This Should be a Hoot; NFL Replacement Officials Aren't Even Div. I Refs...

**soulman** · 07-21-2012, 09:41 PM

Jerry Markbreit says none of replacement refs come from top colleges

Says game will be compromised without regular officials Brad Biggs

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July 20, 2012, 02:23 PM EST

Longtime NFL referee Jerry Markbreit says replacement officials will compromise the NFL this season if a labor agreement isn’t reached.

The NFL has moved to hire replacement officials and with training camps opening next week there is no sign of progress with the regular officials, who have been locked out since June 3.

“You have to realize that there is no game if the competitive nature of this game isn’t controlled,” Markbreit said this morning during a visit on the Danny Mac Show on WSCR-670 AM in Chicago. “The NFL officials, the best in the land, are the ones that control this game. When you put replacements in there, you are compromising the nature of the game.

“That’s exactly what the league is planning right now. They’ve hired 120 replacement officials. None of them from Division I colleges. Those colleges and conferences will not allow their officials to work for the National Football League.”

Markbreit, who worked in four Super Bowls when he was still active, disputes the notion that NFL officials work part time for the league. He pointed out that the top salaries for NFL officials is less than $200,000 per year – half of what their counterparts in other sports can earn.

“(They) call is a part-time job,” Markbreit said. “It takes over your life. It is the most important job you have. It’s not just on Sunday. All year.”

Markbreit says NFL officials work year-round to remain sharp in their field.
We’ll see what direction this heads. The NFL could open itself up to serious criticism if regular-season games are played with inexperienced officials that do not come from the top college ranks, which is where the league typically recruits new officials.

Follow me on Twitter: @BradBiggs

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 07-21-2012, 10:08 PM

Everybody in the game is pretty much making money hand over fist. Millionaire players playing for billion dollar franchises. Why can't the NFL throw some cash to the refs? It would be "chump change" to the NFL. Chump change.

I guess I'm always for the underdog.

**JJ-30** · 07-22-2012, 11:15 AM

The NFL is right about one thing for a lot of this NFL officials it is a part time job. For the money the NFL is paying them it should be all they are doing, but many of them have Monday to Friday jobs. Sure they have to work out all year long to stay in shape but they don't work out on the field together as a team until Sunday and I think the NFL besides being cheap want more out of the officials.

Really if someone was willing to pay you $200,000 a year to work less then half a year and then on top of that just one day a week would you really need to find Monday to Friday 40 to 50 hours a week job.

**Riczaj01** · 07-22-2012, 01:10 PM

If the Refs are getting 6fig's then this SHOULD be their full time year round job; and they should be MUCH better at it. But most these guys are only making about 70K. NFL needs to up their offer significantly and make them full time. Their days should be in groups based on region, and going over game film to find the missed or blown calls to make all of them better; then working out. These guys aren't so good as to deserve 6 figs.

**omc1969** · 07-22-2012, 01:38 PM

With the league hinting at making at least SOME officials full time why not pay them like full time and do it to ALL of them. That alone would improve the quality of officiating. WTF is the league thinking about this. Makes them look REAL BAD to all of us fans as well.

**soulman** · 07-22-2012, 02:08 PM

JJ I think at least part of the crew should be full-time guys. Three official from every crew including the referee should work all year around, have representation on the NFL rules committee, conduct ongoing meetings with coaches and players to explain rules changes and how rules will be interpreted, and solicit feedback from them.

If the NFL wants more out of them I'd suggest they try this and pay those select few as full time employees. It appears to me and possibly the rest of the public like the NFL doesn't want this added expense. My guess is that only the very top officials are getting anywhere near 200k per year. Most are probably getting less than 100k and in this era is that really enough to pay a guy with a specialized skill who's traveling 6 months out of the year and doing what he can to stay active and prepared the other 6 months?

These guys must have to show up more than just a few hours before game time so I'd think they're actually spending the entire weekend involved in the process of getting there, getting prepared and getting home. I don't know, maybe not, but it's gotta be more than just a 24 hour turn around I would think.

As usual this lockout will probably go right up to the limit as well and then it'll get settled.

**Blue Horse-shoe** · 07-22-2012, 06:23 PM

The usual long stare down before the fists get raised then both drop their arms at the last second and work it out . ( At least I hope so cuz if the NFL actually goes through with this .... the officiating is gonna suk , and the players will be running amok ).

**nerrad** · 07-22-2012, 07:23 PM

this is really going to be a joke. for once, were gonna long for Ed Hochuli on sundays. Him and his extra small shirt.

**Henry Burris** · 07-23-2012, 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by soulman

JJ I think at least part of the crew should be full-time guys. Three official from every crew including the referee should work all year around, have representation on the NFL rules committee, conduct ongoing meetings with coaches and players to explain rules changes and how rules will be interpreted, and solicit feedback from them.

If the NFL wants more out of them I'd suggest they try this and pay those select few as full time employees. It appears to me and possibly the rest of the public like the NFL doesn't want this added expense. My guess is that only the very top officials are getting anywhere near 200k per year. Most are probably getting less than 100k and in this era is that really enough to pay a guy with a specialized skill who's traveling 6 months out of the year and doing what he can to stay active and prepared the other 6 months?

These guys must have to show up more than just a few hours before game time so I'd think they're actually spending the entire weekend involved in the process of getting there, getting prepared and getting home. I don't know, maybe not, but it's gotta be more than just a 24 hour turn around I would think.

As usual this lockout will probably go right up to the limit as well and then it'll get settled.

At least this lockout settle right before the season won't affect play lol.

**soulman** · 07-23-2012, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by nerrad

this is really going to be a joke. for once, were gonna long for Ed Hochuli on sundays. Him and his extra small shirt.

Now I know the season is just around the corner. Nerrad has returned. LOL

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