9 replies to this topic

[Big John]

NFL to recruit and train replacement officials

IMO, if you think the calls are bad now, watch out.

[detlef]

About 90% of the calls that piss me off stem from the manner in which the league is trying to police illegal hits and that rests entirely on the league directive to put it in the hands of the officials on the field to begin with.  Given how fundamentally messed up that is, I can't imagine anyone doing any better or worse on those calls and, thus, would not expect my viewing enjoyment to be vastly different if we got scab refs in there.

I don't know what they pay their refs, but it should be enough that they should be able to expect them to be full-time employees of the league.

[stevegrab]

detlef, on 04 June 2012 - 02:26 PM, said:

About 90% of the calls that piss me off stem from the manner in which the league is trying to police illegal hits and that rests entirely on the league directive to put it in the hands of the officials on the field to begin with.  Given how fundamentally messed up that is, I can't imagine anyone doing any better or worse on those calls and, thus, would not expect my viewing enjoyment to be vastly different if we got scab refs in there.

I don't know what they pay their refs, but it should be enough that they should be able to expect them to be full-time employees of the league.

If this info (LINK) is accurate, they don't get paid that much, certainly not compared to other sports. But then its hardly a full time job, they officiate one game a week and have maybe 1 day of travel and prep time. Compared to those in other leagues who are probably don't have many true days off (not traveling or officiating).  The provided link may be accurate, but this statement they make isn't "NFL refs work only on Sundays", more accurate would be "they only work one day a week).

I'm curious what do officials in other sports do during the off season? I understand the number of games played in MLB/NBA/NHL require full time officials during the season, but what about the 4-6 months when their is no season? Are they officiating in other leagues? Or paid well enough that they don't need to work during those months? Or like NFL refs, do they go back to some sort of regular job.

I'm sure the officiating will be worse to an extent, but there's not much we can do about it.

I don't see the NFL going to full time officials any time soon, regardless of what they pay them.

[MrFancyPants]

My concern is game flow. I think we'll see alot of early whistles stopping plays that were not actually over, and longer "ref huddles" as they figure out more complicated scenarios. Also worry about a much larger variation between ref-teams with the more subjective calls (pass interference specifically).

As much as we like to complain about them, I think we will miss the seasoned refs if this comes to pass.

[matt770]

There is a good handful of just bloody awful calls every season, usually overturned by replay, sometimes not.  It'll be quite an adventure with scab refs.

[detlef]

stevegrab, on 05 June 2012 - 10:54 AM, said:

If this info (LINK) is accurate, they don't get paid that much, certainly not compared to other sports. But then its hardly a full time job, they officiate one game a week and have maybe 1 day of travel and prep time. Compared to those in other leagues who are probably don't have many true days off (not traveling or officiating).  The provided link may be accurate, but this statement they make isn't "NFL refs work only on Sundays", more accurate would be "they only work one day a week).

I'm curious what do officials in other sports do during the off season? I understand the number of games played in MLB/NBA/NHL require full time officials during the season, but what about the 4-6 months when their is no season? Are they officiating in other leagues? Or paid well enough that they don't need to work during those months? Or like NFL refs, do they go back to some sort of regular job.

I'm sure the officiating will be worse to an extent, but there's not much we can do about it.

I don't see the NFL going to full time officials any time soon, regardless of what they pay them.

I realize that they only, technically work 1 day a week, but I'd still rather they pony up enough money so that they can demand their undivided attention.

[Ditkaless Wonders]

WWBDD


What would Ben Dreith do?

[Big John]

Ditkaless Wonders, on 05 June 2012 - 10:49 PM, said:

WWBDD


What would Ben Dreith do?

Give them the business.

[Bronco Billy]

detlef, on 04 June 2012 - 02:26 PM, said:

I don't know what they pay their refs, but it should be enough that they should be able to expect them to be full-time employees of the league.

+1M

Well said.  They could be constantly training during the week rather than worrying about their full time jobs and catching planes back and forth around Sundays.  watching film, reviewing close calls, simulated games, etc.  And get rid of instant replay - nobody does a better job having someone constantly watching over their shoulder and telling them every little thing they do wrong, plus it holds up the flow of the game - and they stil get it wrong at times despite watching under the freakin' hood for 5 minutes.

If the NFL feels that it needs a little better judgment, put a couple of more refs out there to have more eyes on a play - one guy (maybe the downfield guy) is trained to watch the hands, the upfield guy is trained to watch the feet on a catch.  They have a 2 second communication on the field - they nod or shake their head at each other - and a sideline or endzone pass play is called a completion or incompletion.  Simple.

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Bronco Billy, on 09 June 2012 - 06:42 AM, said:

+1M

Well said.  They could be constantly training during the week rather than worrying about their full time jobs and catching planes back and forth around Sundays.  watching film, reviewing close calls, simulated games, etc.  And get rid of instant replay - nobody does a better job having someone constantly watching over their shoulder and telling them every little thing they do wrong, plus it holds up the flow of the game - and they stil get it wrong at times despite watching under the freakin' hood for 5 minutes.

If the NFL feels that it needs a little better judgment, put a couple of more refs out there to have more eyes on a play - one guy (maybe the downfield guy) is trained to watch the hands, the upfield guy is trained to watch the feet on a catch.  They have a 2 second communication on the field - they nod or shake their head at each other - and a sideline or endzone pass play is called a completion or incompletion.  Simple.

I'm available for a full time gig.  I think I'd be a good ref.