Replacement referees have become one of the biggest storylines of the 2012 NFL Season as Roger Goodell and the league owners continue to lock out the legitimate officials. The replacement refs have had some high-profile screw-ups, been called out by some high-profile players and have proven that the NFL didn’t do a great job in vetting them. All of this stands in the way and tarnishes the quality of an otherwise great game.
Currently, NFL refs are well paid, receiving about $149,000 (on average) in 2011.
The number seems especially high when one remembers that being an NFL referee is essentially a hobby. The NFL has offered to increase that rate, but reports and stories differ on how much. Full-time officials in other sports earn $300,000-$400,000, so if you consider the NFL refs half-time, the numbers seem to match up.
However, the roughly six-month NFL season isn’t the beginning and end of the NFL referees’ work. There is also work they do in terms of film study and new-rules study in the offseason. Referees also travel from team to team in the preseason to work on rules enforcement. The argument could be made that the referees work nearly year-round, albeit on a part-time basis.
The NFL and its locked-out officials met for two days in NEW YORK, but a person familiar with the negotiations said Friday the sides remain far apart and no further talks are scheduled. The person said in an email to the Associated Press that there are “significant and serious economic gaps.” Of course, they are talking about money Michael Arnold, counsel and lead negotiator for NFL Referees Association, acknowledged the discussions, saying his group reached out to the league last week and the NFL agreed to meet. The NFL locked out the regular officials in June and has been using replacements as the season enters its third full weekend. Many players, coaches and fans have been upset with what they say is poor officiating. The NFL has warned teams that it won’t tolerate confrontational behavior toward the new officials.
As one irate blogger put it: “Wake up Goodell. Get the NFLRA Refs back into the game as soon as possible. This nickel and dime stuff is harming the game and even affecting the outcome of games, as well as endangering our players. For someone in your position, you should cut out the politics and cut a deal with the Refs. What the Refs want amounts to 0.17 of total league revenue. Do the math!
That’s the what, the where, the when and the who, but what about the why?
Why has the NFL locked out its referees, and what is it that the real referees want that the owners aren’t willing to give them? Obviously, it is all about the money!
