Comments on: Replacement refs embarrass the NFL on Monday Night Football

By: Mr. Wright 212

Mr. Wright 212 — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 04:14:37 +0000

mckissack11 says: Sep 18, 2012 7:14 PM

I know that the replacement refs are having a hard time but at least they are there, they will get better over time. I cannot just not show up for my job, I would get fired. I say just tell the regular refs that they will not be coming back and train the new ones, ala the air traffic controllers back in the day. Screw em.
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Will you people PLEASE stop trying to compare apples (pro sports unions) and oranges (your 9-5!!!)

By: timn805

timn805 — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 03:48:04 +0000

I also agree with mckissack11 – and i’m a former air traffic controller who got his job because of the strike. And does anybody else feel like Michaels and Collinsworth are in the ref’s union’s hip pocket? I mean, come on . . . can we maybe hear some commentary about the FOOTBALL GAME?!?!

By: phootballfacts

phootballfacts — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:46:47 +0000

I agree with mckissack11 above.

By: mckissack11

mckissack11 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 23:14:09 +0000

By: naplesoutsider

naplesoutsider — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:02:24 +0000

What are you talking about — “give these guys a break. They did not ask for it”. They most certainly did. They applied for a position that they knew they were totally unqualified for. They are not only embarassing the NFL, they are embarassing themselves as well. They will never advance beyond the current college (high school) level they were working. If they had any rspect for the game, they would immediately resign as they know they can’t handle the job they applied for

By: Mr. Wright 212

Mr. Wright 212 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:44:21 +0000

khuxford says: Sep 18, 2012 8:05 AM

So, with the bad calls (the fumble recovery that was shown in the hands of a Bronco to start and a Bronco at the finish, in particular), can we say that we’ve had the first game where we can argue the outcome was changed by the crappy ref work?
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The amount of fouls (offensive line holding, defensive pass interference/illegal contact) that Dallas got away with the first game of the season was the first game where the outcome was changed.

Last night was probably the 11th or 12th.

By: warsal

warsal — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:31:34 +0000

They also seem to be unable to pay attention to the play clock and game clock. Way too many late snaps and calls that affect game. Like the fact that the first quarter was over in the 9′ers game. That pass interference call never should have happened, although judging by the Lion’s third down D they probably would have scored anyway….

By: dukemarc

dukemarc — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:14:28 +0000

The NFL should suspend Ray “Boom Boom” Edwards for a game after that fact – he threw at least two punches.

By: theboysofdallas

theboysofdallas — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:40:15 +0000

They just looked overwhelmed

By: commonsensedude

commonsensedude — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:41:10 +0000

I’ll give the league about another week to get this straightened out. And after that, I’m going to go on strike as a fan and stop watching for a while. I want my NFL football back – not Goodell’s endless set of soap operas – Bountygate, Ref strikes, etc. The only way the ego of Goodell is going to get put in check is if the NFL has some proof (ratings and attendance decline) that they can’t give the fans an inferior product.

The statements talking about how great the replacement refs are is what gets me more angry than anything else. They think we’re stupid.

By: onetonsoup

onetonsoup — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:32:05 +0000

I’m enjoying every second of this.

It makes for great drama, plenty of water cooler fodder, and adds a second black eye for Emperor Goodell.

The Vilma issue was the first black eye and this adds another. Goodell may need to consider early resignation.

The NFL isn’t suffering now, but if anything can damage the brand, his mistakes during his tenure will be viewed as the catalyst for a potential downfall of the NFL shield.

Take into consideration a slight possibility less kids may end up playing football since parents will be too concerned about injuries. Add to that the hypocrisy Goodell is showing by using replacement refs and you might have yourself a perfect storm for the NFL losing popularity over the next 10-20 years.

By: Rob Liano

Rob Liano — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:30:23 +0000

I’d say Coach Fox belligerently swearing on the sidelines (when he was dead wrong about 12 men on field) was pretty embarrassing also.

By: endzonepete

endzonepete — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:24:05 +0000

Its hard to tell if Goodell is more obsessed with greed or power. Even through the recession the league continued to grow and increase their ridiculous revenues but they still want the refs to accept pension cuts. IMO, this just shows that all the talk you hear from Goodell about the integrity of the game is complete PR garbage. He could care less as long as those seats are full.

By: waterboy420

waterboy420 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:22:11 +0000

The reg. officials are not much better. I can’t seem to understand all the outrage. Even ehrn the reg officials are on the field they miss calls and blow calls in everygame so whats the differance? i.e. Steelers Super Bowl win vs Seattle. Calvin Johnson game winning TD vs the Bears. Brady’s “tuck rule” vs the Raiders. The imaculate reception by Steelers in the 70′s. The infamous coin toss, I mean how the hell do you blow that??? Do I need to go on?

By: trollhammer20

trollhammer20 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:52:25 +0000

Just woke up a while ago. Is the game over yet, or are they still doing replay reviews?

By: rpiotr01

rpiotr01 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:47:47 +0000

Anyone else notice that, while making a personal foul call, the head ref, rather than making the correct arm motion, instead made an arm gesture as if he was leading the conga line during “Hot hot hot!” at a wedding? High comedy!

Anyway, Steve Young said it best: The NFL doesn’t care. Games are being played, they’re making money, and they just don’t care.

By: yahmule

yahmule — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:46:54 +0000

It’s been plainly evident for a while that the League doesn’t care. Not about player safety and not about a level playing field. They’ll keep issuing ridiculous statements about the competence of these replacements and they have a certain number of media talking heads who will back them up.
A large percentage of football fans are emotionally incapable of finding fault with the NFL under any circumstances. Their unconditional love of the product equates criticism of the league as an indirect criticism of themselves. Not to mention the ones who’ve been brainwashed into believing all unions are evil.

By: cowboycjn

cowboycjn — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:29:19 +0000

One thing about the bad calls and indecision on the field, it sure adds a bit of comedy to the games where you can sit back and laugh. Oh this isn’t a comedy show – we are not susposed to be laughing at the games. OK, my bad.

By: nightreaver111

nightreaver111 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:29:04 +0000

The regular refs are just as much to blame for this embarrassment as the league. If they would agree to a fair compromise, this wouldn’t be happening. The NFL has already offered to increase their pay, the owners just want more flexibility and accountability from their refereeing crews. The owners would also like to freeze their pensions and move them to 401K plans like most regular NFL employees (hell, most AMERICAN employees) have.

It makes no sense for the league to give into the referee demands. The replacements will improve as they gain experience, and if the regular refs don’t come to the table and agree to a reasonable deal, they’ll probably find themselves made obsolete. In the meantime, we the fans have to suffer. You can’t put all that suffering on the owners though, nor excuse childlike behavior in the part of the players. There should be fines doled out to any player laying hands on a ref, point blank.

By: melikefootball

melikefootball — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:19:44 +0000

The palyers and coaches as well embarrassed the NFL last night. The coaches had been warned about treatment of officials. The Bronco coaches were way out of line and all the excess crap after plays by the players, shoud be addressed by the league. The easy out is point fingers at these refs.

By: httr555

httr555 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:07:20 +0000

Goodell is ruining the NFL!! All that is talked about every week is Bounty case this and replacement refs that. Mike Ditka, tell him…. STOP IT!!! Its a crying shame this is what he has done to this great product. I want to talk about FOOTBALL and what’s on the field. How teams in week 1 flopped in week 2. PLEASE GIVE ME FOOTBALL BACK! Goodell, GO AWAY!!!

By: sullijo1

sullijo1 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:03:41 +0000

Game was 10-0 after 3 picks thrown by manning with Broncos driving to Atlanta 30 yard line, Moreno fumble was the dagger.

It was clear the Broncos covered it – not sure it changes the outcome, but it would have been a different game if the Broncos could have weathered 3 picks and just been down 10-7.

By: billh1947

billh1947 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:00:46 +0000

This lockout is just mind blowing,its like bad parents locking their children out of the house for trying to get a few extra cookies out of a monstrous sized filled cookie jar. just as those extra cookies would never be missed from the huge cookie jar so too the money taken from the NFLs monstrous piggy bank (filled with million dollar bills) to get the regular referees back on the field where they belong,this isnt about the money for the NFL its about the audacity that those considered peons by Goodell and the owners are asking for more of it.just pay them already,they earn it every game day.

By: fwippel

fwippel — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:00:26 +0000

Sorry, but I can’t agree. This isn’t the first time an NFL game has lasted longer than it should have due to on-the-field fights over the football.

The league has the upper hand here, and unless and until these refs start directly influencing the outcomes of several (not just one or two) games, the league isn’t going to cave on this. I’m not saying its right, but it is reality. And it’s not like hords of fans are going to turn off the games because of the refs.

If baseball survived the steroids scandal, the NFL will survive (and thrive) during the refs lockout.

By: bingocostello

bingocostello — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:59:34 +0000

Is that any different from the players embarassing humanity every day?

By: 0shikuru

0shikuru — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:53:03 +0000

These refs are definitely worse than the regular refs who make their share of mistakes and questionable calls. But you know what, I’m still watching the games and so are you, that’s why the NFL doesn’t care. If the ratings start to decline because of the officiating, then the leverage shifts to the real refs. Until then, the NFL still has all the leverage.

By: stayclassyasheville

stayclassyasheville — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:37:12 +0000

I think the replacement cheerleaders are doing an adequate job. Wait, what are we talking about?

By: 69finfan

69finfan — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:21:25 +0000

Dolphin fan here. The ref’s did not cause the Dolphins to get blown out by the Texans and the ref’s did not cause the Dolphins to blow out the Raiders. In other words I’ve been saying that the new ref’s were not that bad. The ref’s in this game were atrocious, plain and simple. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a total lack of control officiating and controlling a game at any level. It goes back to a very basic concept, you get what you pay for in everything in life. Bring em back NFL, bring em Back.

By: voteforno6

voteforno6 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:12:25 +0000

So, Roger Goodell and the owners want the referees to take a pay cut and lose some benefits, despite the record profits that the league is enjoying. With reports that Goodell’s salary is somewhere between $10 and $20 million a year, he could take a pay cut, redirect that money to make up the difference with the referees, and still take home more money than most people see in a lifetime…every year.

Worse than that, I think, is the proposal to convert the referees to full-time. Since they only officiate one game a week, I don’t see how keeping them on the payroll full-time will improve their performance. It seems to me that this is merely an attempt to gain leverage on the referees. By cutting out their outside sources of income, the referees become more dependent on the NFL, which would allow the league to force more concessions on them.

This, to me, is the greed and arrogance of Roger Goodell and the owners, unfiltered. I’ve just about given up on the league because of this and other issues, and I wouldn’t be surprised if others feel the same way.

By: khuxford

khuxford — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:05:01 +0000