The gag rule

Mike Carey's comments after the controversial Baltimore/Detroit game were very helpful. He gave his reasons for some of the calls he and his crew made in the heat of battle: an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a player giving an obscene gesture to the crowd, the ejection of a player for bumping him, etc.

Why aren't officials at the highest level allowed to talk more often?

I feel like it helps the game, simply because the officials frequently have it right or are enforcing a misunderstood (or even unknown) rule. Even when the officials get it wrong, it might help an official to say "I got this one wrong. I was screened, I feel bad, and it won't happen again."

Further, I'd like to see networks hire recently-retired officials to serve as special color commentators to explain the game from the officials' point of view, and to provide a human face for officials.

Don't get me wrong--I think this only should be done at the pro and big-college levels. I think the gag rule at the high school level, where I work, is a good idea. I have a big mouth and might well say something that could be misinterpreted into a microphone. Plus, I honestly don't want crazy parents to know my name.

But at the top level, I think officials talking about officiating is good for everybody. Give them a mike and put them on TV.