Pay the Referees

boccy23

Well, after a week 1 in which the performance of the referees was "ok", week 2 proved that the professionals need to be brought back.

I watched a number of games and the standard of refereeing was terrible. Also, the players now know that and some of the cheap shots were Ronnie Lott like. The hit by Golden Tate was over the top.

If the league persists in it's financial stance, then the coaches should be given 3 or 4 challenges per game. John Fox used his 2 by half time and was lucky that the touchdown happened inside the 2 minute warning.

One of the things I always liked in the NFL was the fact that the calls were correct. If a human error was made, replay sorted that out. And once the league said a certain hit was to be taken out of the game, then they would.

These replacement guys are just clowns. I had a real issue with the hit put on Frank Gore when scoring the touchdown in week 1 versus the Packers. He got laid out by a Packer who hit him in the face mask with the crown of his helmet. 15 yards with professional referees.

It's only a matter of time before a D lineman injures one of the stud QBs and then the NFL will act.

Trampas

I agree 100% The game is worth billions every year and it is not like the refs are looking for millions each.

only chicken feed in the grand scheme of things. currently it is hurting the game with some of the crazy calls. some refs are even bottling it in games

evil_seed

I watched 3 games this weekend. Panthers - Saints, Eagles - Ravens & Rams - skins.

In all 3 games you could see through the players actions that have zero respect for the replacement refs. The actions of some of the guys was terrible, especially in the Eagles - Ravens game. How some of them stayed on the field after throwing punches and throwing guys to the ground long after the play was done is incredible. Add this to the fact that the refs in all games mis-spotted the ball countless times, missed turning on the mic to explain penaltied, when calling penalties on an individual player only said "offence" or "defense" and didn't call the players number. I think too that the Rams really went out of their way to go after RG3. Watch it again

Pay the pros. Bring back the good zebras!

edit: Steve Young says it perfectly

Lionbacker

boccy23 wrote: »

One of the things I always liked in the NFL was the fact that the calls were correct. If a human error was made, replay sorted that out.

Don't agree with that statement at all. The professional refs miss lots of calls too. Off the top of my head I can think of 3 instances straight away involving the Lions last year where it has cost them points & in some cases maybe the game, against the Packers, 49ers & Saints.

It seems to me people are looking back at the professional refs with rose tinted glasses. Granted, it would be great if the whole ordeal was sorted out, but you can be sure that as soon as this controversey is over, fans will start complaining just like in years passed about officials missing calls.
It's just in this case, the fact the the refs at the moment are not professional is the stick used to beat them with.

CoachTO

Lionbacker wrote: »

Don't agree with that statement at all. The professional refs miss lots of calls too. Off the top of my head I can think of 3 instances straight away involving the Lions last year where it has cost them points & in some cases maybe the game, against the Packers, 49ers & Saints.

It seems to me people are looking back at the professional refs with rose tinted glasses. Granted, it would be great if the whole ordeal was sorted out, but you can be sure that as soon as this controversey is over, fans will start complaining just like in years passed about officials missing calls.
It's just in this case, the fact the the refs at the moment are not professional is the stick used to beat them with.

I agree the regular guys make a lot of stupid calls at times and plenty of moments over the years where calls baffled people. But its the consistency of horrible calls these new guys have made that make it hard not to want the other guys back even if they are making mistakes also. The experienced guys arent perfect but the stand ins are way off the standard of the regulars and that really doesnt say a lot for them.

Every game last season you would get say 3-4 calls that were wrong or 50-50 shouts but they were for the most part small non controversial calls. This year about every game has 3-4 controversial game changing calls made. Its hard not to pick on the new guys. They are just not experienced enough at a pro level.

Lionbacker

CoachTO wrote: »

I agree the regular guys make a lot of stupid calls at times and plenty of moments over the years where calls baffled people. But its the consistency of horrible calls these new guys have made that make it hard not to want the other guys back even if they are making mistakes also. The experienced guys arent perfect but the stand ins are way off the standard of the regulars and that really doesnt say a lot for them.

Can agree with that. Just was getting on my nerves a bit with people saying how almost perfect the regular refs were last season, whereas can remember them blowing calls in a number of games completely changing them in a few cases

CoachTO wrote: »

Every game last season you would get say 3-4 calls that were wrong or 50-50 shouts but they were for the most part small non controversial calls. This year about every game has 3-4 controversial game changing calls made. Its hard not to pick on the new guys. They are just not experienced enough at a pro level.

Yeah, I've seen a few games this year where the refs have become the centre of attention like last night for example, but I'm not too sure on 3-4 controversial game changing decisions every game. Most games I've seen, you wouldn't notice the refs weren't the regulars.
But I suppose its the games where they are awful that will stand out & in particular the games this week. Will be interesting to see how they do next weekend. Can only hope they get a little bit better but that could be rather optimistic.

Stev_o

Tbh it's not the calls that irk me it's the indecisiveness! They ll spend forever talking over a call going back and fourth! Just make your decision and live with it!

Chucky the tree

It's not really about the money. NFL want to the refs to go full time while the refs don't want to do this. The biggest thing that makes the refs look bad is the fact they spend far to much time talking things over and the players give them zero respect. They need to act quicker(even if it means they get things wrong tbh) and need to start ejecting players from the game.

Son Of A Vidic

Anyone who saw the Pats Vs Giants preseaeon game, would have seen a new level of incompetence. During one play it took the refs 5 minutes to accurately call what had happened on the pitch. I think the ref had to change his call to the crowd 5 times. It was an absolute joke to see. I felt bad for the poor officials, but they really shouldn't have been out there.

As for rose tinted glasses, I would say most fans live in the real world and are aware that mistakes happen and will always happen during games. But the evidence on the pitch speaks for itself so far. Most of us want the A team out on the pitch, not the B team.

As I said over in the Pats thread earlier, game officials are kind of like an offensive line. When they are good and doing their job well, you don't really notice them. But when they are are bad and not doing their job, you really do notice them.

At the moment, they are just getting noticed a little bit too much for comfort. It's time for the NFL to crack heads together and sort out the current impasse pronto.

JaMarcus Hustle

Bump. Mind boggling ineptitude on display again tonight, some of the most stupid calls you've ever seen. Ruining our sport.

Syferus

What sort of condition will these officials be in when they do come back? It's doubtful they'll be operating at 100% themselves after such a long lay-off from real games.

JaMarcus Hustle

Syferus wrote: »

What sort of condition will these officials be in when they do come back? It's doubtful they'll be operating at 100% themselves after such a long lay-off from real games.

Irrelevant. They simply cannot be as bad as the current circus.

Syferus

JaMarcus Hustle wrote: »

Irrelevant. They simply cannot be as bad as the current circus.

Of course but we'll likely end up with a continuation of more than usual amounts of bad calls for a few weeks even after they return. It looks like it'll be a black year for the rules either way.

JaMarcus Hustle

Syferus wrote: »

Of course but we'll likely end up with a continuation of more than usual amounts of bad calls for a few weeks even after they return. It looks like it'll be a black year for the rules either way.

Again, irrelevant. I'll repeat - they can't be as bad as this circus.

If they make bad calls when they return, it will still be less than these guys. If it helps one team get extra points that they've genuinely deserved, then it'll be worth it.

spiralism

Syferus wrote: »

Of course but we'll likely end up with a continuation of more than usual amounts of bad calls for a few weeks even after they return. It looks like it'll be a black year for the rules either way.

At this rate im worrying that it taints a championship. And could you imagine this refereeing bull**** in a Super Bowl? :eek:

Syferus

spiralism wrote: »

At this rate im worrying that it taints a championship. And could you imagine this refereeing bull**** in a Super Bowl? :eek:

That Baltimore crowd sounded like one of the most lubricated I've ever heard in my life, in between the bull**** chants they'd start singing like they were at a frat party.

HigginsJ

Please pay the Refs.

This is getting ridiculous

Hazys

Last night was a disgrace. Horrible game to watch as a spectator and lover of the sport. The game was a farce. I feel sorry for the players, they had no clue what was right or wrong, what they could do or couldnt do, it was madness.

I don't blame the replacement refs, they were put in a situation where they are way over their heads and are too easily intimated. The NFL has to sort this now! Its gotten progressively worse each week and its only going to get worse. I have always been on the side of Goodell because i always thought he was trying to do the right thing for the integrity of the sport but after some of the sh1t that has happened in games, i'm starting to get the impression he doesn't give a fcuk about anything but saving a few bucks.

This bandage solution is not working and its becoming painfully clear.

Stev_o

spiralism wrote: »

At this rate im worrying that it taints a championship. And could you imagine this refereeing bull**** in a Super Bowl? :eek:

Eh http://www.aolnews.com/2010/08/06/nfl-referee-admits-mistakes-in-seahawks-steelers-06-super-bowl/

adrian522

Anyone watching the 49ers game?

Harbaugh called a timeout (his 3rd) to stop the clock, then proceeded to challenge the play (even though he now had no timeouts), won the challenge and got his timeout back, all the while the clock was stopped.

A bit crazy to say the least.

Hazys

On the possibility of Belichick getting disciplined for touching the ref, I think if he gets fined it’s extremely harsh.

He was chasing after a ref to get an explanation (which he is entitled to) of why there was no review of the FG (especially if the refs are not upto scratch they could have missed a potnetially game changing challenge). The ref ignored him which by any anybody's standards was extremely rude. He did what anybody would do in a situation where you are being ignored by somebody, was touch him to get his attention. Calling it a "grab" seems a bit far fetched as, as soon as he touched him and he relized he was getting no response, he let go.

I didn't see it as anyway violent or aggressive but a normal reaction to being ignored. He looked very confused at what was going on.

Unfortunately he is going to be made an example of, to keep this farce going.

Even harsher was that Harbaugh's constant berating of the refs after the warranted Ngata personal foul on Brady resulted in two ridiculous calls on Gronk and Edelman on the same drive. Belichick seemed quiet reserved in comparison to Harbaugh throughout the game.

HigginsJ

Hazys wrote: »

On the possibility of Belichick getting disciplined for touching the ref, I think if he gets fined it’s extremely harsh.

He was chasing after a ref to get an explanation (which he is entitled to) of why there was no review of the FG (especially if the refs are not upto scratch they could have missed a potnetially game changing challenge). The ref ignored him which by any anybody's standards was extremely rude. He did what anybody would do in a situation where you are being ignored by somebody, was touch him to get his attention. Calling it a "grab" seems a bit far fetched as, as soon as he touched him and he relized he was getting no response, he let go.

I didn't see it as anyway violent or aggressive but a normal reaction to being ignored. He looked very confused at what was going on.

Unfortunately he is going to be made an example of, to keep this farce going.

Even harsher was that Harbaugh's constant berating of the refs after the warranted Ngata personal foul on Brady resulted in two ridiculous calls on Gronk and Edelman on the same drive. Belichick seemed quiet reserved in comparison to Harbaugh throughout the game.

He'll get nice hefty fine. The NFL game out during the week and warned coaches about trying to influence/intimidate the refs.

The coaches/players have no respect for these guys. As they said last night could you imagine any of this stuff going on if Ed Hochuli were on charge of the game.

Chucky the tree

Hazys wrote: »

On the possibility of Belichick getting disciplined for touching the ref, I think if he gets fined it’s extremely harsh.

He was chasing after a ref to get an explanation (which he is entitled to) of why there was no review of the FG (especially if the refs are not upto scratch they could have missed a potnetially game changing challenge). The ref ignored him which by any anybody's standards was extremely rude. He did what anybody would do in a situation where you are being ignored by somebody, was touch him to get his attention. Calling it a "grab" seems a bit far fetched as, as soon as he touched him and he relized he was getting no response, he let go.

I didn't see it as anyway violent or aggressive but a normal reaction to being ignored. He looked very confused at what was going on.

Unfortunately he is going to be made an example of, to keep this farce going.

Even harsher was that Harbaugh's constant berating of the refs after the warranted Ngata personal foul on Brady resulted in two ridiculous calls on Gronk and Edelman on the same drive. Belichick seemed quiet reserved in comparison to Harbaugh throughout the game.

Since when is Bill entitled to a explanation? If the game is over and the ref doesn't want to listen to abuse from Bill than he isn't forced to stand there and take it. Just because Bill doesn't like this means he can grab the official. It was very poor form on Bills part and a fine is rightly deserved.

Hazys

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Since when is Bill entitled to a explanation? If the game is over and the ref doesn't want to listen to abuse from Bill than he isn't forced to stand there and take it. Just because Bill doesn't like this means he can grab the official. It was very poor form on Bills part and a fine is rightly deserved.

Of course HCs are allowed an explanation of a decision and incidents. This has been pretty much standard protocol for awhile now.

Was it not rude from the official to ignore him?

JaMarcus Hustle

If Bill get's fined, I'm just going to pretend it's for abysmal play-calling, so I'm all for it.

JaMarcus Hustle

I've never heard a chant as loud and as angry as this one from last night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU48z9teJ7A

Chucky the tree

Hazys wrote: »

Of course HCs are allowed an explanation of a decision and incidents. This has been pretty much standard protocol for awhile now.

Was it not rude from the official to ignore him?

Since when are they allowed? Is it in the rule book? I don't think it's rude to ignore someone who is shouting at you, I would do the same.

JaMarcus Hustle wrote: »

I've never heard a chant as loud and as angry as this one from last night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU48z9teJ7A

Funnily enough the chant also works really well for Harbaughs excuse.

Hazys

JaMarcus Hustle wrote: »

I've never heard a chant as loud and as angry as this one from last night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU48z9teJ7A

At the time the chant was unjustifed by the Ravens. They had a just had a int overturned for defensive PI which was completely justifed and Harbaugh ran onto the pitch to harass the refs and then pretend to call a timeout which you cant do which warranted a unsportsmanlike conduct flag.

But tbh both sets of fans were so disillusioned with the calls on the field that nobody could trust the decisions of the officals anymore either way.

Sh1t is hitting the fan. If the Ravens fans started these chants this week, i cant imagine what will happen in Foxboro next weekend if any decision goes against the Pats...this is going to get out of hand very quickly if it hasnt already.

Hazys

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Since when are they allowed? Is it in the rule book? I don't think it's rude to ignore someone who is shouting at you, I would do the same.

Are you being naive for the sake of being naive?

Are you saying you have never seen a HC call an official over to the sideline to explain a call or an incident or clarification on a rule?

Chucky the tree

Hazys wrote: »

Are you being naive for the sake of being naive?

Are you saying you have never seen a HC call an official over to the sideline to explain a call or an incident or clarification on a rule?

I have seen it, but they don't have to do it. This is the point you seem be unable to grasp. You said he was entitled to an explanation, he isn't. If you can point out in the rulebook where it says a ref has to explain every decision to a head coach i will stand corrected.

Son Of A Vidic

The most annoying thing about this whole refereeing debacle is the coaches. You can see them going demented with bad officiating during games. Then comes the post-match press conference and not a bloody peep out of them.

davyjose

The silence from Roger "look at me" Goodell is deafening.

This season needs to be rescued soon, before any lasting damage occurs, because 20 years from now, this will be remembered as the "year of the replacement refs". American Sports fans have long memories. It won't be forgotten, and it will follow Goodell into the history books.

I'm not so worried about Goodell, but the sport could suffer. Baseball thought it was untouchable until the strike in the early 90's. It still hasn't fully recovered, and probably never will. Football is too popular to falter much right now, but I know people who switched off last week's Bronco's game. I know people who are losing interest. And it's getting worse by the week.

davyjose

Also I have no sympathy for the replacements. You cross a picket line, you deserve what you get. These guys are no different to any other scabs, in any other industry.

Chucky the tree

davyjose wrote: »

Also I have no sympathy for the replacements. You cross a picket line, you deserve what you get. These guys are no different to any other scabs, in any other industry.

If the real refs are too greedy to do the work then fair play for them stepping in.

matthew8

I take the official Mike Tomlin line here. I don't know if these guys are the solution, but they sure as hell aren't the problem, so let's not give them too hard a time. I was very unhappy with the Ravens fans chant. You might call them scabs, but I sure as hell would rather these guys than those below them.

eagle eye

Chucky the tree wrote: »

If the real refs are too greedy to do the work then fair play for them stepping in.

They are scabs though, no two ways about it. And I think they have to expect that treatment.

I'd personally rather no football until this is sorted out. Its now at the stage where its affecting the integrity of the game.

davyjose

matthew8 wrote: »

I take the official Mike Tomlin line here. I don't know if these guys are the solution, but they sure as hell aren't the problem, so let's not give them too hard a time. I was very unhappy with the Ravens fans chant. You might call them scabs, but I sure as hell would rather these guys than those below them.

What's below the lingerie bowl?

LuckyLloyd

Ratings are higher than ever. The NFL don't have to move on this as urgently as the media and fans might think.

I think the reffing crews over the past few years have been generally great (as much as they aren't perfect obviously), and they have every right to push for the best deal possible. But the NFL will push this thing to the wire because they are not being affected by it financially. Last night's game was disgraceful - but we all still tuned in.

Tristram

Personally think that what the refs are demanding is in insane and don't think they deserve it at all. Really don't like how some people go from 'the replacement refs are bad' to 'pay the refs'.

boccy23

Tristram wrote: »

Personally think that what the refs are demanding is in insane and don't think they deserve it at all. Really don't like how some people go from 'the replacement refs are bad' to 'pay the refs'.

There does seem to be a fair amount of insanity in the situation. According to ESPN, they are looking for a $37K a year every year pension contribution. I presumed it was more straight forward but anyone looking for this type of bonus/pension money must think they work for a bank.

The thread title may be wrong at this stage, but the sentiment remains. The NFL - league, owners, unions, whoever - need to see what is happening is wrong on all levels. It needs to be stopped and fast.

Hazys

Tbh that result from last night makes me feel less bad about the Pats Ravens game and the holding call that cost us the game against the Cardinals.

There is no way the replacement officials can take the field next weekend, the fans, players & coaches will crucify them.

I think the real refs have shown their worth, time to pay them before the start asking for more, as its clear they can't be replaced that easy.

CoachTO

Tristram wrote: »

Personally think that what the refs are demanding is in insane and don't think they deserve it at all. Really don't like how some people go from 'the replacement refs are bad' to 'pay the refs'.

Why shouldn't they be entitled to a slice of the cake? People are under the impression that these guys don't deserve anything because they are just refs but look at it this way. Their replacements who have come in have failed miserably and are on ten times less.

The regular NFL refs are an integral part of the game as much as people disagree and without them its clear the game is a shambles. Sure they make mistakes but that comes with the business but on a scale compared to their lower paid scabs there is no contest.

I for one agree the NFL should meet their demands and pay them. The NFL wont lose a lot by doing so.

And for those who don't know what the lockout is about this article sums it up: TLDR version the Owners want to move the current refs on to a 410k pension scheme rather than the old system they have now. The refs dont agree with this move and think the NFL have more than enough money to keep paying the old system.

Although anathema to NFL fans across the country, we should recognize that sometimes a punter shall lead us. It was Minnesota Viking’s punter Chris Kluwe who took to Twitter and said what has been so painfully obvious through three weeks of the National Football League’s pre-season: “The NFL really needs to kiss and make up with the refs. These replacements are horrible. Frankly, it’s kind of embarrassing.”


Kluwe is correct. It is embarrassing. It’s embarrassing that replacement referees with highlights on their resumes like working for the Lingerie Football League have been bungling calls throughout the pre-season. This has included screwing up the small detail of which teams were actually on the field. It’s embarrassing that in a league where any play could be the last time someone walks without a limp or concussion, these incompetents are in charge of monitoring the health and safety of players. It’s embarrassing that members of the NFL Players Association, who are part of the AFL-CIO, will, once on the field, be under the authority of scabs.
It’s also bewildering. Consider the multibillion-dollar entity that is the National Football League. Then consider that NFL referees are 119 part-time employees who make $8,000 a week.



As Jeff MacGregorcalculated at espn.com, at a cost of $50 million a year—less than one percent of total revenue—NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could hire 200 full-time officials at $250,000 a year. Conversely, if Goodell gets everything he wants from the referees union and he doesn’t have to spend too much in legal fees, it works out to league-wide savings of just $62,000 per team.


Locking them out is like using an Uzi on a field mouse. The question once again is why? Why has NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, taken such a hard line? After a year defined by the tragic suicides of former players suffering from post-concussion syndrome and a looming lawsuit brought by 2000 former players contending that the NFL didn’t take their safety seriously, why would they engage in such naked contempt for the well-being of players and the integrity of their game? Simply put, because they can.
The NFL clearly believes with no small amount of justification that they can do this because no one will care. As NFL VP Ray Anderson said, perhaps while twirling his mustache, “You’ve never paid for an NFL ticket to watch someone officiate a game.”


The only way to understand why there is a lockout of NFL Referees is to understand who is doing the locking out. It’s not Roger Goodell, who for all the fawning media profiles, is little more than an exceptionally well-paid executive “flak-catcher.” It’s the people he represents. NFL teams are no longer family businesses and owners are no longer kindly patriarchs. They comprise the right-wing edge of America’s super-rich. NFL owners don’t travel in the same circles as Mitt Romney. They travel in the circles of those who underwrite Mitt Romney’s campaign.


For these twenty-first-century Masters of the Universe, the lockout, once a near-unthinkable labor-management tactic, has become the weapon of choice when dealing with what’s left of the trade union movement. Since 2010, the number of lockouts annually in the US has doubled. A lockout gives employers the power to strip workers of their salaries, bring in temporary replacements and then simply wait until the day locked out workers eat through their meager savings and then force them back on the conditions of outlandish demands. It’s a management tactic that has hammered thousands of families from middle class security to destitution.


The owners have decided NFL referees need to be locked out because like the scorpion who stings, that’s simply what they do. Look at the demands being made of the referees: NFL owners want them to stop being part-time labor and instead work full-time for the league. Sounds great, except they want the refs to eliminate their other sources of income while taking a 16 percent cut in salary. They also want to eliminate their pensions and replace them with 401k plans tied to the stock market. Put simply, the owners line is less pay, less benefits, and if you don’t like it we’re locking the doors.


“They told us if we didn’t take what was on the table, they would cut it more and they have. They have disguised regressive bargaining as trying to improve officiating overall and to give people more time off,” said NFL Referee’s Association lead negotiator Mike Arnold. “They keep saying in the media that they were willing, able, and ready to negotiate, but they kept telling us they weren’t interested in discussing our proposal and if the deal was going to settle it was going to settle on their terms.”


The referees and the NFL Players Association both seem to be keeping any joint strategy under wraps. “We’ll see what the decision is as we get closer to [opening] day. Hopefully, they can figure this out in an amicable way as soon as possible. I’m not sure what the decision is going to be from the Players Association when that day comes,” NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth told PFT Live.

But both seem to be coordinating arguments about player’s safety as the most compelling reason to end the lockout. As NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said, “The officials are being asked to be first responders on the field for player safety as well as to officiate the games. How do you expect officials not used to doing games at that level to be able to step in and handle the job? To use a [lockout] as a motivational tactic in negotiations…we find repulsive.”


However, like the high-skilled workers at a Honeywell uranium plant in Metropolis, Illinois, learned after a fourteen-month lockout, today’s bosses rarely listen to appeals about safety. Furthermore, as they learned, the longer the lockout drags on, the more time employers have to increase the quality of their replacement workers. The quality of the godawful refereeing on display will, with time, improve as well.


John Paul Smith, who was one of those Honeywell workers that suffered through the lockout, which ended in August of 2011, says now that having been through the pain of a lockout himself, there is no way he could watch the NFL this year. John Paul Smith is now calling on other fans to boycott watching as well, knowing that the only way to make the owners back off is if they feel it in their wallets.


“I have been a Dolphins fan since I was in the fifth grade and I can’t watch ****. It’s killing me,” said Smith. If Goodell and friends don’t care about the refs, the health of their players, or the quality of the games, then maybe they’ll care about that: people like John Paul Smith turning away from the game until NFL owners remember that owning the game doesn’t mean owning the people who officiate it.

Also another good article breaking it down: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1341518-breaking-down-nfl-nflra-negotiations-what-do-the-real-refs-want/page/2

Whatever about the rights and wrongs of the dispute itself, one thing is clear, the refs hand has been considerably strengthened by events in the past week or 2. Every bad decision sees them increase their leverage in the dispute. Surely Goodell knows that, as time goes by, unless there is a miraculous improvment in the quality of officiating, it will cost more and more to resolve.

CoachTO

Deleted User wrote: »

Whatever about the rights and wrongs of the dispute itself, one thing is clear, the refs hand has been considerably strengthened by events in the past week or 2. Every bad decision sees them increase their leverage in the dispute. Surely Goodell knows that, as time goes by, unless there is a miraculous improvment in the quality of officiating, it will cost more and more to resolve.

A lot of people don't seem to realise Goodell really has no say here. The NFL owners are the ones making the decisions. Goodell is merely just their puppet. Don't forget Goodell represent all the owners and they are pulling his strings like they did with the player lockout also. Hence why everyone saw the likes of Bob Kraft being heavily involved with the talks. The Mega Rich NFL owners control the NFL not Goodell when it comes to financial decisions. They say jump he says how high. The owners are the ones who need to say enough is enough and agree to the demands.

skeleton_boy

All in all it doesn't appear that the refs are asking for to much. Surely there can be a compromise. I believe (with the regular refs), the nfl is one of the best officiated sports going. Shame to see the product getting damaged so much these past two weeks. I don't blame the replacement refs either. Can't imagine how difficult it must be try and call a nfl game at the speed it is played.
The two national games this weekend both tainted by this issue. Something needs to be done. But as long as people keep watching and fans keep attending, I can't see any resolution in the near future.

skeleton_boy

skeleton_boy wrote: »

All in all it doesn't appear that the refs are asking for to much...

Well they should now!!

Tristram

CoachTO wrote: »

Why shouldn't they be entitled to a slice of the cake? People are under the impression that these guys don't deserve anything because they are just refs but look at it this way. Their replacements who have come in have failed miserably and are on ten times less.

Just to be crystal clear on this I do indeed believe the refs should be "entitled to a slice of the cake", as any paid employee should. I just don't think their demands should be met as they currently stand.

LuckyLloyd

The thing is, a number of the senior refs are Lawyers, CEOs and such. They aren't desperate for the game fees and can play hard ball with the league.

Tristram

I'm trying to find an article I read a while ago that explained the refs demands in a bit more detail than those articles that have flooded the net in the last few days. It mentioned that the refs wanted a guarantee that they could not be replaced or taken out of rotation due to poor performance. If anyone knows it and could link it would be greatly appreciated.

In the end I'm not sure how worthwhile this discussion is. I think we all want the same thing i.e. proper refereeing standards applied throughout the league

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup

Anyone else just enjoying all the extra drama the refs are creating?!

Chardee MacDennis

Tristram wrote: »

I'm trying to find an article I read a while ago that explained the refs demands in a bit more detail than those articles that have flooded the net in the last few days. It mentioned that the refs wanted a guarantee that they could not be replaced or taken out of rotation due to poor performance. If anyone knows it and could link it would be greatly appreciated.

In the end I'm not sure how worthwhile this discussion is. I think we all want the same thing i.e. proper refereeing standards applied throughout the league

Ye cant find it there but the NFL wants to create a "referee farm" filled with fully trained backups, so they can fire refs and have instant replacements for them. so basically they're telling the refs that they must quit their other jobs, take a 16% pay cut and their job security goes out the window at the same time. that hardly seems fair!