It hasn’t exactly been a banner year for NFL officiating. In fact, it’s been one of the most embarrassing seasons ever for officials. With that in mind, the league is taking steps to see that the embarrassment doesn’t carry over into the postseason.

Their solution appears to be more Dean Blandino in all of our lives.

The NFL announced on Wednesday that the competition committee has unanimously recommended, and commissioner Roger Goodell has approved plans to adjust officiating procedures for the playoffs, giving Blandino, the NFL Vice President of Officiating, a direct line of communication with the officials on the field during all playoff games.

“The committee feels strongly that giving the referee and Dean the ability to consult with each other in certain situations beyond instant replay will further support officiating in the playoffs,” said NFL Competition Committee Chairman Rich McKay. “The officials do a very difficult job exceedingly well, and we think this adjustment in the playoffs will make them even better.”

Blandino’s role will be to assist officials in the “correct application of rules in specific situations” not to help with judgment calls. Blandino is already in the ear of his officials during replay review, but this change allows him to help sort out plays that aren’t being reviewed and make sure that the calls on the field are the correct ones. As the release states:

“In addition to the VP of Officiating’s current role in Instant Replay, this consultation will only include the appropriate assessment of penalty yardage, the proper administration of the game clock, the correct down, or any other administrative matter not currently reviewable. This will not include the ability to call or change a foul, or otherwise become involved in on-field judgment calls that are not subject to the current Instant Replay system.”

The NFL rulebook is still in need of an overhaul and its officials must be better in the long run to preserve the integrity of the game. But for a league that’s officiating competence in some games has become a bigger story than the plays made on the field, it’s a small in-season step toward making sure the correct rules are enforced and calls are made on the field.

“We constantly strive to make our game progressively better for the players, coaches and fans,” said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent. “This change will assist our officials with an additional resource for clarity and consistency in game administration.”

PATS CONTINUE ROSTER SHUFFLE

The playoff-bound New England Patriots are doing the best they can to keep up with the wave of injuries that has hit their team in recent weeks.

After placing defensive lineman Dominique Easley on injured reserve Tuesday, the Pats declared running back LeGarrette Blount out for the season on Wednesday and placed him on IR. They signed lineman Ishmaa’ily Kitchen to replace Easley and have shuffled their practice squad, most notably adding running back Montee Ball to the group along with linebacker Kevin Snyder and wide receiver DeAndre Carter. To make room for those three players, the Pats release running back Trey Williams, WR Austin Hill and DL Kelcy Quarles from the practice squad.

There is sure to be more roster shuffling in New England on Thursday as the team claimed wide receiver Leonard Hankerson and offensive lineman LaAdrian Waddle off waivers.

After missing most of the 2014 season, Hankerson was having a pretty solid season in Atlanta, where he racked up 26 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns in eight games, before being placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury two weeks ago. He and the Falcons reached an injury settlement earlier this week, allowing him to pursue the opportunity in New England. Waddle started six games for the Lions this season, but lost his job and was subsequently released this week. Injuries have hampered the three-year vet, but he provides needed depth in New England.

In addition to adding those two players, the Patriots had running back Steven Jackson in town for a visit on Wednesday, though a signing is not imminent according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowler who currently ranks 18th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list has not played all season after being released by the Atlanta Falcons over the summer.

The 11-year veteran appeared to still have something left in the tank when he rushed for 707 yards with Atlanta in 2014, but has been looking for the right opportunity to be a part of a winning team, something he’s never experienced, since his release. The Patriots could certainly offer that opportunity and the veteran appears to be a fit for the role vacated by Blount. Still it remains to be seen if the two sides can come to an agreement to get Jackson on a playoff-bound team for the first time since 2004, his rookie year in the league.

PEYTON AND LUCK RETURN TO PRACTICE, BOTH RULED OUT SUNDAY

Peyton Manning made his return to the practice field for the Denver Broncos on Wednesday for the first time since exiting the team’s Week 10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and giving way to quarterback Brock Osweiler.

Manning was later diagnosed with a tear in the plantar fascia near his left heel, which he suffered the previous week in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He spent time in a cast and later a walking boot allowing the injury to heal and is now on the comeback trail, participating in practice one week after adding a throwing program to his rehab schedule. Still Manning has some rust to shake off and with the team 3-1 since Osweiler took over at the helm, there’s no reason to rush, that’s why coach Gary Kubiak has already ruled Manning out this week.

“That’s the next step, that he’s coming back to practice, and if you’re coming back to practice, then you’re working toward getting back on the field playing. Let me see where we’re at,” Kubiak said on Monday. “I’ve got to see where he’s at; we’ve got to talk through our situation and see where’s he at,” Kubiak said. “We went through a good week last week, gave him a weekend off, so we’ll see where he’s at.”

Manning isn’t the only high profile quarterback making his way back but ruled out this week. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who is recovering from a lacerated kidney, also practiced with the Colts on Wednesday, but will not play in this week’s key divisional battle against Houston.

“I’m not going to sit here and play that whole game with the Texans,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said, as reported by the Indianapolis Star. “He’s not playing.”

Luck initially suffered the kidney injury, as well as a partially torn abdominal muscle in the same Colts-Broncos affair in which Manning was hurt. Both players finished the game, but have been seen sparsely since.

In Luck’s case, he hasn’t even been cleared to participate fully in practice yet. He currently can only take part in individual drills but continues to be barred from 11-on-11 activities.

“My kidney is not fully healed,” Luck said. “And that does not allow me to be in a position with contact that could further injure myself worse.”

The Colts were hoping to have Luck back in time for Sunday’s matchup with Houston, which could go a long way toward determining the winner of the AFC South. Instead they will have to lean on either Matt Hasselbeck, who missed practice on Wednesday with a rib injury that knocked him out of last Sunday’s game, or Charlie Whitehurst, who replaced him in that loss.

“Every game you don’t play is a disappointment,” Luck said. “You want to get back as soon as you can. I wouldn’t say I’m surprised — you stick to the process — but I’m disappointed, sure.”