September 27th, 2012 at 12:30 AM ^
September 27th, 2012 at 12:29 AM ^
2 days too late for my beloved Packers...
September 27th, 2012 at 12:39 AM ^
September 27th, 2012 at 3:13 AM ^
...the Saints' first win
September 27th, 2012 at 9:23 AM ^
the game is at Lambeau
September 27th, 2012 at 12:34 AM ^
in that the physical aspect isn't as big of a deal, but I have to wonder if they'll be good to go this weekend or if things will be better, but not up to snuff, for another week or two. That said, I bet they have their top rated officials all on the field in Cleveland to try and mitigate any hangover effects.
I know in hockey getting the preseason games and tryouts and whatnot in is a big deal. It's not hard to get overwhelmed by high end speed after an entire offseason.
September 27th, 2012 at 12:37 AM ^
This is a serious bummer for casual NFL fans more interested in funny, intriguing stories than a particular team or justice more generally. I guess we'll always have our touchback at the 4-yard-line, 27-yard personal foul, and four timeouts in a half (to enjoy from all of this).
September 27th, 2012 at 12:38 AM ^
September 27th, 2012 at 7:59 AM ^
Negotiations start back up tomorrow. There's hope, not much, but there's hope.
September 27th, 2012 at 12:48 AM ^
I'm just glad we will have only a few more days of this story.
September 27th, 2012 at 12:49 AM ^
September 27th, 2012 at 12:52 AM ^
September 27th, 2012 at 9:24 AM ^
because everyone is going to tune in to see if the regular refs actually do a good job or not, so if they fail too they can rip the regular refs for not being better than the scrubs.
later in the season that interest will die off though.
September 27th, 2012 at 1:02 AM ^
It was so much fun hearing everybody bitch about the refs on Facebook during every game.
September 27th, 2012 at 1:15 AM ^
Having the old refs back isn't gonna change that.
September 27th, 2012 at 1:28 AM ^
I sure am glad we'll have the old refs back to complain about. /semi s
They are only human, so they'll make mistakes, but I think they'll make fewer, and there won't be as many long delays while they figure out what the call is supposed to be or what the rules are.
September 27th, 2012 at 10:17 AM ^
September 27th, 2012 at 3:21 AM ^
I've been hearing this all day and am glad to hear the story had merit and something has finally come out of the "talks". I wonder if the details about who "caved in" will come out (I admit I haven't read the link or any articles on the matter yet). This is an overall good thing, though, as the normal officials definitely have a better grasp on the NFL version of football. I was in the party thinking the replacements weren't as bad as many (the t.v pundits/analysts/broadcasters) said they were, but obviously Monday night was a debacle to go along with the many other minor, in comparison to Monday night, issues that've come up in.
I will say, though, and I've stated this already, but I have to say that watching the NFL over the past 4-6 years has been hard to do, anyway; many of my issues dealing with the officiating. Again, the normal officials handle the game much better those who've been doing it this season thus far, but I've screamed at many a t.v. regarding very sh**ty calls over the aforementioned stretch of years. So, it's back to a better managed game, a good thing, but also back to the "don't lay a finger on a Wide Reciever"* league.
*Just one of a few gripes I have with how the league is officiated these days.
September 27th, 2012 at 9:56 AM ^
September 27th, 2012 at 11:43 AM ^
I think it's on the NFL and the rules committee that has turned the rules book into a thermodynamic reactor instruction manual, except it's all open to interpretation. The catch thing is the perfect example. Everyone used to understand it. You get the ball in your hands, get two feet on the ground, don't drop it when you hit the ground, or make a "football move" before you hit the ground. It's a catch. Now you have to take the ball to the locker room with your for the post game shower. Except when you don't.
The rules that kill you are the ones open to interpretation, and rather than make things cute and dried they seem to have come up with more challenging calls for refs to give their views on, which is always going to make someone unhappy. Roughing, unnecessary roughness, etc....we all used to know it when we saw it. Now no one is even sure if the refs do. But the refs aren't making the new rules, they're just trying to enforcement them.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:59 AM ^
Just in case anyone was interested in what Ed Hochuli has to say about the agreement, here is the article from the Chicago Tribune (LINK).
"The moment I heard, I dropped down on the floor and started doing pushups," joked longtime referee Ed Hochuli, known for his bulging biceps."
Some of the more intrguing aspects of the deal include retirement benefits for new hires, and for all officials by 2017 through a defined contribution plan. There are also pay increases - the article is not clear on percentages, but they will make $173,000 next year and by 2019, they will be over 30% above that (which probably means guaranteed raises in the 3%-3.5% range each year on average, I assume). The league will also have the option to hire full-time personnel beginning next year and retain personnel for development purposes.
I will say, l like the idea of the referees and the league being able provide for some continuity and improvement potential through having training and development. Something like that was a long time coming for the NFL, in my opinion.
The freezing of the current defined benefit plan in 2016 is not going to sit well with about 80% of the officials, since they would not reach 20 years of service by then. I wonder if this reflects in the vote this weekend to a certain extent.
September 27th, 2012 at 7:24 AM ^
September 27th, 2012 at 7:36 AM ^
September 27th, 2012 at 9:03 AM ^
September 27th, 2012 at 9:32 AM ^
The elite teams will be happy now. They are getting their refs back. Sorry Lions. Back to all the screw jobs again.
September 27th, 2012 at 9:47 AM ^
Refs gona walk onto field, get standing ovation, then botch a call, good times await
September 27th, 2012 at 11:30 AM ^
EDIT: I can't read, I suck, etc. Oops
September 27th, 2012 at 10:34 AM ^
I'm glad that this constant source of news and ranting will finally start to fade away...
I'm a big Packers fan, but this was getting rediculous.
September 27th, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^
The old refs are bad too.
September 27th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
September 27th, 2012 at 6:24 PM ^
We'll still be bitching about the calls and saying how terrible the refs are come Monday morning.