Zac Boyer will be entering his third season covering the Washington Redskins for The Free Lance-Star this fall. Make sure to follow Zac on Twitter (@ZacBoyer) for the latest updates or e-mail him with any questions at zboyer@freelancestar.com.
Official Who Argued With DeAngelo Hall Taken Off Redskins Playoff Assignment
By ZAC BOYER
ASHBURN – Dana McKenzie, the head linesman whose dispute with DeAngelo Hall during a game earlier this season led to Hall receiving a $30,000 fine, was originally assigned to the Washington Redskins’ NFC wild card playoff game against Seattle on Sunday before his assignment was changed.
Hall
An NFL spokesman confirmed Thursday that McKenzie will not be on Peter Morelli’s crew, with which he has worked all season. That crew officiated the Redskins’ 27-12 loss at Pittsburgh on Oct. 28 in which Hall was ejected, and fined, for his tirade against McKenzie.
The specific reasoning for McKenzie’s reassignment was not given. Instead, he will work as the head linesman for the AFC wild card game between Baltimore and Cincinnati. Jon Lucivansky, Morelli’s usual field judge, will also officiate the game between Washington and Seattle.
Officials are chosen in the postseason based upon merit, with seniority and accuracy a large factor in assignments. While crews officiate games as a unit during the regular season, they are often scattered during the postseason.
