NFL Okay With Female Replacement Official Shannon Eastin Past Participation in WSOP

No worries for NFL replacement official Shannon Eastin in regard to her World Series of Poker back in 2007. 

Eastin, who is about to become the first female to officiate an NFL game Thursday night, was about to be “outed” by locked-out officials, according to reports that surfaced Wednesday night. 

"The NFL does extensive background checks on prospective officials, including the current group of replacement officials," NFL spokesman Michael Signora told ProFootballTalk.com. "All of them have passed the NFL's rigorous screening process, including Shannon Eastin. Past participation in an event such as a poker tournament does not disqualify a person from consideration as an NFL game official."

The NFL does maintain a strict no tolerance policy when it comes to officials gambling during the regular and post seasons.

- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com