Ref Gets Run Over Video: Richard Reel Hit on Percy Harvin TD

by Jon Azpiri | October 25, 2009 at 12:39 pm

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There were a lot of big play during the Minnesota Vikings vs Pittsburgh Steelers game, and one of the biggest plays featured Percy Harvin running a kickoff back for a touchdown. The Vikings touchdown cut the Steelers lead down to 20-17. It also cut down a ref. During the Percy Harvin run, ref Richard Reels got flattened by a Viking Jeff Dugan who was blocking for Harvin. After lying on the field for several minutes, Reels managed to leave the field under his own power.

The video of ref Richard Reels getting run over is a timely one. Just today, NFL officials talked about the possibility that some referees may start wearing helmets during the game. In particular, the league is considering helmets for umpires, the refs who are most at risk since they spend most of the game in the middle of the field.

After watching players collide with umpires far too often in this and in recent seasons, the NFL's Competition Committee will address the safety of its officials after this season, two NFL sources said.

Ultimately, umpires could be equipped with helmets like the players they try to officiate, or they could be shifted to different areas of the field further away from danger.

If the league opted for helmets for its umpires, they could be like the ones players wear or even an ear-flap baseball helmet.

For the records, Reels is a back judge and not an umpire. Still, his harrowing hit could prove to be another reminder that refs are in need of protection. Ironically, Reels had called a penalty earlier in the game against Jeff Dugan, the player who ran him over.

Here is the ref Richard Reel Getting Hit on Percy Harvin TD Video.

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

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