Former NFL referee John Parry discusses the league’s officiating problems.

Review-Journal NFL writer Greg Bedard recently discussed some of the problems with NFL officiating with retired Super Bowl LIII referee John Parry, who is now the rules analyst for ESPN. Parry also had some thoughts on how to right the ship, in the short and long term. No. 1: Pump up morale.

“I think you have to motivate and inspire the troops today. ‘Gentleman and lady, big-ticket items … Make your calls. Don’t trouble trouble. Let the players decide who wins this football game. Be cautious to where you insert yourselves. Go back to your basics and what you were taught for so many years, which is see the play, see the foul. If you love it, throw it. If you have any doubt, don’t. Basics, basics.’ I would have that meeting this week. ‘We’ve had a tough six weeks. We’re on the front page too much. Got to get off the front page. Let’s start with us. Starting with Week 7 let’s make sure we’re calling what we need to call.’ They understand that, I would understand that message. There’s too many flags. Too technical. We’re getting ourselves in trouble. That would be the first thing. No immediate fix, but it’s a starting point.”

No. 2: Get the bench ready now.

“We’re not going to change pass interference, so it is what it is. You can’t change some of the systemic problems overnight, but let’s begin to do that. There are 42 officials in the Officiating Development Program, the next generation. Their season ends around Thanksgiving. Are they just going to sit? I would say no. Somehow insert the best of them,