the NFL needs to stop using amateur refs and find the best ones and then pay them enough so they can be professionals. Be refs and nothing but refs for entire season.Why the NFL does not do this is crazy
@timbob2313 The league is a billion dollar business and they have no excuse for not hiring full time, well compensated, officials. Zero excuse. The question has been asked before, and the league just cries poor. Times up.
A multibillion dollar league like the NFL shows so little respect for its own product that they entrust it on Sundays to a bunch of moonlighters who stock shelves or sell insurance five days a week. And then they wonder why the guys they have out on the field in stripes now are no better than the replacement refs in 2012. They should AT LEAST make crew chiefs full-time employees of the league, but I guess Roger can’t find enough money between his couch cushions. Or he and the owners and the players union simply don’t give a s—t as long as people fill the stands (and their own pockets).
I cannot speak for the NFL referees, but from my experience as a soccer referee – and I refereed professional soccer, as well as collegiate, high school, youth soccer, and adult amateur leagues – I can tell you the compensation was never enough to “give up my day job.”. Even my work as a referee instructor and evaluator was “part-time”. I disagree with the idea that FIFA, the NFL, MLB etc. can’t afford to pay their officials a “living wage”. They can ! I also disagree with the philosophical b.s. that if they officials were truly well paid professionals, they would be too beholding to the League or Association. Bull !
One of the best ways to ensure good officiating – aside from paying more than a pittance ( I’m talking on the lower levels,now ) is to develop schools and training programs to encourage and promote younger people to become professional sporting officials. To do that the fans,the teams, the owners, and the leagues have got to change their perception of the referee, the umpire, or as we’re called in Spanish los árbitros!
Mad Magazine: How to clean your gutters.Step one: Climb up your ladder.Step two: Check to make sure that your ladder is in good condition.Step three: On the way to the hospital, kick yourself for doing step one before step two!
The NFL doesn’t care about officiating. If it did, the following play (featuring an illegal forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage) wouldn’t be in the nfl.com highlight reel from a preseason game. I asked nfl.com why no flag was thrown; still waiting for a response, 3 weeks later.
The antics of certain NFL players, and of the league, this year has turned me off the game for the season. We’ll see if they get their act together next year.
timbob2313 Premium Member over 8 years ago
the NFL needs to stop using amateur refs and find the best ones and then pay them enough so they can be professionals. Be refs and nothing but refs for entire season.Why the NFL does not do this is crazy
sarah413 Premium Member over 8 years ago
@timbob2313 The league is a billion dollar business and they have no excuse for not hiring full time, well compensated, officials. Zero excuse. The question has been asked before, and the league just cries poor. Times up.
Guilty Bystander over 8 years ago
A multibillion dollar league like the NFL shows so little respect for its own product that they entrust it on Sundays to a bunch of moonlighters who stock shelves or sell insurance five days a week. And then they wonder why the guys they have out on the field in stripes now are no better than the replacement refs in 2012. They should AT LEAST make crew chiefs full-time employees of the league, but I guess Roger can’t find enough money between his couch cushions. Or he and the owners and the players union simply don’t give a s—t as long as people fill the stands (and their own pockets).
Linguist over 8 years ago
I cannot speak for the NFL referees, but from my experience as a soccer referee – and I refereed professional soccer, as well as collegiate, high school, youth soccer, and adult amateur leagues – I can tell you the compensation was never enough to “give up my day job.”. Even my work as a referee instructor and evaluator was “part-time”. I disagree with the idea that FIFA, the NFL, MLB etc. can’t afford to pay their officials a “living wage”. They can ! I also disagree with the philosophical b.s. that if they officials were truly well paid professionals, they would be too beholding to the League or Association. Bull !
One of the best ways to ensure good officiating – aside from paying more than a pittance ( I’m talking on the lower levels,now ) is to develop schools and training programs to encourage and promote younger people to become professional sporting officials. To do that the fans,the teams, the owners, and the leagues have got to change their perception of the referee, the umpire, or as we’re called in Spanish los árbitros!
Godfreydaniel over 8 years ago
Mad Magazine: How to clean your gutters.Step one: Climb up your ladder.Step two: Check to make sure that your ladder is in good condition.Step three: On the way to the hospital, kick yourself for doing step one before step two!
mabrndt Premium Member over 8 years ago
The NFL doesn’t care about officiating. If it did, the following play (featuring an illegal forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage) wouldn’t be in the nfl.com highlight reel from a preseason game. I asked nfl.com why no flag was thrown; still waiting for a response, 3 weeks later.
BWR over 8 years ago
The antics of certain NFL players, and of the league, this year has turned me off the game for the season. We’ll see if they get their act together next year.