So this interesting: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--o...r-selecting-super-bowl-referee-145832403.html http://deadspin.com/5979862/is-the-...-put-an-unqualified-referee-in-the-super-bowl Above are quotes from the Yahoo story, below the Deadspin story: My thoughts, they took away his downgrades and said he didn't mess up all year. If those are accurate and his downgrades should't count, then he definitely should ref the SB and he meets qualifications even though the qualifications were never published until now. Who knows why the NFL does things like to this to draw attention to themselves.
Yeah read about it this morning in the Times. The NFL wants a black ref in the Super Bowl to show diversity, so they padded Boger's performance numbers throughout the season
They had the former head of officials on the satellite radio on the way home and he said that every single year the officials file a grievance about the superbowl selection. Basically because they're butt hurt. The only difference this year is that some dickweed felt the need to run to the media with details.
"This season, however, Daopoulos — and several officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly — said Carl Johnson, the league’s vice president for officiating, unilaterally overturned a number of Boger’s downgrades. Neither Johnson nor Ray Anderson, the league’s executive vice president for football operations, were made available for comment. But Signora, the spokesman, said, “No downgrade is removed unless there is a consensus among the supervisors and the head of the department.” Regardless, while appealing a grade is not unusual — 14 of 18 referees did so successfully this season, according to Signora — the fact that Boger had eight reversals is odd, according to Gerry Austin, who officiated in three Super Bowls from 1982 to 2008 and is now an ESPN contributor. ... Daopoulos said he believed the league’s motivation to promote Boger, who is black, was multilayered. “To be honest, this has happened before,” he said. “Grades were adjusted. I know the league is very interested in having diversity in the rank and file, and they’ve done a great job of doing that. And for that reason, they’ve tried to work this thing out so that Jerome could have the Super Bowl.”" http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/s...s-probable-pick-as-referee-is-questioned.html
Hahah, I love Jerome Boger, he's a gentle soul. This affirmative action type shit is out of hand though.
So why not Mike Carey? He's far better than Boger. Boger is terrible while Carey is one of the best in the league. I doubt it has to do with that at all. Boger should be called Mr Blown call. Every time I see him reffing a Jets game, I'm like, "we're fucked". So much for the integrity of the game. I bet the guy is easily paid off, hence the choosing of him.
I don't think this will substantively change the game, though the choice is interesting. I think it is either affirmative action or perhaps it is meant as a message to the top referrees not selected that the NFL is still their boss, not the other way around.
What I don't get is the incredibly low number of "downgrades" to begin with. Boger has 8 over the course of the season - which is incredible to me that it's not the lowest. It's far from actually. There were certain games alone where I saw more than 8 blown calls by the officials!!!
I understand the fairness argument, but, IMO, any "NFL-approved" referee should be good enough to officiate the SB. If not, then they shouldn't be reffing any games.