Comments on: Ex-ref Jerry Markbreit: Roger Goodell just doesn’t care

By: j0esixpack

j0esixpack — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 16:13:59 +0000

If Goodell were concerned about player safety he would stop enforcing injury reporting

By: unionsblow1

unionsblow1 — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 13:42:28 +0000

I like the refs that are on the field now. They let ‘em play, like back in the good old days when the NFL was more fun to watch. I say fire those old, slow, unionized, arrogant, biased officials that we used to see screw up games every Sunday. By the way, I’m done calling these new guys “replacement refs”. They are *our* refs now. Let’s embrace that fact and support these guys instead of pointing out every little mistake that they make. Without them, we would still be stuck watching baseball and NASCAR on Sunday, heaven forbid !

By: chuckleberry1974

chuckleberry1974 — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 12:27:19 +0000

This needs to just get done so it stops being a news story. One can’t really try to follow the NFL right now without coming across this topic, and it kinda sucks. What the refs are asking for is a pittance compared to how much money flows through this league. Yet, obviously without the real refs, we’re seeing less than the best product on the field. I’m not 100% on the refs’ side, but inconsistent calling of the big safety rules is what matters most, and the scab refs aren’t getting it done. Seriously, just pay the people.

By: AlohaMrHand

AlohaMrHand — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 10:50:59 +0000

want Goodell to care?Stop buying tickets stop buying merchandise stop watching games.Hes still getting your money so why change anything?Replacement refs or not 95 percent of the games will be sold out this weekend so it doesn’t bother fans that much does it?

By: onecoolrdrfan

onecoolrdrfan — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 06:25:17 +0000

They are not replacements refs. They are SCABS and will always be SCABS. They look like manny, moe and curly out there. Let’s gets the real refs back ASAP.

By: piemasteruk

piemasteruk — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 06:00:38 +0000

He picked a really bad example. Most fans hate roughing the passer penalties.

By: backstageatapuppetshow

backstageatapuppetshow — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 05:50:28 +0000

One could make the argument that the ones who do not care are the referees….if they care so much about the safety of the players…and want to place blame on the NFL….then just sign the deal that’s on the table and end it…if they truly care about the players….they would…but they don’t….they just want to be paid….and are hiding behind the guise of safety….

Sell crazy someplace else Markbreit…

I am on neither side…but your argument doesn’t hold water!

By: mattribe

mattribe — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 05:38:44 +0000

Part-time employees? You could argue that the players are part-time employees too, and they sure make a lot of money. We live in a capitalist society where employment is determined by supply and demand. Clearly, the supply of competent refs is very low and the demand for them is high, just as it is for players. Just respect them and pay them so we can get back to real football without all this second-guessing and charades.

By: chargrz

chargrz — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 03:55:29 +0000

Hit the road Jerry! Nobody cares what you think. The replacements are doing as good as you ever did if not better.

By: righthereisay

righthereisay — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 01:38:58 +0000

Take the refs out of the game and use instant replay for personal fouls, interference, turnovers, tds…do it quick, at headquarters, don’t have the refs stopping the game and looking through cameras.

Nobody expects any human being to be 100% perfect when the athletes are going 100 mph. The game has changed.

Take the refs out of the game, and you can continue to make your billions, plus a couple million because you screwed some refs out of some money.

Bottom line, faster and more replays will make the game better. Nobody wants to see bad calls decide a game.

By: jordannels

jordannels — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 01:38:39 +0000

I still don’t know HOW this lockout helps the NFL.

By: jforer4444

jforer4444 — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 01:16:47 +0000

Does anyone realize Goodell was going to give them a pay CUT by adding 3 new teams without increasing the money pool for officials. Is $7,000 per game too much to pay for good officials? The punter gets over $25k per game, for what, 10 plays.

By: phillyphannn83

phillyphannn83 — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 01:04:32 +0000

Its a multi-billion dollar company, there is no comparison with part-time jobs as WE know them. Why should the refs take a pay cut? They’re not asking for MORE money, they just don’t want to take a pay cut and why should they? The league has given no reason whatsoever why they are doing this.

By: pandebailey

pandebailey — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:42:33 +0000

I’m amazed by the moronic reaction to the NFL officials asking for fair pay – 80% of you are backing the NFL owners?

Quality officiating is key to a $9 billion annual NFL business, but everyone wants to see the officials paid no more money and lose their pensions? Nice sports fans. Nice people.

All I can say is I hope you people never get to vote on each others income or jobs because apparently you’d stab one another in the back without a thought. Just so billionaire owners can make more money?

By: drmonkeyarmy

drmonkeyarmy — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:26:55 +0000

The refs have a unique skill. From what I am seeing this first couple weeks, it is not a skill that is readily acquired. Whether it is a part-time job or not is irrelevant. They have a right to get the most possible money for possessing this skill.

By: timtheenchanter1

timtheenchanter1 — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:26:16 +0000

huskylawyer says:
Sep 21, 2012 8:10 PM
From what I’ve read, the refs are asking for $7-10 million in benefits over 10 years.

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More specifically, they are asking that their benefits not be *reduced* by that much.

By: brenenostler

brenenostler — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:16:06 +0000

“My only conclusion is that they just don’t care.”
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If the regular officials care so much, then why don’t they just accept the offer that’s been made to them? I hope these replacement ones get better so the regular ones will quit being so greedy and sign the deal.

By: sactogary

sactogary — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:13:49 +0000

phonecops says:Sep 21, 2012 7:12 PM

… Instead of good replacements, they grabbed what they could at the last minute. So instead of 2nd or 3rd tier guys, we are getting 5th and 6th level guys trying to do the job. …
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Where would you have the NFL look? The union, in order to strengthen their extortion, has coerced NCAA Division I officials into staying away.

By: bduncanscott

bduncanscott — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:10:57 +0000

Anybody notice al the fines being levied on players lately??? It’s starting to look like Goodells plan is fine the living hell outta the player then we can pay the real Refs without costing the NFL lol!
When did the NFL become such an evil Team hating monster? Anyone else feel that it’s the NFL against the teams constantly? When did they turn into such a gustapo?

By: huskylawyer

huskylawyer — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:10:41 +0000

From what I’ve read, the refs are asking for $7-10 million in benefits over 10 years.

The NFL will likely generate 100 BILLION in revenue during that time (2012 – estimated revenue $9.5 Billion)

So to put it in context, if you make $100,000 and ask for a raise of TEN BUCKS ($10.00), that is in essence what the refs are asking for. The NFL is basically arguing over pocket change.

That kinda puts in perspective how money hungry and crazy the NFL and Goodell are.

By: sactogary

sactogary — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:07:56 +0000

“It is fair to say, however, that Goodell and the owners care more about saving money than they care about having the best officials on the field.” – MDS
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Is it fair to say that you care more about saving money than about your family’s safety? Or do you spend as much as you could possibly afford on the safest car and best home security system? Maybe you just make tradeoffs instead, and accept some risk.

The NFL is willing to end the lockout now! They have made a generous offer, are just waiting for the NFLRA to agree or make a reasonable counter-proposal.

By: brewcrewfan54

brewcrewfan54 — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:00:23 +0000

You really think that officials just show up 16 Sundays a year and do no work during the week? I call B.S on that. Just because nobody wants to watch the refs practice and go over the rule book doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

By: ocdn

ocdn — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 23:57:23 +0000

The league is getting what it paid for……..sub standard officiating by sub standard officials. Goodell shows he has a double standard when comes to hiring and using these scabs.

By: ocdn

ocdn — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 23:56:35 +0000

The league is getting what it paid for……..sub standard officiating by sub standard officials. Goodel shows he has a double standard when comes to hiring and using these scabs.

By: somekat

somekat — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 23:47:28 +0000

“On the other hand, the officials really are asking for an awful lot of money for a part-time job.”

Is being a player a part time job? The officials are on the field the same amount of time the players are.

_______________________________

Uhhh, no. That’s why most of the officials have full time jobs. Being a player consists of a lot more than just showing up 16 sunday’s a year for games. Being an official does not

By: nflfollower

nflfollower — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 23:43:19 +0000

As far as I’m concerned there are no locked out refs…. Only ex refs. I love the new look NFL. Waaay less chincy calls. I feel like I’m watching something closer to the NFL I grew up watching, and I love it.

By: dannyreneau

dannyreneau — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 23:36:40 +0000

How many people do you know who get paid thousand of dollars a minute to play with a ball? It’s all relative.

By: draculalambert

draculalambert — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 23:34:25 +0000

i dont give a rat’s rear end about this official lockout…as long as there’s games each week i’m a happy lad.
*woot woot* Godell is a beast!

By: packhawk04

packhawk04 — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 23:23:19 +0000

“Give them what they want and implement the leagues plan and bench them for subpar performances.”

Youre talking to the wrong people. The referees have already said they want the performance evaluations changed from the previous agreement, and theyve said they wont sign a deal that includes any performance evals or any reprimands of any kind for performance. Talk to the refs about that one.

By: phonecops

phonecops — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 23:12:22 +0000

What is buried here is the real headline. The NFL didn’t have a decent contingency plan. Instead of good replacements, they grabbed what they could at the last minute. So instead of 2nd or 3rd tier guys, we are getting 5th and 6th level guys trying to do the job. It pains me to have to agree with Jerry M. (I truely dreaded seeing him doing my teams’ games) but the NFL is giving us an inferior product right now. And with Thursday Nights games, 3 games on Sunday and MNF they have oversaturated the market. If things do not change, look for demand to start to decrease and reveues start to drop.