The Official Forum - officiating

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffsr17
I was wonder on a NFL football game. Does anyone watch the officials during the game to check on calls they made ? Do they get graded on their game? I now there is a lot going on during the game and I respect the job they do but, some calls seem a little strange to me. I have been asking this question for many years but, I never seem to get a answer. Any answer would be nice. Thank you

An NFL official (Doug Rosenbaum #67) lives in my home town and spoke at one of our officilas meetings. He spoke about the scrutiny NFL officials go through.

Officials in the NFL are graded on EVERY call they make on the field. They are given the grades, "good', "marginal", or "incorrect". These totals are then used to determine playoff games as well as retention of that official.

Their physical fitness is also scrutinized. NFL officials are REQUIRED to be in good physical shape. As a matter of fact, the NFL sends the EKG information to a teacher at Johns Hopskins University for him to read and he has detected things that the officials own private doctor missed. One official immediately went in for triple by-pass surgery and missed the season. Another official was diagnosed with the same condition that killed STL Cardinal's pitcher, Darryl (sp??) Kile.

Not only this, but the officials must tape their games and watch their performance sometime during the following week.
The NFL also sends a tape of all instant replay reviews with voice-over comments as well as a tape of many of the "good calls" and "bad calls" during the past week.

Bottom line: Officials in the NFL are graded much tougher than we will ever realize.