, With: Mike Pereira, Length: 7:04
NFLN TA/OR Summary: NFL VP of Officiating Mike Pereira breaks down the league's new rules for the 2008 season.

My summary:

• Fran mentions that OR is one of the most popular segments of TA. (We already knew that!)
• Fran mentions that there are 6 new rule changes.
  • No force out rule. Two feet must come down inbounds, even with being pushed. Fran mentions that coaches are now coaching differently; that players are now more playing the man as opposed to playing the ball.
  • No more incidental facemask foul. MP says that the colleges removed the 5-yard variety, and MP agreed it's good for the NFL, as there was no advantage gained, citing a play where both A and B incidentally grabbed the facemask against each other. In '07, there were 29 5-yard facemask fouls.
  • Catch/Incompletion tweaked every year according to Fran. MP says no, and that 50% of challenges are due to catch/no-catch. MP comment #1: "Maybe" to the difference between EZ and FoP rulings. The deciding factor in judgment is the element of time vs a simulaneous possession loss. #2: Must survive contact with ground if no other force is present. #3: Must survive contact with ground if first force is by opponent before your 2 feet are both on ground.
  • Defensive players can wear a communication device. MP says it's too new to know how this affects defenses.
  • Officials sporting a new look - wearing the pant with the black stripe. Fran says that MP is a fashion guru. MP likes that the NFL has their own look and the unis are made of good fabric.