The next thing you have to consider is how many of say the SEC refs who made a short list to work as scabs in the NFL would want to do so? They’ve reached a pinnacle of their profession and going to the NFL means that their spot is being taken by someone else so next year, there is a chance that they are doubly out of luck and/or stuck paying their dues again two years in a row.

Going back to football referees, the funnel from high school to low level college to D-1 college to BCS D-1 college to NFL is extraordinarily broad at the top but is extraordinarily steep at the BCS and NFL levels. There are not that many guys who have both are fit enough, intuitive enough (trust me, the best refs can explain what they are thinking when they make a call after the call, but the whistle/flag is already moving before conscious thought is involved) and available enough to work at the highest levels without an unacceptable levels of mistakes. And as it is, it seems that the NFL ref crews are much like competent starting QBs — the NFL needs 17 competent crews but as it is can’t find that number.

Players are either on 4 year contracts or a 5 year scholarship so if they win or lose it really doesn’t matter.

If they’re worried about what the fans think then well!!

Rice fumbled also, but I’m not one to keep a grudge, lol

If those athletes are running at a high speed, you have to be a decent enough athlete to keep up with them so you can have the same basic angles (so you see the fouls and throw flags).

Referees are great athletes.

But rather than address these issues, the league is dumping the woefully inadequate officials it has in place and replacing them with complete novices who look good in stripes. Swell.

“The Whistle” hosted by John Gruden

These guys are making 200k a year for a part time gig (20k per game). Of course this is a good ol boys club. I am sure there are plenty of equally quailified individuals out there who can’t break into this good ol boys club…I mean union.. I mean job..

We have all seen the boneheaded calls that even a monkey could have gotten right under that hood, and yet, these guys still got it wrong.

Bring on the scabs..

Seriously, people who think replacements will deliver the same quality are kidding themselves. Obviously it will be easier to replace refs than players, but it’s still difficult to replace the experience of refs who have been working NFL games for years with brand new people. Keep in mind not all football is equal in both rules and speed.