NFL releases media video for officiating week 1

Aug 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; NFL referee Ed Hochuli (85) talks with other officials during the game between the Arizona Cardinals against the Houston Texans during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; NFL referee Ed Hochuli (85) talks with other officials during the game between the Arizona Cardinals against the Houston Texans during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFL wants the media to know what is going on this weekend when he flags start to fly. So much so that they have developed a video for the purpose of explaining everything for those in the media.

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In the video the Dean Landino the vice-president of officiating for the NFL commentates the video as he breaks down game film play by play. He illustrates the differences between what would constitute a foul and what would not. With new rules in place that put a greater emphasis on defensive fouls and illegal contact it’s no wonder that the NFL is putting emphasis in the video on those types of foul.

The NFL has received quite a bit of complaints from NFL teams, players, media, and fans regarding the totality of their penalties thus far. This past pre-season saw an increase in defensive pass interference and illegal contact penalties. Still they can’t catch everything.

Later in the video Landino shows examples of the officials getting the call wrong, specifically  a play called for illegal contact where the NFL had ruled that the contact was purely coincidental. The video itself is quite boring if you are not in to the deep caverns of the NFL rule books. If you are into the behind the scenes stuff then the video is worth taking a look at. The NFL is trying to change their image in terms of how games are called and it’s clear they are reaching to the media in the hopes of making sure that someone understands what they are trying to convey to the officials themselves.