Scott Green (American football official)
Encyclopedia
Scott H. Green is an American
football
official
in the National Football League
since the 1991 NFL season
. He has officiated Super Bowls XXXVI
in 2002, XXXVIII
in 2004, and was the referee for XLIV
in 2010.
Outside of his part-time work in professional football, Green works as a Washington, D.C. lobbyist
for criminal justice
agencies as part of a firm he co-founded in 1994.
, where he was a linebacker and kicker. He is a 1973 graduate of the University of Delaware
, where he received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice
. Prior to his NFL career, from 1985 to 1990 Green was a Judiciary Committee
staff person under then-Senator Joe Biden
. In 1994, Green, a resident of Alexandria, Virginia
, co-founded the Lafayette Group, a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm
that focuses on public safety
; as of 2008 the firm employs 50 people.
before switching to back judge after the league swapped position titles at the start of the 1998 NFL season
.
Green wears uniform number 19.
and San Francisco 49ers
Wild Card playoff game played January 5, 2003 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Green and the officials apparently forgot that New York's Rich Seubert
, a guard who had lined up legally in a receiver's spot, was an eligible receiver. Seubert appeared to be interfered by a San Francisco defender on a botched field goal attempt while going downfield to receive a pass. Since Green was the downfield official, this was his play to cover, but had to scramble from the goalpost to get into position to cover the play. Green, not knowing that Seubert was eligible, did not throw a flag to signify the penalty. Instead, the Giants were called for having an illegal man downfield on the play. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
described the situation as the most disappointing officiating blunder he'd seen in his years as NFL commissioner and announced that officiating mechanics surrounding field-goal attempts and last plays of games would be changed.
when referee Johnny Grier
was injured. Green became a full time referee at the start of the 2005 NFL season
after Grier forced to retire due to a leg injury. Green's first experience as an NFL referee came on October 3, 2004 during a game between the New England Patriots
and Buffalo Bills
.
Green's 2011 NFL officiating crew consists of umpire Bruce Stritesky, head linesman Tom Stabile, line judge Tom Barnes, field judge Dyrol Prioleau, side judge Larry Rose and back judge Scott Helverson.
and San Diego Chargers
on November 16, 2008 at Heinz Field
in Pittsburgh. With Pittsburgh leading San Diego 11-10 and only five seconds left in the game with the Chargers on their own twenty yard line, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers
completed a short dump pass to running back LaDainian Tomlinson
, who shoveled it back to wide receiver Chris Chambers
in a desperation attempt to keep the play alive with a series of pitches. Chambers promptly attempted a seemingly legal lateral that was batted down and recovered by the Steelers' Troy Polamalu
, who took it into the end zone for a touchdown that would have ended the game with the Steelers ahead by eight points. Upon review by Green and his crew, however, one of the laterals involved in the play (Green was ambiguous as to which one) was deemed an illegal forward pass and ruled dead, officially ending the game in an 11-10 Steelers victory. While this had no bearing on the official outcome of the game, the dubious call led many fans and commentators to question the call as the game's betting line
had the Steelers favored by 5 points, meaning the botched call caused all bets placed on the Steelers to be losing ones. Green himself conceded that he and his crew made the wrong call following the game. The incident has prompted the NFL to discuss "potential administrative improvements for replay that would help to prevent this type of mistake in the future." Green's officiating in the game was also controversial for the imbalance in penalties called by Green and his crew (13 penalties for 115 yards on the Steelers; 1 penalty for 5 yards against the Chargers).
and the Arizona Cardinals
on January 10, 2010 at University of Phoenix Stadium
in Glendale, Arizona
. On the winning play, Cardinals cornerback Michael Adams
forced a fumble from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers
, which then bounced off Rodgers' foot (never touching the ground) before it was picked up by Arizona's Karlos Dansby
for a touchdown. Adams seemed to have a hold of Rodgers' facemask during the play, but Green did not call any penalty.
Sports Illustrated
writer Peter King
offered a possible explanation for why Green may have not seen the facemask:
Another question about the facemask was whether it was indeed flagrant or incidental. The 5-yard facemask penalty was eliminated prior to the 2008 season
, making an incidental facemask a legal play. Thus, it left officials only with a strictly judgment call as to whether it was worthy of a 15-yard personal foul penalty or not. When asked about the play, Bill Carollo
, former NFL referee and current Director of Officiating for the Big Ten Conference
, stated that he felt that the 15-yard face mask foul could have been called, or at least an unnecessary roughness penalty. However, Mike Pereira
, the NFL's Supervisor of Officials, said that it was indeed an incidental facemask (and thus no foul) since there was never a significant pull or twist to warrant the 15-yard penalty.
in Green Bay, Wisconsin
, Scott Green was again involved in controversial calls that helped the Packers win the game. "That's the worst officiated game I've seen," said Childress, whose team fell to 2-4 after losing four games in the entire 2009 regular season. "That referee came over and apologized to me for not calling a hold on the scramble by [Packers quarterback Aaron] Rodgers. And I'll tell you what, that's his job. Protect the quarterback and look at the left tackle. Look at the left tackle hold his tail off."
What set Childress off was Green's reversal of a 17-yard touchdown in the second quarter on what appeared to be a nice diving catch by tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. The drive stalled and the Vikings ended up getting a 28-yard field goal from Ryan Longwell, meaning four extremely valuable points were taken off the board.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
official
Official (American football)
In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.During professional and college football games, seven officials operate on the field...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
since the 1991 NFL season
1991 NFL season
The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills....
. He has officiated Super Bowls XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 regular season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots won their first Super...
in 2002, XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
in 2004, and was the referee for XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of...
in 2010.
Outside of his part-time work in professional football, Green works as a Washington, D.C. lobbyist
Lobbying in the United States
Lobbying in the United States targets the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and state legislatures. Lobbyists may also represent their clients' or organizations' interests in dealings with federal, state, or local executive branch agencies or the courts. Lobby...
for criminal justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
agencies as part of a firm he co-founded in 1994.
Background
Green is a 1969 graduate of Central Bucks High School in Doylestown, PennsylvaniaDoylestown, Pennsylvania
Doylestown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 8,380. The borough is the county seat of Bucks County.- History :...
, where he was a linebacker and kicker. He is a 1973 graduate of the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
, where he received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
. Prior to his NFL career, from 1985 to 1990 Green was a Judiciary Committee
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
staff person under then-Senator Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
. In 1994, Green, a resident of Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, co-founded the Lafayette Group, a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm
Lobbying in the United States
Lobbying in the United States targets the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and state legislatures. Lobbyists may also represent their clients' or organizations' interests in dealings with federal, state, or local executive branch agencies or the courts. Lobby...
that focuses on public safety
Public Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
; as of 2008 the firm employs 50 people.
Officiating career
Green started in the NFL as a field judge with the start of the 1991 NFL season1991 NFL season
The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills....
before switching to back judge after the league swapped position titles at the start of the 1998 NFL season
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
.
Green wears uniform number 19.
Giants - 49ers playoff game
Considered by some to be the top back judge in the league, Green was involved in a controversial finish to a New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
Wild Card playoff game played January 5, 2003 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Green and the officials apparently forgot that New York's Rich Seubert
Rich Seubert
Rich Seubert is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants out of Western Illinois University in 2001. Seubert lives in Wayne, New Jersey.-High school career:...
, a guard who had lined up legally in a receiver's spot, was an eligible receiver. Seubert appeared to be interfered by a San Francisco defender on a botched field goal attempt while going downfield to receive a pass. Since Green was the downfield official, this was his play to cover, but had to scramble from the goalpost to get into position to cover the play. Green, not knowing that Seubert was eligible, did not throw a flag to signify the penalty. Instead, the Giants were called for having an illegal man downfield on the play. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
Paul Tagliabue
Paul John Tagliabue is a former Commissioner of the National Football League. He took the position in 1989 and was succeeded by Roger Goodell, who was elected to the position on August 8, 2006. Tagliabue's retirement took effect on September 1, 2006. He had previously served as a lawyer for the NFL...
described the situation as the most disappointing officiating blunder he'd seen in his years as NFL commissioner and announced that officiating mechanics surrounding field-goal attempts and last plays of games would be changed.
Promotion to referee
He became a referee on a part-time basis during the 2004 NFL season2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
when referee Johnny Grier
Johnny Grier
Johnny Grier was an American football official for 23 years in the National Football League from 1981 to 2004. He began in the NFL as a field judge before becoming the first African-American referee in the history of the NFL with the start of the 1988 NFL season...
was injured. Green became a full time referee at the start of the 2005 NFL season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
after Grier forced to retire due to a leg injury. Green's first experience as an NFL referee came on October 3, 2004 during a game between the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
and Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Green's 2011 NFL officiating crew consists of umpire Bruce Stritesky, head linesman Tom Stabile, line judge Tom Barnes, field judge Dyrol Prioleau, side judge Larry Rose and back judge Scott Helverson.
Steelers - Chargers game
Green was involved in another controversial finish during a game he was officiating between the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 16, 2008 at Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
in Pittsburgh. With Pittsburgh leading San Diego 11-10 and only five seconds left in the game with the Chargers on their own twenty yard line, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
completed a short dump pass to running back LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.Tomlinson, often referred to by his initials, L...
, who shoveled it back to wide receiver Chris Chambers
Chris Chambers
Christopher J. "Chris" Chambers is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
in a desperation attempt to keep the play alive with a series of pitches. Chambers promptly attempted a seemingly legal lateral that was batted down and recovered by the Steelers' Troy Polamalu
Troy Polamalu
Troy Aumua Polamalu is an American football strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He played college football at the University of Southern California.-High school:Troy Polamalu graduated...
, who took it into the end zone for a touchdown that would have ended the game with the Steelers ahead by eight points. Upon review by Green and his crew, however, one of the laterals involved in the play (Green was ambiguous as to which one) was deemed an illegal forward pass and ruled dead, officially ending the game in an 11-10 Steelers victory. While this had no bearing on the official outcome of the game, the dubious call led many fans and commentators to question the call as the game's betting line
Spread betting
Spread betting is any of various types of wagering on the outcome of an event, where the pay-off is based on the accuracy of the wager, rather than a simple "win or lose" outcome, such as fixed-odds betting or parimutuel betting. A spread is a range of outcomes and the bet is whether the outcome...
had the Steelers favored by 5 points, meaning the botched call caused all bets placed on the Steelers to be losing ones. Green himself conceded that he and his crew made the wrong call following the game. The incident has prompted the NFL to discuss "potential administrative improvements for replay that would help to prevent this type of mistake in the future." Green's officiating in the game was also controversial for the imbalance in penalties called by Green and his crew (13 penalties for 115 yards on the Steelers; 1 penalty for 5 yards against the Chargers).
Packers - Cardinals game
Green was involved in a third controversial finish, this time during overtime of a playoff game between the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on January 10, 2010 at University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium, opened August 1, 2006, is a multipurpose football stadium located in Glendale, Arizona. It is the home of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League and the annual Fiesta Bowl...
in Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
. On the winning play, Cardinals cornerback Michael Adams
Michael Adams (American football)
Michael Wayne Adams is an American football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Louisiana-Lafayette.-External links:*...
forced a fumble from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Packers...
, which then bounced off Rodgers' foot (never touching the ground) before it was picked up by Arizona's Karlos Dansby
Karlos Dansby
Karlos Montez Dansby is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
for a touchdown. Adams seemed to have a hold of Rodgers' facemask during the play, but Green did not call any penalty.
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
writer Peter King
Peter King (sportswriter)
Peter King is an American sportswriter. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated and its Web site, including the weekly multiple-page column Monday Morning Quarterback. He is the author of five books, most notably Inside the Helmet, as well as a TV analyst and reporter...
offered a possible explanation for why Green may have not seen the facemask:
Another question about the facemask was whether it was indeed flagrant or incidental. The 5-yard facemask penalty was eliminated prior to the 2008 season
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
, making an incidental facemask a legal play. Thus, it left officials only with a strictly judgment call as to whether it was worthy of a 15-yard personal foul penalty or not. When asked about the play, Bill Carollo
Bill Carollo
William F. "Bill" Carollo is a retired American football official who officiated National Football League games from the 1989 through 2008. He wore uniform number 63. Carollo officiated in two Super Bowls and seven conference championship games...
, former NFL referee and current Director of Officiating for the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
, stated that he felt that the 15-yard face mask foul could have been called, or at least an unnecessary roughness penalty. However, Mike Pereira
Mike Pereira
Mike Pereira is a former Vice President of Officiating for the National Football League . He first took over the position in 2001, succeeding Jerry Seeman. He was also a game official in the NFL for two seasons as a side judge on the officiating crew headed by referee Mike Carey...
, the NFL's Supervisor of Officials, said that it was indeed an incidental facemask (and thus no foul) since there was never a significant pull or twist to warrant the 15-yard penalty.
Packers - Vikings game
On October 24, 2010 at Lambeau FieldLambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, Scott Green was again involved in controversial calls that helped the Packers win the game. "That's the worst officiated game I've seen," said Childress, whose team fell to 2-4 after losing four games in the entire 2009 regular season. "That referee came over and apologized to me for not calling a hold on the scramble by [Packers quarterback Aaron] Rodgers. And I'll tell you what, that's his job. Protect the quarterback and look at the left tackle. Look at the left tackle hold his tail off."
What set Childress off was Green's reversal of a 17-yard touchdown in the second quarter on what appeared to be a nice diving catch by tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. The drive stalled and the Vikings ended up getting a 28-yard field goal from Ryan Longwell, meaning four extremely valuable points were taken off the board.