NEW ORLEANS — Jerome Boger, who was formally announced yesterday as the referee for Super Bowl XLVII, is unceremoniously being demeaned by his fellow officials.
Some officials have chosen the dishonorable path of anonymously questioning Boger’s selection by spreading myths and untruths to the media. These officials have decided to throw one of their own under the bus, when it’s apparent the real target is the National Football League.
The officials still are angry over the lockout, when comments were made publicly that demeaned them and everyone else who officiates on the professional level.
I not only know Jerome Boger, I hired him. He will rise above the fray.
So, does Boger deserve to referee Super Bowl XLVII, or have we been duped to believe he is not qualified and did not earn the assignment?
Boger finished the season ranked as the No. 1 referee. Not No. 2, 3, 4, or 5, which, by the way, still could have qualified him to referee the Super Bowl. The selection to work the Super Bowl is rotated among the top five officials at each position, and preference is given to those who have not had a chance to work the game previously. This system has been in place for years.
The detractors from within have stated Boger had eight downgrades dropped during the league’s weekly Wednesday review sessions.
What does that mean, and is it true?
Each game played in the NFL is evaluated and graded by an NFL supervisor on Mondays and Tuesdays, and a report is sent out to each crew listing the initial downgrades. The officials then may respond with their input. In the final review that occurs on Wednesday, the evaluating supervisor presents his grades on all major calls and the group will read the response from the officials. It is then they will vote to leave the grade as is or to drop it. Some downgrades might even be reassigned to another official who might have been responsible.
Did Boger get eight downgrades dropped? No, but some were. By the same token, 14 of the 17 referees had downgrades dropped.
Did the league predetermine this assignment so it could have an African-American referee a Super Bowl for the second time in history? I sincerely doubt that, although the league, I’m sure, is pleased with this. It’s no secret that the NFL has recruited minority candidates.
Did Boger work the required number of postseason games to qualify for the Super Bowl? Yes.
Did he qualify or not? I don’t have all the facts, and neither do the “deep throats.”
But here is what I do know. There are two ways to challenge playoff assignments: First, the officials’ union can file a grievance, which it did every year when I was VP of officiating for the NFL. This year is no different as the union has filed a grievance.
Or second, show your disdain for the league and talk anonymously to the media to try to embarrass the league. And while you’re at it, use a former supervisor who has his own ax to grind after being relieved of his duties midway through last season.
Fact or fiction? You be the judge.
Mike Pereira is Fox’s
NFL rules analyst.