Apparently it takes a lockout to realize just how valuable the officials are in the NFL. The officiating so far in the early going of the season has been insufferably poor, prompting criticism from all sides. Slowly, the value of the refs continues to climb. Will this help them to get what they feel the league owes them? It damn well should!
The replacement officials are so scared of missing a call that they constantly interfere with the flow of the game, making game changing calls, and missing obvious penalties. The players are frustrated, the coaches are irritated, and the owners look like fools. With the power shifting to the referees, will the NFL finally be forced to return to the table? Maybe...
The reality is that the NFL tends to wait. Until there is a sufficient backlash, there is no reason for the NFL to respond. The players, coaches, and fans would have to unite together in order to make the NFL care enough, and even that may not be enough pressure to make the NFL cave. The fact that the NFL looks foolish in the face of rampant criticism while making record profits and persists in refusing to pay their officials yet still refuses to even meet indicates a level of indifference that the officials may not be able to overcome.
If that's is the case, hunker down, football fans! It's going to be long season...
No comments:
Post a Comment