NFL to use scab referees to start season

[Wesley Walker]

If Goodell has a brain in his head, he's calling the NFLRA and signing an agreement tonight.

As fans of the NFL, we should all feel like we're being mocked by a group of millionaire team owners. The Players' Union is right that these are unsafe working conditions being created by these refs. The integrity of game results is seriously questionable.

The owners actually have far less bargaining power, and the real NFL refs far more, than before the season started.

On one hand is the team owners' greed in refusing to negotiate with a small group of officials that get paid a pittance compared to the average player. And on the other hand you have their calculated disregard for fans, trusting that working class America will still watch and pay for pro football.

[RedHopeful]

Can't believe it actually decided a game so now what? Many consider the NFL on top of the perch in term of professional sports but if the scabs are allowed to continue be ready to drop a few notches Goodell and Co.

[benb18a]

We should boycott NFL licensed merchandise and live games, only watch NFL games on TV. It won't be that significant because most people will still pay for a second rate game, but this is an absolute joke and might send a message. Ed Reed was just interviewed yesterday and although he didn't allude to it, it would be awesome if players got fed up enough to boycott the league until the real refs are reinstated. Wayne Larrivee stated he has never seen a travesty like this in over 25 years of football broadcasting.

[benb18a]

[benb18a]

for those who listened to the game/missed it:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0a ... line_stack

[moochman]

Okay, we know the owner mule, Goodell, doesn't care about fans or the integrity of the game, but just how arrogant can the owners and their lackey be? Goodell effectively looks to have destroyed the Saints season over no real evidence and now we see the Packers get a game stolen from them by incompetent reffing.
Goodell already has handed down the edicts to players and coaches that thou shalt not besmirch the replacement refs. I am told by the voices in my TV that their or 'real' refs in the booth looking at all the replays. So my question is, can we put it past Goodell to inform, influence the booth officials to slant calls toward the replacements decisions so as not to look as bad as they are? Still getting a lot of turnovers because the replacements are totally overmatched here. I wonder if maybe we shouldn't have an investigation from an outside source into the questionable actions of one Rodger dodger Goodell. He and the owners agendas can no longer be said to be in the best interests of the game. The owners and their Goodell complex has tainted the integrity of the game. The very game they are supposed to protect.

[stomperrob]

Here's a novel approach - seeing as the players now get 47% of the revenue pie making them , if not actual, then de facto partners with the owners - double the real ref's salary and make both the owners and players responsible for 1/2 of that (ie: the refs get a tiny % of the pie). Sounds like creeping socialism but what the he**.

[tantrix1969]

turns out some of the replacement refs couldn't even cut it in the Lingerie Football League

"Because of the LFL's perception it is that much more critical for us to hire officiating crews that are competent, not only for the credibility of our game but to keep our athletes safer. Due to several on-field incompetent officiating we chose to part ways with with a couple crews which apparently are now officiating in the NFL. We have a lot of respect for our officials but we felt the officiating was not in line with our expectations.

We have not made public comment to date because we felt it was not our place to do so. However in light of tonight's event, we felt it was only fair that NFL fans knew the truth as to who are officiating these games."

http://deadspin.com/5946112/

[benb18a]

turns out some of the replacement refs couldn't even cut it in the Lingerie Football League

"Because of the LFL's perception it is that much more critical for us to hire officiating crews that are competent, not only for the credibility of our game but to keep our athletes safer. Due to several on-field incompetent officiating we chose to part ways with with a couple crews which apparently are now officiating in the NFL. We have a lot of respect for our officials but we felt the officiating was not in line with our expectations.

We have not made public comment to date because we felt it was not our place to do so. However in light of tonight's event, we felt it was only fair that NFL fans knew the truth as to who are officiating these games."

http://deadspin.com/5946112/

Wow, what a sham. I want to boycott the NFL now, until they sack up and do the RIGHT thing, on ALL grounds.

[bigh0rt]

turns out some of the replacement refs couldn't even cut it in the Lingerie Football League

"Because of the LFL's perception it is that much more critical for us to hire officiating crews that are competent, not only for the credibility of our game but to keep our athletes safer. Due to several on-field incompetent officiating we chose to part ways with with a couple crews which apparently are now officiating in the NFL. We have a lot of respect for our officials but we felt the officiating was not in line with our expectations.

We have not made public comment to date because we felt it was not our place to do so. However in light of tonight's event, we felt it was only fair that NFL fans knew the truth as to who are officiating these games."

http://deadspin.com/5946112/

Wow, what a sham. I want to boycott the NFL now, until they sack up and do the RIGHT thing, on ALL grounds.

If I were the NFL, I certainly wouldn't be giving NFL referees pensions. Seems like they've sent out what they feel is fair, and are sticking to their guns, knowing full well that no matter who they trot out there to officiate games, people are still going to tune in. People can pretend they're losing leverage if they want, but the reality is they probably aren't. People are still watching, and are going to continue to watch, even if this wild officiating continues. It's certainly not a popular move by the NFL, but I don't think it's necessarily the wrong one, either.