It has not been a good season for NFL zebras trying to earn their stripes.
The NFL is playing defense this week with regard to its officials, throwing a flag on the concept that it is incapable of adequately enforcing its own admittedly confusing rulebook.
Critics, citing a number of conspicuous errors this season, including glaring mistakes in last week’s 49ers and Raiders games, are calling for reforms.
Among them: the hiring of full-time officials in charge of each crew, advanced use of replay and examination of the hiring practices of younger officials.
Former Fox Sports analyst and former NFL vice president and director of officiating Mike Pereira said he was baffled by what he saw from the 49ers-Cardinals crew that struggled to even keep downs properly counted.