NFL referees are here this weekend to officiate during practice. They were at Friday Night Lights last night, and they'll be here to officiate today and tomorrow. Craig Wrolstad is the head official here explaining/clarifying some of the new rules for 2025:
• I asked if referees will be more, for lack of a better term, "flag happy" since flags can be picked up for missed facemask calls, and he said officials are still trying to aim to get it right in real time. Remember, replay can only pick up a flag, not put one on the field. So, if an egregious facemask happens and no flag is thrown, replay can't help. There won't be a flag. That's why I asked what I did. Throwing more flags would allow replay to be used more often to make calls correct more often.
• Wrolstad said, based on his interactions with him, Aaron Rodgers is one of the more relaxed quarterbacks on the field.
• I also asked if players who have issues with penalties are more under the microscope. Wrolstad said they watch film ahead of games and that certain players who struggle with penalties can "heighten their senses," but they still try to just judge plays as they come. He said players can help shed any reputation by stringing a couple of games together without penalties so they won't be as much on their radar. So, yes, referees do pay closer attention to players such as Joey Porter Jr.
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THE ASYLUM
Meeting with NFL officials
NFL referees are here this weekend to officiate during practice. They were at Friday Night Lights last night, and they'll be here to officiate today and tomorrow. Craig Wrolstad is the head official here explaining/clarifying some of the new rules for 2025:
• I asked if referees will be more, for lack of a better term, "flag happy" since flags can be picked up for missed facemask calls, and he said officials are still trying to aim to get it right in real time. Remember, replay can only pick up a flag, not put one on the field. So, if an egregious facemask happens and no flag is thrown, replay can't help. There won't be a flag. That's why I asked what I did. Throwing more flags would allow replay to be used more often to make calls correct more often.
• Wrolstad said, based on his interactions with him, Aaron Rodgers is one of the more relaxed quarterbacks on the field.
• I also asked if players who have issues with penalties are more under the microscope. Wrolstad said they watch film ahead of games and that certain players who struggle with penalties can "heighten their senses," but they still try to just judge plays as they come. He said players can help shed any reputation by stringing a couple of games together without penalties so they won't be as much on their radar. So, yes, referees do pay closer attention to players such as Joey Porter Jr.
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