NFL to start swapping refs between crews game-to-game

Among the topics discussed at the recent NFL officiating clinic was a plan to swap officials from their crews based on a given week's lineup of games. The approach was visible on two occasions last season as the league battled a series of high-profile mistakes, and it will become a regular, if not frequent, part of officiating life in 2016.

"We're just trying to get the best seven officials on the field for every game," vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said, using words that sound familiar to anyone who has heard an NFL coach speak.

Blandino said he will make changes based on "matchups and things that we see." Sources gathered at the clinic said they expected the league to minimize the presence of inexperienced officials in high-profile games. The policy also would allow Blandino to swap out officials who make a public mistake, ensuring that they don't work a nationally televised game the ensuing week, as he did last season after back judge Greg Wilson missed an illegal bat penalty in Week 4.

Finally, Blandino acknowledged that crew chemistry could play a factor. He might decide, for example, that a referee and umpire -- who work together closely -- should be split up. The same goes for the head linesman and side judge, who work the same sideline.

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QuantumMechanic said:

Looks like more ways for Blandino to rig things...



Why the NFL will swap officials regularly in 2016

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robertweathers said:

OK so lets have all the good refs work the visible games and all the ****ty refs work the inconspicuous games.

Sounds like a CYA move to me.

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Actual Pats Fan said:

A thinly veiled attempt to ensure Ben Dreith's successor is assigned to the next big Patriots game.

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XLIX said:

I actually think that sounds like a good idea. We *should* have better refs working NE-Seattle than Cleveland-Jacksonville.

Having said that, I think this is about having officiating crews more prepared for the playoffs. Instead of being locked into one crew all season long then mixing things up in January, they decided to do more mixing during the season. Probably not the worst idea they've ever had, though I doubt it will make much difference.

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Gumby said:

If that was truly the intent, you hire 110-120% of the refs you need and use the spares to replace low performers while they retrain.

You dont constantly break up team chemistry That is silly.

And if you arent assigning ref-teams til week before or week of game, you can assign best REF-TEAMS to the hi profile games.

That he wants to move individual chess pieces and not whole sets strongly leads me to believe there is an ulterior motive (influence specific games with the 10% who will answer yes sir 3bags full)

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Gumby said:

Obviously blandino believes Gronk was undercalled for OPI last year, but if he just gets the right guy to call every single pats game . . . . Say, who was that ref from the pats-panthers game 2 years ago . . . he's blandino's binky. Or maybe the ref from donkeys game in denver.

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XLIX said:

I actually think that sounds like a good idea. We *should* have better refs working NE-Seattle than Cleveland-Jacksonville.

Having said that, I think this is about having officiating crews more prepared for the playoffs. Instead of being locked into one crew all season long then mixing things up in January, they decided to do more mixing during the season. Probably not the worst idea they've ever had, though I doubt it will make much difference.

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robertweathers said:

All Blandickhead is doing is transferring a problem and not improving. Hes just improving on the cosmetics and limiting the exposure.

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RelocatedPatFan said:

Would he be making the problem worse by putting "worse" crews together or do you think they'll be better because they don't know each other (sorta like always being on their best behavior)?

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