The lockout isn't really about money

[erod]

All I'm hearing today is how "the NFL needs to pay the refs."

That's not what the lockout is really about. The money could be worked out in a jiffy, but the other issues are much stickier.

The league wants a program to train backup officials so they can have qualified people when these guys retire. The referees don't want that because it threatens their job security.

The refs want a pension, even though they are only part time employees, yet they want to keep their regular jobs, which are generally very good, high-paying jobs. Most full-time NFL employees don't get pensions either. The league is offering 401K plans instead.

The refs want to have their cake and eat it, too. The league has told them pensions are off the table, and that they want to start training younger refs.

I don't see this getting settled soon.

 

[Kangaroo]

All I'm hearing today is how "the NFL needs to pay the refs."

That's not what the lockout is really about. The money could be worked out in a jiffy, but the other issues are much stickier.

The league wants a program to train backup officials so they can have qualified people when these guys retire. The referees don't want that because it threatens their job security.

The refs want a pension, even though they are only part time employees, yet they want to keep their regular jobs, which are generally very good, high-paying jobs. Most full-time NFL employees don't get pensions either. The league is offering 401K plans instead.

The refs want to have their cake and eat it, too. The league has told them pensions are off the table, and that they want to start training younger refs.

I don't see this getting settled soon.

Nope and theNFL are going to ride the replacement refs who will eventually get better with time and experience and then the regular refs will be screwed

 

[Hoofbite]

The league is screwed.

Each week the scrutiny gets worse and worse.

The NFL should just give them whatever they want at this point because the longer they wait, the more they're going to have to pay.

 

[dragon_mikal]

The league is screwed.

Each week the scrutiny gets worse and worse.

The NFL should just give them whatever they want at this point because the longer they wait, the more they're going to have to pay.

Do you own your own business?

I mean...really? I'm a working class stiff but even I know you don't give your employees whatever they want.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Just get rid of all the old refs.
That Steelers SB was one of the worst (if not the worst) officiated games, I have ever seen.

Shut them all down and let the replacement guys fill their spots and make their money, get their benefits.

 

[erod]

The league is screwed.

Each week the scrutiny gets worse and worse.

The NFL should just give them whatever they want at this point because the longer they wait, the more they're going to have to pay.

Or, the league develops a true full-time year-round training program and officiating is the best it's ever been in 1-2 years. And with no union to keep refs worry free from bad calls, too.

 

[rocboy22]

I don't like the whole situation, but screw the regular refs. Their demands are ridiculous, and there really should be no union for these guys. If they don't like their compensation, then they should just quit.

 

[Hoofbite]

Do you own your own business?

I mean...really? I'm a working class stiff but even I know you don't give your employees whatever they want.

I guess the alternative is a loss of integrity of the game and weekly controversy eventually turning people off.

 

[trickblue]

I love how people are opining for the old refs...

You guys need to REALLY think back on how bad they were as well... these guys are certainly no worse...

 

[Hoofbite]

I love how people are opining for the old refs...

You guys need to REALLY think back on how bad they were as well... these guys are certainly no worse...

No. They're worse.

I didn't think they would be but I was wrong.

 

[Frozen700]

No. They're worse.

I didn't think they would be but I was wrong.

Agreed, you can see a difference.

 

[RS12]

This is about ego as usual.

 

[birdwells1]

Or, the league develops a true full-time year-round training program and officiating is the best it's ever been in 1-2 years. And with no union to keep refs worry free from bad calls, too.

Now we get down to the real point of this post.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I love how people are opining for the old refs...

You guys need to REALLY think back on how bad they were as well... these guys are certainly no worse...

I think they are worse Trick. I mean, it's only natural but to me, the biggest difference in these Refs and the real Refs is that these guys don't have control of the players or coaches. The real Refs did. That's pretty key to me.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

the NFL could be thinking "at least we have instant replay, to prevent anything catostrophic from occuring". But they sent that call up to the booth last night...and STILL got it wrong. And those are NOT replacement refs. Think about this...had it been ruled incomplete after the replay booth looked at it...NO one outside of some Seahawk fans would be complaining. The decision they made has EVERY one complaining...except some Seahawk fans. That is what is galling to me. They went out of their way to cause this. The correct and EASIEST call to make was to award the interception...how they called that any other way is puzzling!

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

I love how people are opining for the old refs...

You guys need to REALLY think back on how bad they were as well... these guys are certainly no worse...

Are you watching the games? The real refs missed some calls sure, but they were NEVER this awful and incompetent.

 

[jday]

I guess the alternative is a loss of integrity of the game and weekly controversy eventually turning people off.

I don't think there is any question on rather or not these officials are worse. They are terrible. But the truth is, they will get better. As much as I'd like to see an end to this, I have to side with the league on this issue. Making six figures for what is basically a part-time job, should be more than enough!

 

[baj1dallas]

The league is screwed.

Each week the scrutiny gets worse and worse.

The NFL should just give them whatever they want at this point because the longer they wait, the more they're going to have to pay.

Oh yeah? Is viewership down? Ticket sales? Are the networks renegotiating the contract?

Nope. The league is fine. They don't have to do anything. Ever. This could be permanent and it wouldn't hurt the league one tiny bit.

 

[Kangaroo]

The league is screwed.

Each week the scrutiny gets worse and worse.

The NFL should just give them whatever they want at this point because the longer they wait, the more they're going to have to pay.

They should not and guess what you are a minority in the view I am not talking about the forums I am talking about the idiot casual fans. The ones that call into sports talk for the last ten years about the REFS making calls that the NFL wanted the conspiracy theory about REFS. You think they see a difference in the REFs really. Most casual fans can not tell them apart all the REFS are crapy.

The ratings and ticket sales are the same as always. Guess what majority of the NFL Fans just do not care

 

[TheDallasDon]

Are you watching the games? The real refs missed some calls sure, but they were NEVER this awful and incompetent.

Have you even watched games before this year......I remember last year, that I even made a thread about getting new refs because they where so bad.

There's always gonna be bad call as longs as there's human error......and thats not gonna change.

People are now watching, talking, ect about the replacement refs and notice it more and has becomes popular to bash the refs, group mentality.

Are these refs worse? Hell yea but they can get better but to act like this is the worse thing ever is buying into this whole deal.

Theres never going to be 100% accuracy and people seem to expect that a human to be 100% 24/7 in judgment of a fast moving game....not gonna happen no matter whos out there