That made Allen the first referee since 1962 to become an NFL referee without being an umpire. Tommy Bell was the last person to accomplish the feat in the early 1960s. Looking to predict NFL ...

It turned out to be Dean Blandino, the NFL's vice president of officiating ... No rookie official has jumped straight into the role of referee since Tommy Bell did it in 1962.

The referees will explicitly cite the replay assistant, when a replay is called for, starting this season. NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay said the referee will give a detailed ...