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The National Football League (NFL) is currently experimenting with a new field official for its four pre-season games. Named "deep judge", this will be the eight on-field official and is positioned in the defensive backfield opposite the back judge.
The new official's main responsibility is to watch for eligible receivers. He will also help with watching the other parts of the field since assignments have been changed after the umpire was moved into the offensive backfield.
This experimental eighth official was part of the crew that worked during games on Friday between Atlanta and Miami and Saturday's games between Tennessee and Carolina and New York and Baltimore. It will also be used for Thursday's Cincinnati-Indianapolis game.
The four games will be evaluated by the competition committee before the NFL can decide whether or not to make the new official a permanent addition for the regular season in 2011.
