NFL Will Hire Up to 17 Full-Time Officials, Add 8th Referee to Game Crews

December 1, 2016   ·   Joseph Zucker   ·   Jump to comments

While speaking with the Associated Press (via ESPN.com), NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said he expects the league to hire up to 17 full-time officials for the 2017 season.
In addition, the NFL plans to add an eighth referee to game crews, up from the current number of seven.
The moves have yet to be finalized. Both propositions will be presented in front of the NFL competition committee in February, when they'll be officially set in motion if approved.
The quality of NFL officiating has been a storyline throughout the year, beginning with the season-opening game between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, when the league announced officials missed an illegal hit to Panthers quarterback Cam Newton's head.
In October, Newton told reporters he felt his safety on the field was under threat as a result of officials' failure to properly penalize opposing defenses for illegal hits.
"It's really taking the fun out...

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