APAs the NFL and the NFL Referees Association continue to cross their arms and wait for the other side to blink, there’s a third party in this mess that has largely been overlooked.
The rank and file.
With only 121 officials in the locked-out bargaining unit, and amid multiple reports and suggestions that the officials want to return, the concept of majority rules could play a major role in this one.
If any 61 officials decide to come together and end the lockout, they can. And it would be naïve to think that some of the 121 aren’t trying to do precisely that.
It also would be naïve to think that some of the locked-out officials aren’t working with folks in the league office who are in position to suggest on a wink-nod basis what the terms would be if 61 or more of the locked-out officials decide to take over the process.
Would it be controversial? Sure. But it ultimately would be effective, if the goal of enough of the locked-out officials is to get back to work.
With the league and the union dug in, we’re hardly venturing onto a thin limb by predicting that’s precisely how this one will end.
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I wish they would.
Why can’t it just end with them never coming back?
It would mean that cooler heads are prevailing. That would be a good thing.
defense of coaches love the replacement officials.
if i was a defense of coach. i would tell my DB’s to jam the receiver off the line and put my hands on him so he can’t go anywhere.
The sooner the better! These replacement officials are a joke.
arent all these guys division 3 or ncaa div 2 refs? who is reffing all the small ball games? lol. those guys got the shaft!
It’ll be nice to see the players stop whining every play and it will be nice to the announcers going back to their usual butt-kissing selves.
After the past two years in the NFL I’ve gotta say I’m not a fan of unions
I’m sure the majority of real NFL officials realize that demanding a pension for a part-time employee is completely ridiculous.
carnboys says: Sep 20, 2012 3:39 PM
defense of coaches love the replacement officials.
if i was a defense of coach. i would tell my DB’s to jam the receiver off the line and put my hands on him so he can’t go anywhere.
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That’s exactly what teams are doing. Tampa did it all season.
Don’t let them back. Fire them all and hire the scabs. Only becuase NFL makes 9 billion doesn’t mean these idiots should be paid 200K a year for part time work.
They already have a pension in place, the league wants to change it to a 401k type plan where you are at the mercy of wall street instead of a defined plan that pays certain benefits at retirement, the 401 type is a big reward/ big risk type, I would say check what happen in 07/08 with wall street before you leap, and the league could care less about there retirement, got to remember who Owens the teams, rich republicans who love cheap labor. Bill
Won’t happen. Who would want to cross the picket line in front of Ed Hochuli? Dude would snap half of these refs’ necks like twigs.
I hope the strike continues. I actually like throw back football. It would be great to see the replacements ref the SB.
I like how people try to complain about the DBS holding the receivers their entire route….I saw someone say something specifically about Victor Cruz being walked like a dog down the field this past week and it not being called….yet here the Giants are racking up 600 yards of offense with Nicks and Cruz almost getting 200 each. OK you clowns
Why are the players and coaches being excused by the media and the fans for acting like children? Hypocritcal. The substitue teacher analogy doesn’t apply because these are paid professional adults that want to be there, not some little children who don’t know any better.
Everybody blames Goodell but it’s really the owners who are locking out the officials.
Roger Goodell works for the NFL owners not the other way around. I’m surprised more people don’t know this. If he had his way I bet the officials would be on the field this week.
It’s the Jerry Jones’ of the world that need to wake up and get the regular officials back. The game is better for it.
If you are not intelligent enough to use proper grammar or spelling, you are obviously not intelligent enough to understand the dynamics of the lockout. Go back to school before you post again.
justintuckrule says: Sep 20, 2012 4:35 PM
Won’t happen. Who would want to cross the picket line in front of Ed Hochuli? Dude would snap half of these refs’ necks like twigs.
I hope the strike continues. I actually like throw back football. It would be great to see the replacements ref the SB.
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It is amazing how misinformed so many people like you are continuing to comment. Who’s striking exactly?
I’ll wait.
After the past two years in the NFL I’ve gotta say I’m not a fan of unions
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That’s funny, considering the league office is the one who started both labor impasses. Here’s a newsflash: it’s not about you or your selfish need to host your idiot friends watching football on Sundays stuffing your face with nachos and cheap swill beer.
Oh, and to “genius”fan: the Goodell is not just a PR mouthpiece for the owners. They can hire anybody to do that for far less money. He was hired to drive the league in a certain direction. The owners are not in lockstep with each other on this. Go over to Yahoo Sports and read the story about the owner speaking out against the terrible job these guys are doing and how its embarrassing the product. And change your username, it doesn’t suit you.
I love how the media are making an issue out of nothing. The unionized, locked out officials were HORRIBLE!
Half of the fans in the country are convinced they were rigging games. Most of us fans want our football pure, not rigged like the 2009 NFC title game.
With that in mind, why would we want them back?
@mrrodgersneighborhood
As previously pointed out it’s the MANAGEMENT not the union that has created both these situations.
Please people if you’re going to comment on this from a labor relations standpoint at least know what the words “strike” , “lockout” and “concession” mean.
If you don’t have a clear understanding at a minimum of at least these 3 terms you have no business commenting on this from a labor relations perspective.
eyeh8goodell:
So, tell me this. With your little silly name, do you watch any NFL games? I would hope not, or you’re just a useless hypocrite.
I think Goodell has done a fantastic job. I think the games are better than ever, and clearly, the rest of the country is thinking the same way – hence, the higher and higher ratings every single week.
You might be embarrassed by the product, but the majority of us are not.
I couldn’t care less whether the union refs ever come back. The longer they are away, the less value they will have, because the new refs will continue to improve.
Oh yeah, his knee is also down on the other side of Fitz’s legs.
Mr. Wright 212 says:
Sep 20, 2012 5:03 PM
justintuckrule says: Sep 20, 2012 4:35 PM
Won’t happen. Who would want to cross the picket line in front of Ed Hochuli? Dude would snap half of these refs’ necks like twigs.
I hope the strike continues. I actually like throw back football. It would be great to see the replacements ref the SB.
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It is amazing how misinformed so many people like you are continuing to comment. Who’s striking exactly?
I’ll wait.
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You’re a Giant fan. Don’t be like these other schmuck fans who police grammar. Lock out / strike…..there is absolutely no substantive difference as it applies to this exact situation. If the owners didn’t “lock out” the refs and tried to change their pensions to 401ks, do you think the refs wouldn’t strike? Change “picket line” to “break ranks” and change “strike” to “lockout”. Feel better? Sheesh.
What are the odds on this prediction?
Huge difference. Go sit down somewhere.
The NFL is getting more and more desperate with each week. These replacement refs are horrible.