Goodell confident in scab refs

[Auggie]

AP / 8-23-12

(I changed the title a little)

NEW YORK -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says possibly using replacement referees for regular-season games is worthwhile to ensure long-term improvements to officiating.

SNIP

"These officials have been trained," Goodell said of the replacement refs who have been calling preseason games. "We've been working with them. We think they'll do a very credible job."



STORY: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8296379/roger-goodell-believes-replacement-officials

Fourteen days until bitching and moaning over officiating commences.

[Kingofalldems]

1. If i watched football I would boycott

the NFL for sure. I hate scabs.

[madinmaryland]

2. I was listening to the DC Sports channel today, and they were blasting Goodell for such

a moranic choice. Just pay the ref's what they deserve.

fer fuck sakes, the amount they get is pocket change for any NFL owner.

[Auggie]

3. Agree about the money. As I understand it, the refs also want to keep their full-time jobs.

For some of these guys being a full-time ref would represent a drop in income.

Pocket change, indeed. Forbes estimated the take of the NFL’s 32 teams to be $8.3 billion in 2010.

(LINK: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2011/09/07/the-nfls-most-valuable-teams/)

Should come out of the general operating fund so smaller market teams like Green Bay aren't at a disadvantage. The Pack can't match Jones, Kraft or Snyder in revenue.

[madinmaryland]

4. Yeah. I heard Jerrah could cut a check just to cover what the refs want so that

he doesn't have a bad call go against the Boys that keeps them out of the playoffs.

I'm sure any of the owners could do that.

[Auggie]

5. I'm guessing it'll be settled by Week 6 ...

We'll see enough blown calls by then that fans and owners will be calling for a settlement.

[madinmaryland]

6. My guess is week 2. One week of horrible calls will humiliate the league into settling. nt

[Auggie]

7. I hope you're right / nt

[JonLP24]

9. I don't think

it matters much (in regards to NFL settling) unless it impacts their bottom line. Sure fans could complain about calls and demand the NFL settle (they are already AFAIK) but if they are still going to the games and watching broadcasts, there is little incentive for the NFL from that stand-point. Having top quality officiated games certainly is an incentive, but I think the NFL is showing little interest in that so far(especially considering the player-safety aspect). Eventually if the officiating is poor it will eventually lose fans which at that point the NFL would strongly consider it.

You did say owners though, that can make an impact if several teams were screwed by bad calls. I believe refs pay comes from all 32 owners so on that point, they are interested in saving money.

I actually have no idea either way so I hope your right. Just saying what I think would happen.

[joeybee12]

8. Yeah, but we always bitch and moan over officiating...

This year it will just be more intense, I guess.

My thoughts...they'll reach a deal.

[KamaAina]

10. Do not serve this man!

(seen at Jonathan Vilma's Miami restaurant)

[rocktivity]

11. Last night, Chris Collingsworth said that the regular refs got $8k per game

while the scabs were getting $2K. He also said something about the NFL planning to add three more teams.

So what are the scabs not doing that justifies a 75% per cent salary gap?


rocktivity

[KamaAina]

12. $8k per game?

Tom Brady probably gets that much per pass.

[Angleae]

13. The regular refs get $25,000 to $70,000 per year

I'm not sure that adding three teams is even possible (you need to do it in even numbers just for the schedule to fit)

[charlie and algernon]

14. Where would you even put them?

Los Angeles, sure, but then where? Oklahoma City? Las Vegas?

LONDON? LOL!

[ProfessorGAC]

15. They Do Seem Really Serious About London

But, a West Coast team would almost forfeit in protest over the 12 or 13 hour flight each way. Particularly given the advantage a team like the Pats or Giants/Jets would have. That flight is 5 to 5.5 hours shorter. Really, Seattle to London? San Diego to London?

But, every football talk show i hear, when expansion comes up, London comes up. Seems stupid, but i think they're really serious.
GAC

[Angleae]

16. The question is, is London serious?

If you think the west coast teams would have it bad, think about how a London team would fare (8 transatlantic flights per season).

[charlie and algernon]

17. The NFL would have to do the same thing the MLB did when the Dodgers wanted to move out West

Find a traveling partner. So if you want one expansion team to be in Europe, you would then need a SECOND expansion team to be in Europe too. One article I read mentioned the Rhine as being the logical second team since their NFL Europe team was so popular.