Lay Off The Refs

"Terrible call!"  "These guys are taking forever!"  "Hey, isn't that guy a Saints fan?"  These are just a few of the things that people are saying about these new replacement refs through the first two weeks of the regular season.  Players, coaches, and fans are all yelling at them, criticizing their every call.  The commentators joke about them when they are reviewing a play as slow-mo replay shows the refs were wrong.  Realize, however, the situation they are being put in.

Labor negotiations with the 'real' refs had been going on all summer, but the dispute with the league was never resolved resulting in the situation the NFL has on its hands.  Just like the players, refs need time to prepare and train to acquire the skill to call a fair NFL game.  Think of this scenario like the lockout from last year.  The players looked rusty the first couple weeks as the lack of a true off-season was pointed to as the reason for injuries and poor play.  These refs also have a lack of preparation which may be the source of the complaints.  Although I am defending them, I will admit that their calls have been shaky at best.  They awarded a fourth timeout, have taken abnormally long discussing penalties, thrown late flags, and made bad calls.  But really, did you expect perfection?

Did you expect these new refs, who officiated at other levels or had different jobs entirely, to replace trained NFL level refs without a hiccup?  If you did, you severely underestimate the expertise NFL refs have.  To be honest, these replacement refs have made good calls.  There have been many times that I've been watching a broadcast, they will show the replay, and the commentators will say, "Yea, that is a good call."  They still call holding, hands to the face, pass interference, and any other penalty you don't think your team ever commits.  The late flags are certainly an issue, as these refs seem more swayed by players' reactions than the locked out refs.  But flag or no flag, the public would find something to criticize these refs about.

Here is the main conflict of interest I see.  Fans, coaches, and players want the right call.  These refs are not as used to the speed of the game in the NFL nor the crew and other refs they are working with (important from a trust, communication, and familiarity standpoint).  This causes them to take more time.  Fans, coaches, and players also want the calls as fast as possible.  Sorry, that's just not going to happen.  In my opinion, if the refs get the call right, take all the time you need.  While there have been a few instances of lengthy discussions, most of the calls are made within a reasonable time frame.  So maybe the discussion goes too fast and the ref calls the penalty on the wrong person or gets the yardage and/or down mixed up.  Then the whole stadium is in an uproar about how ludicrous and inept these refs are.  These refs must have come from Northwest South Dakota State Tech University (sorry to readers from this made up school) and can't tie their own shoes.  People need to accept the situation for what is it and decide if they prefer a faster game with more chance of inaccuracy or a slower game with greater integrity.  As it stands now, we can't have both.

Ironically, I think that if or when the regular officials come back, that they will be under the same microscope these refs are.  The replacement refs are being scrutinized so harshly because it is a deviation from the norm.  When the regular refs come back, their performance from the first week will be judged based on the weeks the replacement refs just officiated.  People will want to see is there really a difference?  If a regular ref messes up, what will the reaction be?  People will probably blame it on rust and be glad to have the officials back, even though that same mistake could be made by a replacement ref and they would be harassed.  What if the regular officials have a string of bad incidents early on when they come back to work?  That would be embarrassing for the NFL.  Even after a silly labor dispute, the real refs still can't get the calls right. 

This is why the real NFL refs have it so good.  Leverage, boys and girls, is at an all time high for them.  If there is this much media and NFL team shredding of these refs after two weeks, imagine what it will be like come week 5 or 6 or 7.  Outspoken and respected (key word) players like Ray Lewis have already spoken out about the refs.  When they speak, players, coaches, and fans listen.  Unfortunately, I see a breaking point where the replacement refs have a bad week and all hell breaks lose.  Players and coaches will go off on the refs and the league for not getting something done.  Heck, there might even be calls for replacements for the replacements.  The public will join the real referee's fight for a better contract and Roger Goodell could see all areas of the league targeting him for what has happened.  Since the officiating is being viewed negatively in the public eye, the NFL might even start losing casual fans.  Fans that will watch a game if it is on, but not if it takes four hours or bad calls are being made left and right. 

This is a very slippery slope the league is headed down.  Are these replacements the best refs we've seen?  No.  But given the circumstances, they're not doing that bad.  But next time you're yelling at the TV screen or updating your Twitter or Facebook with death threats to these officials, you might want to spend that energy attacking the league.  Tweeting Roger Goodell will go a longer way than arguing over a call that was just made.  It's done, it's a penalty.  Now sit back as the ref faces the wrong way, calls a seven yard holding penalty, and calls it on #14 Drew Brees of the Vikings.  First down Vikings Bears Saints those guys over there.

Matty O