Jerome Boger

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Jerome Boger (pronounced BOH-ger) is an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) since the 2004 NFL season. He started in the league as a line judge and was promoted to referee in 2006 after two seasons. Along with Gene Steratore, he is one of two new referees for 2006, replacing retired officials Bernie Kukar and Tom White. Boger became the third African-American referee in the NFL after Johnny Grier (1988) and Mike Carey (1995). He wore the uniform number 109 for the 2004 and 2005 seasons, but changed to number 23 in 2006, likely to honor Grier, who wore the number in his 24 seasons as an on-field official (1981-2004).

Boger played quarterback at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia ^[1] and was a four year starter. Realizing that he did not have the football skills to make it on a professional level, he decided to get into officiating, allowing him to stay close to the game. He started working high school and recreational league games before moving up to small colleges. He spent 11 years in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and five seasons in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference from 1996 to 2000.

Boger has also served as a referee in Conference USA, Arena Football League, and NFL Europe (where he officiated in World Bowl XIV).

Jerome has a son that plays defensive back in the NFL, Tra. Tra is currently a free agent after being released from the Green Bay Packers on September 2, 2006 ^[2]. He had signed as an undrafted free agent with the team on May 5, 2006.

Boger resides in Conyers, Georgia. Outside of his NFL officiating duties, he is an underwriter for Allstate Insurance in Atlanta.

Boger's 2006 NFL officiating crew consists of Carl Madsen, Ed Camp, Jeff Bergman, Scott Steenson, Joe Larrew, and Perry Paganelli.

[edit] Stomping Incident

On October 1, 2006, Boger was the referee during a regular season game between the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans. In the third quarter of a game against the Cowboys, running back Julius Jones scored on a running play. Center Andre Gurode fell to the ground, and his helmet fell off. Titans' defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth tried to stomp on Gurode's head, but missed. A second stomp by Haynesworth opened a severe wound on Gurode's forehead, narrowly missing his right eye. Haynesworth was hit with a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness and was ejected from the game by Boger. In the midst of his protest to officials, Haynesworth took off his helmet and threw it to the ground, which led to another 15-yard penalty ^[3]. Gurode later received 30 stitches just above and below his right eye. After the game, Titans coach Jeff Fisher apologized on behalf of the Titans organization to Cowboys coach Bill Parcells. Haynesworth was suspended five games by commissioner Roger Goodell, which is the longest suspension for an on-field incident in NFL history ^[4].

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Smith, Michael (2003-09-21). Program gets minority candidates in the game. The Boston Globe. Retrieved on September 4, 2006.
2. ^ Packers Make Final Preseason Roster Reduction. Packers.com. Retrieved on September 3, 2006.
3. ^ Tackle ejected for stomping on lineman's head. Yahoo! (2006-10-01). Retrieved on October 9, 2006.
4. ^ Titans' Haynesworth gets five-game suspension. NFL.com (2006-10-02). Retrieved on October 9, 2006.