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USA Today via Reuters
Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell talks on the sideline before a wild card game between the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
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USA Today via Reuters
Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell talks on the sideline before a wild card game between the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
After a season of controversial officiating calls, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recognizes the need for more consistent officiating. The NFL’s Competition Committee has made this their top priority, with a focus on ensuring that all officiating crews call games the same way and that the rulebook is internally consistent. And, the quality of officiating has been dismal in the last season with constant criticism from fans.
Troy Vincent, the former cornerback, points out the NFL’s Competition Committee’s highest priority and how to ensure consistency in officiating.
Aaron Rodgers: “Best refs in the league are on TV now”
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers recently suggested that the NFL’s top referees have left to work as officiating analysts for broadcasting partners.
“Listen, the best refs we’ve had in the league are on TV now,” Rodgers said.
“I think Gene Steratore was the best ref at interacting with players, controlling the game without being part of it. He’s on TV now because it pays more,” Aaron Rodgers added.
The former head of officiating, Mike Pereira believes that officiating is under-appreciated and that the head of officiating is the second-most important job in the league after the commissioner. “He has a point. I do feel that officiating is under-appreciated from the standpoint of the league,” Mike talking about Rodgers’ point of view.
NFL Competition Committee calls officiating consistency a top priority. https://t.co/n1JRsTbugG
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 25, 2023
At the press conference, a reporter asked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell if the league pays its officials enough and if the departures of referees have affected the quality of officiating.
As per Commissioner Goodell’s response, the officials who left for TV jobs were either nearing the end of their careers or working in the league office, and he did not think their departures had greatly impacted officiating quality.
Goodell claims that officiating is at its best, but critics beg to differ
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that the league’s officiating has never been better, but the NFL acknowledges the need for more consistent officiating. “When you look at officiating, I don’t think it’s ever been better in the league,” Goodell said.
According to Mike Pereira, “I give Roger Goodell the No. 1 job, but I think what happens in officiating and the integrity of the game, I think that position is so important that if you get the right one you should do everything to not let them get away.”
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NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent confirmed that officiating consistency was the top priority for the league’s Competition Committee, with a focus on ensuring that all 17 officiating crews call games the same way and that the rulebook is internally consistent. “Crew consistency was the theme” per Vincent.
Goodell’s claim received criticism from fans, but the Committee’s emphasis on consistency suggests that the league recognizes the room for improvement in officiating.
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So, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell thinks that officiating is great, but people aren’t too sure about that. Anyway, the league is trying to make the officiating more consistent, which is what some important guys like Mike Pereira and Troy Vincent want.
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