Column: NFL keeps open pipeline for game officials
(World News USA)

NEW YORK (AP) - One NFL fan is enraged by a penalty flag he sees fly on TV. He turns to the woman next to him and asks, `Where do they get these guys?` Replay then proves the call was correct, and the fan just shrugs as the woman replies: `Guess they know what they are doing.` Those officials come from a pipeline established by the NFL that seeks to identify people with the right skill set, temperament and judgment to handle a thankless job week after week. Often, the league puts a high premium on experience, even when some officials no longer seem to have the agility to keep up with the incredible speed of the game. Among current referees, Walt Coleman is in his 30th year as an NFL...