Jerome Boger

Infobox Person
name = Jerome Boger


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caption = Jerome Boger (left) with Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher
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occupation = NFL official (2004–"Present")
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nationality = USA

Jerome Boger (pronounced BOH-ger) (born c. 1955) is an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) since the 2004 NFL season.cite news | title=Training Camp Report: Boger's Father Gets Official Promotion | url=http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2006/08/08/3/ | first=Mike | last=Spofford | publisher=Green Bay Packers | date=2006-08-08 | accessdate=2007-09-09] He wears uniform number 23 since 2006; before that, he wore uniform number 109. 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), who previously wore uniform number 23, and Mike Carey (1995).

Personal

Boger played quarterback at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia cite web | first=Michael | last=Smith | url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2003/09/21/program_gets_minority_candidates_in_the_game?mode=PF | title=Program gets minority candidates in the game | publisher="The Boston Globe" | date=2003-09-21 | accessdate=2006-09-04] 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.

Jerome Boger has a son, Tra Boger, that plays defensive back in the NFL. Tra Boger is currently a free agent after being released from the Green Bay Packers on September 2, 2006. [cite web | first= | last= | url=http://www.packers.com/news/releases/2006/09/02/1/ | title= Packers Make Final Preseason Roster Reduction | publisher=Green Bay Packers | date=2006-09-02 | accessdate=2006-09-03] He had signed as an undrafted free agent with the team on May 5, 2006.

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

Officiating career

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

Boger's 2008 NFL officiating crew consists of Carl Paganelli, Jerry Bergman, Jeff Bergman, Terry Brown, Scott Steenson, Billy Smith

tomping 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. 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 and his ejection from the game [cite news | first= | last= | url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-titans-haynesworthejected&prov=ap&type=lgns | title=Tackle ejected for stomping on lineman's head | publisher="Associated Press" | date=2006-10-01 | accessdate=2006-10-09] . 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 [cite news | first= | last= | url=http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/TEN/9700907 | title=Titans' Haynesworth gets five-game suspension | publisher=National Football League | date=2006-10-02 | accessdate=2006-10-09] .

References