National Football League Officials

[blindzebra]

why doesnt the league hire guys that were former nfl hopefuls that didn't quite make it.

train them in being refs and then you will have athletes out there calling the games instead of old guys or that one ref with the season tickets to the gun show, though that guy might be okay to stick around. If you are over 50 you shouldnt be reffing. for sure if you are over 60.

Very bad idea...doesn't work, just watch the NBA...the buff, cookie-cutter former players can't call a game to save their lives. They give way to the old, short guys when the games really matter.

 

[stealth]

Very bad idea...doesn't work, just watch the NBA...the buff, cookie-cutter former players can't call a game to save their lives. They give way to the old, short guys when the games really matter.

well I would bet money drew henson would make one hell of a ref

 

[blindzebra]

We need younger refs.....no older then 40......and must pass a fitness test

Ridiculous is all I can say.

I may have been faster and more athletic at 20 or 30 than I am at 40, but was I a better official? NO FREAKING WAY!

99.9% of officials start officiating in their 20's, most in their mid to late 20's. There is a lot more to it than reading a rule book and putting on a striped shirt, and it takes YEARS to do it well, and that is on the basic level not the college or professional level.

Each time you move up a level there is a major jump and a learning curve, and with that jump comes a few more years of getting better AT THAT LEVEL.

Let's really break this down...Joe Blow age 25 wants to do football, he gets the shirt, flag and whistle, studies up on the rules and starts doing youth football on the weekends...you want him in the NFL?

Nope, not yet, Joe needs some seasoning, so he's doing the Pop Warner, Jr. highs and frosh/JV games for a few years...he's 29, you want him on the field in a NFL stadium?

Didn't think so, so Joe is doing HS varsity now, these guys are a lot better than the ball he's been doing, and Joe is struggling a bit, but as the new guy to varsity, that's okay because he's the back judge, with the least important job.

At 30, he moves to the wings, by 32 or 33 he may be ready for the white hat, but with that becomes a new learning curve, Joe is now the "face" of his crew.

Joe is now 35 and a very good official, A HIGH SCHOOL OFFICIAL, want him going straight from there to the NFL? But hey he can give you a good 5 years before you toss him on his arse.

Now, Joe may be a real go-getter and study hard, go to camps to get better and may find himself wearing the white hat...that's referee...sooner than 35, but reaching that top level of high school officiating what I gave you is pretty typical.

Now you could go the NBA way, and find the guys that have "the look" and train them in the NBA way, but just how has that turned out? Because when push comes to shove, and the playoffs arrive, how many of the 6'3", shaved heads, 30 inch waisted, 20 inch biceps guys are working? ZERO, it's the old, short, slow, guys THAT KNOW HOW TO REFEREE.

 

[ravidubey]

What they need are some athletic referees that can actually get out of the way, instead of getting in it.

I agree. Is there some like of law that says these guys have to be 60-something near sighted dorks? Can't a multi-billion dollar organization like the NFL hire decent officials that are all on the same page and pay them to work and study full time?


They are going about it the wrong way if they are going after college officials-- they should go after younger officials and train them, pairing them with older officials if need be.

 

[blindzebra]

I agree. Is there some like of law that says these guys have to be 60-something near sighted dorks? Can't a multi-billion dollar organization like the NFL hire decent officials that are all on the same page and pay them to work and study full time?


They are going about it the wrong way if they are going after college officials-- they should go after younger officials and train them, pairing them with older officials if need be.

Doesn't work.

Didn't in the NBA, won't in the NFL either.

Where you going to train them? During live NFL games?

Is the Arena League a better training ground than NCAA top level games?

Geesh, I officiate, I know what I'm talking about here.

You guys are talking about putting a 14 year old with a learners permit in an Indy race car...can you do it? Sure, but it won't end pretty.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

And how is this a Cowboys thread....?

This is a Cowboy issue ...didn;t you watch the last couple of games where the officials were involved directly in some plays? But it could also apply to every other team In the NFL.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

Hey stranger... not posting much these day huh?

Are you GREEN with TO ENVY? Being that you are so involved with Cowboys and their status... realize you are witnessing the GELLING of TO and said TEAM.

Munchis... out!

I'm around.

You say gelling ...I say jelling? We'll see.

 

[bratchek]

I cant believe this was even brought up..........this is as bad as the T.O. sleeping issue. Whats even worse is there is an actual discussion.

Wrong forum by the way

 

[5Stars]

I cant believe this was even brought up..........this is as bad as the T.O. sleeping issue. Whats even worse is there is an actual discussion.

Wrong forum by the way

Consider the source for your answer as to why this was brought up...

Carry on...

 

[RedLine]

Great post Blindzebra. I would just like to add the reason the officials don't get hurt is because they know were on the field they are suppose to be. The players also know were the officials are suppose to be. The back judge that Roy ran into on the TD pass was out of position plain and simple.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

There are some really good responses here, but then there are the usual suspects who only intend to diminish the essence of a topic.

Are some of you disturbe. I can't be,ieve you actually think that because there has never been a serious injury involving an NFL official that you don't believe there cannot be one or More in the future.

That's Like not having insurance for your home in tornado alley, because your house has never been struck by a twuister. Or not getting flood insurance in New Orleans prior to a freak huirricane.

You may not agree, but sometime, somewhere down the line, there's going to be football quipment for NFL officials. Someone said ...it didn't work in Basketball ??? What!? They run around in trunks and a jersey ..compared to a serious contact sport where everyone on the entire gridiron has on thick pads and protective gear ...except the officials.

Some of you are so blind with hatred because of my fan affiliation that you can't see gthe light. Although I do agree with some things said about ...

Younger officials

former NFL player officials

health requirements/test for officials

Helmets for sure ...!

 

[bratchek]

Someone said ...it didn't work in Basketball ??? What!? They run around in trunks and a jersey ..compared to a serious contact sport where everyone on the entire gridiron has on thick pads and protective gear ...except the officials.

He was talking about using former players.

 

[RedLine]

P-T you need to do some football officiating, then you might understand it a bit better. I was assigned to the umpire position most of my short officiating career. Trust me, if you are in the right place the players know where you are.

 

[5Stars]

There are some really good responses here, but then there are the usual suspects who only intend to diminish the essence of a topic.

:cry2: :cry2: :cry:


Seriously, over the entire history of the NFL, how many time have the refs been hurt to the point that it was critical to one of them?

Don't you think that if the NFL saw this as a problem because of recurring injuries to refs that they would have done something about it ALREADY!

Don't you think that the refs know where they are supposed to be located during a play?

Sure, I've seen a ref get a bloody nose, or get hit and fall down, but, it's usually unintentionally, so the blow is not that bad to them...

Damn, I've been hurt worse then them playing flag football in the park with some friends...

Where do you come up with this stuff?

Blindzebra already laid it out to you and you still don't get it! If the NFL saw this as a hazard to the job of a ref they would have already done something about it...

Tell me, was that ref that got knocked down by Roy Williams hurt?

Man, you eagle "fandoms" can come up with some weird stuff!

 

[bratchek]

Agreed

 

[5Stars]

He was talking about using former players.

Also, the PT boy don't understand that basketball is MORE PHYSICAL then football for the mere fact that they DON'T WEAR pads!

Those guys are in close quarters, fighting it out...elbows knocking, knees knocking, heads cracking each other, jabs in the ribs, eyes getting poked...

 

[blindzebra]

To address the topic of how to improve the officiating in the NFL, the usual "ways" brought up are:

1. Full time officials...the difficult part is that there are only 16 games, one a week. The NBA guys work around 60-65 games a season...MLB 140-145...big difference, and the NFL guys don't just show up an hour before the kickoff without doing any prep during the week.

2. Age...read my posts...officials typically don't really "get it" until they've been doing it for somewhere around 10 years, I'd say most reach their "prime" around year 15 or so.

3. Fittness...now this is one I can actually agree with, but there is a difference between what the casual fan deems as "fit" versus what is needed for the sport being officiated, and in football, even within the position the official has. Staightline speed is more important to the back judge, while the umpire needs quick feet, but not speed...etc.

Many of the issues in the NFL are actually a symptom of instant replay...officials are tending to hesitate on rulings because the replay is there...too many times, the crew spirit influences what is clear visual evidence...the INT and the Hurd forced fumble in the Carolina game were both wrong and should have been overturned, but they were both "close enough" to give the calling official the benefit of the doubt.

The way to fix the officiating is simple:

Open replay to every rule.

Have 3 replay officials, not part of the officiating crew and who never see the same crew twice during the season, with a two thirds agreement overturning the call.

The replay officials would be a perfect job for the older officials that still have the experience needed for the job, but may be lacking in their on field ability to apply it.

 

[blindzebra]

Also, the PT boy don't understand that basketball is MORE PHYSICAL then football for the mere fact that they DON'T WEAR pads!

Those guys are in close quarters, fighting it out...elbows knocking, knees knocking, heads cracking each other, jabs in the ribs, eyes getting poked...

For the most part basketball is a contact sport, people don't get that, there is all kinds of contact during a game and most...some even pretty severe...isn't a foul.

Football is a collision sport.

 

[5Stars]

For the most part basketball is a contact sport, people don't get that, there is all kinds of contact during a game and most...some even pretty severe...isn't a foul.

Football is a collision sport.

Not to mention the fact that after each basket (play in football) they are at it again...running their butts off to get back to the other side of the court...

It's funny how some people don't know that basketball is one of the most physical and tiring games played...it will wear someone out that does not train for it...

I never liked it because of that, and I never liked football because I am a wimp and don't like the pain of either sport...that's why I took the easy way to letter...I played baseball.

 

[blindzebra]

Not to mention the fact that after each basket (play in football) they are at it again...running their butts off to get back to the other side of the court...

It's funny how some people don't know that basketball is one of the most physical and tiring games played...it will wear someone out that does not train for it...

I never liked it because of that, and I never liked football because I am a wimp and don't like the pain of either sport...that's why I took the easy way to letter...I played baseball.

Basketball is also the hardest to officiate...10 players running and moving in a confined space, you are running and moving too and have to make a judgment in fractions of a second, because you can't really wait to throw that flag 5 seconds after the play is over.