Where Are The Zebras??

by: Jeff

Ladies and Gentlemen, I posted about a week ago how the NFL season was just a hundred days away from kicking off. With that being said, it was time for me to start getting ready for the upcoming season. However, the NFL took a step backwards from that progress today as the NFL Referees Association and the NFL have broken talks to extend their expired Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Some of you might ask, "Who cares! Those officials were horrible anyways!" Sure, I yell and scream that the TV as much as the next red-blodded American, but you also have to realize that for every ONE bad call made, there are 20 quality calls that should have been made. With the speed of the game, there is NO WAY I would want to wear the stripes and have to make calls in a split second like that. I would prefer to sit on my couch and criticize the zebras like every other NFL fan!

The NFL itself has to be concerned for the upcoming season. It has put such an emphasis on player safety over the past 2 years that it will be tough for these "replacement" officials to get the hang of everything right away.
Just think of all the rules on safety that are needed to remember: Can't hit a QB in the head, knee, or lead with the head; Can't launch yourself into another play; Can't lead with your head and make helmet to helmet contact; Can't horse collar tackle someone; and that is just to name a few. These officials are going to be criticized more than the everyday referees that we are used to seeing on any given Sunday afternoon. It is an extremely tough spot for these officials, but its a job that needs to be done, and needs to be done well. The NFL typically sends out their crews to different training camps for them to get used to the game at game speed. I would reccommend to these officials to spend entire training camps with a couple teams so they are completely prepared for the upcoming NFL season.

Its been 11 years since the NFL has had an impasse with their officials, and lets hope this one doesn't last long, but I think the NFL needs to make life easier on officials regardless of whether they are replacements or the every day officials. In my opinion, the NFL could take alot of pressure off officials by making some really small adjustments to the way the game is officiated. First, the review system. Don't leave it up to the official on the field, but have someone in a box, or a headquarters (similar to the NHL reviewing system) make the call and relay that to the official on the field. Second, change certain penalties so they don't carry as much weight. Pass interference in the NFL is ridiculous in my opinion.
The fact that the ball is placed at the spot of the foul puts too much pressure on the officials to not blow the call, especially late in a game when a team is in position for a last second desperation throw looking to possibly draw the interference call. If they were to go to the NCAA rule of a simple 15 yard penalty for interference, it would make the calls easier for the zebras (in my opinion). Lastly, the NFL has already made several steps in helping officials. Making sure every potential scoring play is immediately reviewed makes things easier. The coaches' challenges also assist the officials, not second guess them. If you don't think these things are important, then you don't really follow the NFL that closely because you can list games that have been decided by blown calls (think Steelers vs. Dolphins 2 years ago in Miami - Danny and I can both tell you who made the call and why it was a blown call). I trust the NFL will make things right before the season, but they don't have alot of time...we already know we are down to about 90 days till kickoff and they haven't even found the replacement officials yet. You thought the officials were bad last year? Wait till you see replacements that aren't fully prepared...the NFL better get on the ball! Nonetheless, it will be weird not seeing Mike Carey, Ed Hochuli, Gene Steratore, and Bill Leavy (just to name a few) making calls on Sundays.