If/when the real refs come back the impact on games could be big

[Jetstream Green]

Personally, I think there is a direct correlation to the extreme parity we are seeing this year and the refs.

With the regular refs, I would bet that the Saints, and Lions don't lose this weekend for one reason or another. With the regular refs we lose in NE for one reason or another.

Beside the ridiculous amount of time wasted sorting things out, I haven't really minded the refs. I actually like them better. So, much talk about officiating yet, I have seen some poor officiating from the regular refs too.

Last year's Giants game comes to mind, funny thing too. The Saints were given the ball (fumble) against the Chiefs this weekend. Same "I give up" situation.

People can say what they want but I truly believe the real refs carry on a crappy tradition of favoring the NFL team darlings. The replacement refs even in suck mode, seem not to favor any team with a call. I will take that, even when the calls are slow and often bonehead.

 

[Totally_Red]

People can say what they want but I truly believe the real refs carry on a crappy tradition of favoring the NFL team darlings. The replacement refs even in suck mode, seem not to favor any team with a call. I will take that, even when the calls are slow and often bonehead.

There are some replacement crews that are downright terrible and that includes the one which did the Viking-Niner game in Minnesota. It was the same crew that bungled their way through the Bronco-Falcons game which had both coaches fuming. That crew and the goofball from the league office that was overseeing the crew shouldn't work another NFL game in my opinion. But Jim Harbaugh might disagree. The crew probably reminds him of his youth and the joy of Christmas morning. To the Vikings they probably seemed like something out of Halloween horror movie.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Crew-hands-out-timeouts-challenges-like-Halloween-candy.html

 

[Bodha]

Besides the taking forever to make calls and spot balls. Also the occasional blown play, I love these refs. I wish they become permanent refs because we are 3-0 with them

 

[kerouac9]

I'd rather have a clause in any agreement (know it's not possible but maybe one day) that an NFL ref can't work more than 4 years - that's it.
1. We guarantee no favoritism or bias built up
2. New faces show up to the game - everyone should get a shot at it

Also, there must be sort of discipline measures
a ref blew a call or screws a game, he sits down for number of games
not only based on the calls he makes but also on the calls he doesn't make

I was reading that the NBA has a very serious officiating program and they grade officials etc..

One of the provisions in dispute in the negotiation is a full-time backup crew or two so that underperforming officials can be sat down. Currently, officials are graded seriously and rewarded with playoff games, etc. That's not under dispute.

I have no idea why you'd want less experienced personnel showing up in the NFL every year. I don't think that giving players with a long-term tenure in the NFL (and coaches) more authority in the game is a good idea.

 

[Fitz Rulz]

In a previous post, I mentioned that NFL should have its training program. That doesn't mean that everyone will see the field but to ensure there are qualified refs are there whenever needed. When we talk about refs, those are college refs worked in bowls etc.. College football isn't a joke. And after all, where did the regular refs start? High school & pop Warner.

My idea not to let refs work long in NFL, restricted by number of years, to ensure fairness and eliminate any type of favoritism or bias built upon years towards a team or a coach.

 

[kerouac9]

In a previous post, I mentioned that NFL should have its training program. That doesn't mean that everyone will see the field but to ensure there are qualified refs are there whenever needed. When we talk about refs, those are college refs worked in bowls etc.. College football isn't a joke. And after all, where did the regular refs started? High school & pop warner.

My idea not to let refs work long in NFL, restricted by number of years, to ensure fairness and eliminate any type of favoritism or bias built upon years towards a team or a coach.

You're dealing with guys who devoted decades of their life to football; the NFL works very hard with regular refs to make sure that--for examples--Ed Hoculi never works a regular-season Card game.

In the NFL, there just isn't a lot of favoritism toward individual teams. You'll rarely hear ex-players say, "Oh, man, I love the Buffalo Bills." They've been in the business, they know there's no favorites there.

There aren't DIV-I refs among the replacement officials. They do have NFL-dreams, and they're not going to scab out on the guys they'd like to be colleagues with. What we're seeing with replacement refs is DIV II and DIV III officials, along with some former UFL, Arena, and (honest to God) lingerie football officials. The NFL did a horrible job doing oversight on these guys, to the point that you hear about officials telling players they need to do better for their fantasy teams, posting on Facebook that they're excited to see the Saints from field-level.

 

[Fitz Rulz]

Again, I blame NFL for this mess but we can't be under the mercy of the regular officials. The road they took to become NFL ref, anyone still can do. It's not rocket science here or only certain people can work it. Give others time and education, they will excel too.

It's common that refs in all sports treat stars differently. As an example, Shaq would have been ejected every game in its 1st quarter if the calls were right against him.
In the super bowl, Holmes after his TD used the ball in celebration Lebron dust thing. Regular refs don't know it's 15 yard penalty? They do but they let it go coz we can't spoil the great comeback of mighty Steelers. Wasn't there a flagrant foul against a Teeler that she should be ejected for but ignored? Wasn't Brady treated differently? they even made up a rule for him. So many examples of Refs ignored the rules coz inapplicable on certain players or teams.

At least those replacements, trying to be fair as mush as they can. It's not they don't know the rules. They need to get their mind set right on NFL.

 

[kerouac9]

Again, I blame NFL for this mess but we can't be under the mercy of the regular officials. The road they took to become NFL ref, anyone still can do. It's not rocket science here or only certain people can work it. Give others time and education, they will excel too.

It's common that refs in all sports treat stars differently. As an example, Shaq would have been ejected every game in its 1st quarter if the calls were right against him.
In the super bowl, Holmes after his TD used the ball in celebration Lebron dust thing. Regular refs don't know it's 15 yard penalty? They do but they let it go coz we can't spoil the great comeback of mighty Steelers. Wasn't there a flagrant foul against a Teeler that she should be ejected for but ignored? Wasn't Brady treated differently? they even made up a rule for him. So many examples of Refs ignored the rules coz inapplicable on certain players or teams.

At least those replacements, trying to be fair as mush as they can. It's not they don't know the rules. They need to get their mind set right on NFL.

Clearly that's exactly what it is, at least in part. Not knowing how to officiate two penalties on one play isn't about the speed of the NFL, it's about not knowing how the rules are applied.

 

[Fitz Rulz]

I'd rather be patient and they will get their act together unless it's obvious they can not.
What's more important, NFL ref or the president of the US?
If the president of the US can't server for more then 2 terms no matter how good he is. And he could be followed by a guy who screws everything up.
That point that we discussed before about the extra backup crews, means regular officials don't want to be held accountable when they make mistakes.
If it's like take it or leave it. They better stay home then.

 

[kerouac9]

I'd rather be patient and they will get their act together unless it's obvious they can not.
What's more important, NFL ref or the president of the US?
If the president of the US can't server for more then 2 terms no matter how good he is. And he could be followed by a guy who screws everything up.
That point that we discussed before about the extra backup crews, means regular officials don't want to be held accountable when they make mistakes.
If it's like take it or leave it. They better stay home then.

Yes. President of the United States is exactly like officiating crew. Should head coaches be term-limited, as well? Why not?

Regular officials don't get prime playoff games if they perform poorly. That's the negotiation issue (along with pensions). If NFL would grandfather in pensions for current officials and set up 401(K)s for all incomers, this wouldn't be a problem.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Exactly. Where was the "Victor Cruz rule" yesterday. BS.

Regarding Batiste - if necessary can we bump Colledge to LT and start Ornsburger (sp?). I know they looked at that late in training camp. can't afford Batiste to get 4 holding calls a game if the regular refs come back.

??? Wha ???

You play to where the refs let you. That is a rule of thumb that has been around FOREVER!!! I used it all the time in rugby.

How about before we replace the LT that has helped this team go 3-0 for no reason, we wait and see.

Maybe, just maybe when the "real" refs come back he will adjust his game. Furthermore, thinking that Batiste would be the only tackle in the league that would have to "change his game" is a little bit much, he won't be the only OT that will have to change things.

How about some kudos for our LT who is playing better than a few others that are starting for respective clubs right now.

3-0. I think we are nit picking the OT position here.

 

[Russ Smith]

??? Wha ???

You play to where the refs let you. That is a rule of thumb that has been around FOREVER!!! I used it all the time in rugby.

How about before we replace the LT that has helped this team go 3-0 for no reason, we wait and see.

Maybe, just maybe when the "real" refs come back he will adjust his game. Furthermore, thinking that Batiste would be the only tackle in the league that would have to "change his game" is a little bit much, he won't be the only OT that will have to change things.

How about some kudos for our LT who is playing better than a few others that are starting for respective clubs right now.

3-0. I think we are nit picking the OT position here.

Oh they're all going to have to adjust my one concern with Batiste is being a guy who's barely played before this year I wonder if the freedom to hold is masking his actual playing level? as in if they actually start calling holds on him regularly and he has to adjust, does he have the talent to do so.

I guess we'll find out but I don't think we have a better option on our roster right now.

I have no interest in moving Colledge.

 

[conraddobler]

I for one don't want the real refs back, in my opinion they're biased against us, so far it seems although terrible, these replacements are actually neutral terrible which is refreshing.

JK... sort of.

 

[Fitz Rulz]

Being terrible to both teams = FAIR

 

[AzStevenCal]

I for one don't want the real refs back, in my opinion they're biased against us, so far it seems although terrible, these replacements are actually neutral terrible which is refreshing.

JK... sort of.

Despite what I've said, I really don't think the NFL refs approach a game with the intention to call anything other than an excellent game. But, I do believe that if they see Revis holding Brian Hartline they tend to let it go a little longer than they would if they saw Michael Adams getting a little grabby with Jordy Nelson. I also think they are much more likely to just give Logan Mankins for the same infraction that would bring a flag on Levi Brown.

In tight situations, in the case of close/challengeable calls, I also think they are much more likely to make an initial call in favor of the Steelers than say the Seahawks. That may not seem like much in the age of instant reviews but it's huge. All too often, the call stands not because they believe it's the right call but simply because there isn't indisputable evidence to overturn. Also, the burden of challenging ends up weighing heavily against the lesser respected team because they have more riding on each questionable call (the call itself plus the risk of a timeout).

Steve

 

[kerouac9]

I for one don't want the real refs back, in my opinion they're biased against us, so far it seems although terrible, these replacements are actually neutral terrible which is refreshing.

JK... sort of.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/audibles/2012/audibles-line-week-3

I'm not exactly sure what's happening in Minnesota, but San Francisco got the ball after a Toby Gerhart fumble that was originally ruled down by contact. San Francisco challenged the play and won the reversal, but the announcers were saying the 49ers should not have been able to challenge because they were out of timeouts. Then Smith throws an interception, and on the ensuing Vikings drive, the 49ers challenge to say Gerhart fumbled again. Announcers are saying it's the second challenge that the 49ers have been inaccurately granted. They lose that challenge and the refs say they are now out of timeouts. Long story short, either the announcers or the refs are very wrong about something. And it goes without saying that all of this took a long time to get sorted out.

Clearly the NFL is putting a high-quality product on the field over the course of the officials' lockout.