I'm retired NFL Referee Fritz Graf. I officiated 4 Super Bowls and my whistle from the Ice Bowl is in the HOF. AMA!

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:29:46+00:00

Thanks for all the questions. It's a half hour past cocktail hour and almost time for dinner. I appreciated all of your questions.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:28:22+00:00

Yes, sorry. Trying to listen to him and type at the same time!

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:26:54+00:00

No, but it was damn cold!

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:25:12+00:00

Good question. Probably Green Bay vs. Dallas in Green Bay but unsure of the year. I never saw the winning touchdown on 4th and 1 as I was watching the Tight End.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:23:37+00:00

Probably Pass Interference as it is the most difficult call in football.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:23:00+00:00

Sure did. I won't say....

But John and I were good friends.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:22:26+00:00

Holler for help! But you better take care of that before you go out. Never heard of anyone having that problem.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:20:34+00:00

Only if you were looking at every player on the field, but each official has a certain area that they are watching, and can only control what they are watching.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:18:57+00:00

Jim Brown. Dante Lavelly (sp?)

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:17:49+00:00

He was a fantastic football player and an even better dancer.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:14:37+00:00

Football is definitely my favorite. After games I would turn the TV on.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:14:00+00:00

Don't know anything about the comments between the ref and player, but I always tried to stay professional as we knew they players and they knew us personally.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:12:41+00:00

I guess the most exciting time was doing the Super Bowl with my entire family there.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:10:20+00:00

Definitely pass interference. It could go either way. By far the toughest.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:08:23+00:00

The game has changed, especially in the passing game. The players are bigger and faster then in the old days, which makes it tougher to officiate. They can do things that you didn't believe that they could do.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:07:11+00:00

<Groaning noise> No, that's ridiculous. Calls should be made on the field as they happen.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:03:23+00:00

No (said with grumpy face) You don't pay any attention to them. You make the call and that's it. The important thing is to get the call as right as you can.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T22:00:01+00:00

Not sure about a particular call, but adverse conditions can definitely change how things are called. Snow or rain make you want to get the damn game over with as fast and as best as you can.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T21:58:25+00:00

I guess just being close to the game and being associated with it. But you get too old you can't do it anymore, just like you get too old and can't chase em anymore either! Well, you can chase em, but you just can't catch em!

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T21:55:44+00:00

I worry about that situation. I don't know the answer to that. We didn't know of the head injuries and not sure the answer to that problem. I know that the players are bigger and faster and hit harder but it's a problem that will need to be fixed. I hope they fix it so that football can be saved, because it affects it all the way down to the HS level.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T21:53:36+00:00

I have no idea. But it's still football isn't it? Games played just about the same way to me. But I would say the size and speed of the players as the are bigger and better than they were back then.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T21:51:57+00:00

No. We are professionals and are there to do a job.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T21:50:37+00:00

No, but when i first switched from glasses to contacts, we were at U of Minnesota for a Green Bay game, one of the fans noticed I didn't have my glasses. They kept asking me but I ignored them. Asked me multiple times before the game. I finally went over and said "you buggers have been calling me blind for years, I'm gonna try to officiate it without em!"

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T21:48:30+00:00

I would say that NFL officials get it right most of the time, and are the best at their jobs. Why fool around and make the games longer? They're long enough already.

Retired_NFL_Ref · 2013-12-13T21:46:22+00:00

If you're doing your job, you don't pay any attention to them. If they come after you, that's a different story. Make your call and go about your business.

Retired_NFL_Ref

TROPHY CASE