# Why the hate against replacement NFL referees? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 24, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672 "2012-09-24T13:30:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/41 "2012-09-25T15:33:26Z")
The hatred should be directed at the owners. The replacements are doing the best job they can, and they shouldn’t even be there. Placing the blame on the replacements is just another reason this situation will continue. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/42 "2012-09-25T15:48:37Z")
The NFL is ultimately the loser in this fiasco. The fans are losing faith in the system. It’s always been fun to boo the ref, but all in all, they were pretty sharp. Not the case now. Come on NFL, open the doors and let them back. You’re damaging the game. ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/43 "2012-09-25T16:03:59Z")
Apparently I had left this threat in my browser when I left the computer yesterday. Needless to say, I knew refreshing it would be worthwhile. The regular refs blow calls, but not this many. And they almost always get the rules right, unlike the refs of the 49ers/Vikings game who granted the 49ers a review when they shouldn’t have. (I say that as a 49er fan.) The replacement refs are blowing big calls in every game. Players have noticed that the refs aren’t calling holding or illegal use of hands as regularly and are pushing the limits there. Last night’s blown call was simply the latest and most visible blown call. It also happened to change the outcome of the game. Too bad it wasn’t the first call that could be said of. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/44 "2012-09-25T16:05:21Z")
> [@HookerChemical](#): > > And they almost always get the rules right, unlike the refs of the 49ers/Vikings game who granted the 49ers a review when they shouldn’t have. (I say that as a 49er fan.) Twice. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/45 "2012-09-25T16:47:02Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Why can’t possession be determined in review? Why can’t a field goal that is _over_ the uprights be reviewable if one between them is? Why can’t a coach challenge a penalty? The field goal one I can answer. Two officials are positioned under the uprights. The can look straight up and see what side of the upright the ball passed. No camera is going to give you anywhere close to that angle. Possession can be determined in review. In fact a blown call from week 2 was exactly this. Backwards pass rules incomplete but in the process the defense thought it was a fumble and recovered and tried to advance. After review the backwards pass was ruled a fumble but because the whistle blew the defense could not advance the ball. Thing is, looking at the review the whistle blew after the drop but before the recovery. By rule there was no recovery (maybe the offense didn’t go after the ball because of the whistle. maybe the defense would have recovered anyways. doesn’t matter) because the play is dead as soon as a whistle blows. Penalties are considered judgement calls and cannot be challenged. That I believe is the official reason. ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/46 "2012-09-25T17:01:50Z")
I’m not partial to any particular team, except when my wife or her family is in the room, then I’m a Steeler’s fan. So when I watch a game, it’s because I like to watch the game be played well, by whatever team is playing. These bad calls aren’t always favoring one team over another, although the big ones obviously help or hurt one team. It’s just lack of observation, which as has been said creates an environment where players will push the rules to their limit and beyond because they know they can. The sunday night game, Steeler’s vs. … whoever beat them that I can’t remember right now - that game had pass interference calls missed all over the place. Both sides - blatantly obvious ones. It was like Rock-em Sock-em receivers. Late hits totally ignored, roughing the quarterback after the play ended… Helmet to face-mask that damnnear took off that poor schlub’s cranium and gave him a wagon ride to the locker room with no flag. An end zone brawl with punches thrown and the ref being tossed around like a beach ball in the middle of it with not so much as a flag, let alone an ejection. It’s a ridiculous way to watch a football game. The real refs are gonna get every penny they want, plus a welcome back from the fans that will be remembered for years. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/47 "2012-09-25T17:23:58Z")
…followed by screams of “Bloody murder” after their first screw-up. But the screw-ups will be fewer and farther between. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/48 "2012-09-25T17:33:44Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The hatred should be directed at the owners. The replacements are doing the best job they can, and they shouldn’t even be there. Placing the blame on the replacements is just another reason this situation will continue. The owners aren’t in charge, [Roger Goodell](http://deadspin.com/5946173/fire-this-asshole) is, and yeah, he’s getting his too. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/49 "2012-09-25T17:57:53Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > The owners aren’t in charge, [Roger Goodell](http://deadspin.com/5946173/fire-this-asshole) is, and yeah, he’s getting his too. Goodell serves the owners at their whim. Whether he agrees or not, goodell himself is not the one drawing a “no pension ever” line in the sand with the NFLRA. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/50 "2012-09-25T18:05:44Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Goodell serves the owners at their whim. Whether he agrees or not, goodell himself is not the one drawing a “no pension ever” line in the sand with the NFLRA. Right. I’m dumfounded by how the media is spinning this as all about Goodell. I keep reading articles today on how Jerry Jones or Robert Kraft or Daniel Snyder is going to come down on Goodell if the situation continues. Folks, if Jones and Kraft and Snyder et al wanted the referees back, they’d be _back._ Goodell is utterly powerless without the collective backing of the owners, and his job is to represent their wishes, not enforce his own. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/51 "2012-09-25T18:12:04Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > Right. I’m dumfounded by how the media is spinning this as all about Goodell. I keep reading articles today on how Jerry Jones or Robert Kraft or Daniel Snyder is going to come down on Goodell if the situation continues. Folks, if Jones and Kraft and Snyder et al wanted the referees back, they’d be _back._ Goodell is utterly powerless without the collective backing of the owners, and his job is to represent their wishes, not enforce his own. It’s part of the deception. Direct the hatred toward the replacements, the striking officials, then Goodell. The publicity and the belief there’s a new random factor added to the game will probably increase viewers and ticket sales. The strike continues, the NFL owners win. Eventually one side will cave, the strike will end, and everyone will remember how much the original officials sucked at doing their job. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/52 "2012-09-25T18:12:53Z")
After further review it was determined that the runner missed second base Touchdown Celtics ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/53 "2012-09-25T18:17:52Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > After further review it was determined that the runner missed second base > Touchdown Celtics Actually I saw this ending at a recent WWE event. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/54 "2012-09-25T18:19:27Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > Right. I’m dumfounded by how the media is spinning this as all about Goodell. Because at this point all NFL stories are sculpted to fit into the narrative of Roger Goodell the tyrant. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/55 "2012-09-25T18:24:15Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > Right. I’m dumfounded by how the media is spinning this as all about Goodell. I keep reading articles today on how Jerry Jones or Robert Kraft or Daniel Snyder is going to come down on Goodell if the situation continues. Folks, if Jones and Kraft and Snyder et al wanted the referees back, they’d be _back._ Goodell is utterly powerless without the collective backing of the owners, and his job is to represent their wishes, not enforce his own. This is a point made by ESPN’s Dan Graziano in a blog entry entitled “[Jerry Jones thinks you’re stupid](http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/43617/jerry-jones-thinks-youre-stupid).” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/56 "2012-09-25T18:27:45Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > Right. I’m dumfounded by how the media is spinning this as all about Goodell. I keep reading articles today on how Jerry Jones or Robert Kraft or Daniel Snyder is going to come down on Goodell if the situation continues. Folks, if Jones and Kraft and Snyder et al wanted the referees back, they’d be _back._ Goodell is utterly powerless without the collective backing of the owners, and his job is to represent their wishes, not enforce his own. I think that’s really the point the commentators are making. They’re not suggesting that the owners call up Goodell and ask him to please negotiate an end to the strike. They’re saying the owners should call up Goodell and tell him they’ve decided to accept the officials’ offer and tell Goodell to sign the contract. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/57 "2012-09-25T19:16:57Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The _ **strike** _ continues, the NFL owners win. Eventually one side will cave, the _ **strike** _ will end, and everyone will remember how much the original officials sucked at doing their job. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > They’re not suggesting that the owners call up Goodell and ask him to please negotiate an end to the _ **strike** _. Nitpick, perhaps, but it’s not a strike. The officials are not refusing to work. The NFL is refusing to allow them to work. As I understand it, the officials are willing to work while they continue negotiations. The NFL (okay, the owners) took a hard line and told them they could sit at home on their keisters and think over the league’s offer some more. After all, anybody can be an official! How hard can it be? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/58 "2012-09-25T19:24:58Z")
Okay, it’s a lockout not a strike. Which makes even less sense from the league’s point of view. As I said in an earlier post, these officials aren’t hurting for money - they can readily afford to forego whatever money they would have been paid for officiating these games. And by trying to replace them, all the league has done is demonstrate how valuable the regular officials are. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/59 "2012-09-25T19:29:09Z")
Has there ever been a precedent set for the NFL recalling/nullifying a game due to lousy officiating? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672/60 "2012-09-25T20:01:04Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > After further review it was determined that the runner missed second base > Touchdown Celtics You pronounced that as “Keltics”! :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-hate-against-replacement-nfl-referees/635672.md?page=4)