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Mike Carey
File:MikecareyNFL.jpg
Nationality	United States
Occupation(s)	NFL official (1990–Present) Co-Owner, Seirus Innovation
Spouse	Married
Children	Two
Website	http://www.seirus.com

Michael "Mike" Carey (born c. 1949) is a co-owner of Seirus Innovation, a privately held company that manufactures ski and snowboarding gloves, face protection, and other cold-weather accessories since 1979 and better known as an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) since the 1990 NFL season. Prior to his officiating career, he played college football as a running back for Santa Clara University.

Carey is a repected official in the NFL for his thorough pre-game preparation, professional demeanor, and fair play. He has also ejected the most players in the league among current referees, as of 2002, including incidents involving Sean Taylor and Terrell Suggs. Beginning his thirteenth year as referee during the 2007 NFL season, Carey's crew consists Dan Ferrell, Kent Payne, Mark Perlman, Buddy Horton, Tom Fincken, and Bill Schmitz.

Personal

Carey was a college football running back for Santa Clara University and suffered an ankle injury which affects his ability to run. Today, Carey limits himself to running on the days he is scheduled to officiate games.

He is an inventor who owns or shares eight ski apparel patents, including "Cat Tracks," a protective device which he created at age 30 to slip over the sole of a ski boot, preventing damage away from the ski run. Mike Carey is married to Wendy, who is the Chief Financial Officer of Seirus. They have two two daughters, Drisana and Danica, and currently reside in San Diego, California.

Officiating career

Early years

Carey began officiating football in 1972 working Pop Warner football games in the San Diego, California area. Later in 1985, he joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

National Football League

Carey was hired by the NFL in 1990 as a side judge before being promoted to referee for the start of the 1995 NFL season. He was the second African-American official to become a referee after Johnny Grier in 1988. Of all the active referees in the NFL, Carey has ejected the most players. He served as an alternate referee for Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002.

Memorable games

On October 3, 2005, Mike and his brother, Don, an NFL official as well (back judge), became the first brothers to officiate an NFL game together when they were assigned on the same officiating crew for the game between the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers.

At the start of overtime during a game between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers in December 2005, Carey was unable to locate a coin to use for the coin toss. He had given his coin to a child, who served as the Packers' honorary captain, at the game's opening kickoff. The field judge was able to supply Carey with a penny.

Carey was the referee during a 2005-06 playoff game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins. At the conclusion of a play during this game, Redskins safety Sean Taylor spit in the face of Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman . Pittman retaliated with a slap to Taylor's helmet. Carey immediately ejected Taylor from the game, as it could be heard through a microphone attached to Carey. Head linesman Steve Stelljes conferred with Carey over Pittman's actions, but Carey decided not to penalize Pittman. When questioned about taking no action against Pittman by Redskin players, Carey said in response to being spit upon, "What would you do?" Mike Pereira, the vice president of officiating, approved of Carey's handling of the incident saying, "offsetting personal fouls would not have been appropriate". Pereira added, "If anybody didn't eject somebody for spitting in somebody's face, I'd be disappointed."

References

1. ^ "Mike Carey Keynotes SCU Convocation" (Press release). Santa Clara University. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
2. "Industry Veterans Join The SIA Board Of Directors, New Chairman Appointed" (Press release). Transworld Media. 2007-09-17. Retrieved 2008-01-16. {{cite press release}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
3. Attner, Paul (2002-10-07). "Showing their stripes". The Sporting News. Retrieved 2006-08-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
4. ^ "Videotape Shows Taylor Spitting at Buc". The Washington Post. 2006-01-13. Retrieved 2007-12-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
5. Hensley, Jamison (2005-10-10). "Total meltdown". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2008-01-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
6. "National Football League Game Summary: Philadelphia Eagles At Green Bay Packers" (PDF). National Football League. 2007-09-09. Retrieved 2008-01-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
7. "Super Bowl Notebook". 2002-02-02. Retrieved 2007-12-01. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |pulisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
8. "Carey brothers mark NFL milestone". NFL.com. 2005-10-03. Retrieved 2006-09-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
9. ^ "Can't Have Coin Toss Without Coin". The New York Times. 2005-12-13. Retrieved 2007-12-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

• American football officials
• Living people
• African American sportspeople
• People from San Diego