The NFL replacement referees have become an easy target for media outlets like ESPN.com.
I'm not arguing that there haven't been some blown calls through the first two weeks of the NFL season, and Monday night's debacle might have been the worst of all. But if I think back on the last few football seasons, I recall constant bitching from pretty much everyone about the officials. Either they're calling too many personal fouls and ruining the integrity of the sport, or they're not calling enough late hits and helmet-to-helmet contact and putting player safety at risk. I can remember numerous times when the permanent referees blew judgement calls, failed to properly enforce the rules or mismanaged the clock. Ripping apart the refs is a big part of sports - not just football - and until we have an entirely automated officiating system that removes human error from the equation, that isn't going to change.
In my opinion, the replacement referees had giant bullseyes on their backs from the day the officials lockout commenced. Players, coaches, journalists and fans alike treat the NFL as if it's life or death, and any change to their beloved professional football is sure to be criticized. From the day the NFL announced that the regular refs wouldn't be on the field for Week 1, every football-loving person in America was looking to tear the replacements apart. The media built up the issue so much that there was no way the replacement officials could succeed, even though if the story wasn't so overblown the majority of NFL fans probably wouldn't have known anything was different. Sure, people would complain about the refs - and the familiarity of those complaints would only serve to reinforce the (incorrect) belief that nothing had changed.
Like any other NFL fan, I want the officials to impact the game as little as possible and believe that the game should be left in the hands of the players and coaches. I've watched enough football (and sports in general), though, to acknowledge that officiating controversies are a huge part of the game (just ask Armando Galarraga). I have nothing against the NFL's regular referees, but I don't tune in on Sunday afternoons to see them call penalties or flip the coin. Overall, I think the replacement refs have done an adequate job so far, and I don't really think having the old officials back will materially change the NFL fan experience at all. Once the referee lockout ends, NFL fans and media pundits will just have to find someone else to complain about.
2 comments:
To some extent I agree, piling on the replacement refs is getting annoying. Going forward, they'll be under a microscope for sure and it'll only get worse.
Having said that, my view is that the issue with the replacement refs is less about accuracy and more about control. In the Steelers-Jets game, every time Santonio Holmes asked for a pass interference call in the first half, he got one, even in one blatant instance where was absolutely no contact. The Broncos-Falcons first half took 2 hours because the refs had to huddle every other call to make sure they got it right.
If nothing else, professional officials (in any sport) are emphatic when they make their calls. They're not swayed by the crowd, coaches, or players. Their body language exudes confidence and that, in turn, keeps players and coaches under control and games from getting out of hand.
When the real refs get come back, I don't think you'll see fewer blown calls, per se. But you'll see a more confident group with far greater control of the game. And that will be a positive change.
I'm OK with the lack of confidence (although I do agree with your assessment). For me, though, if they're getting the right call - or, at least, no less right than the regular officials would do - I'm cool. In fact, I think you can argue that the confidence / hubris with which the regular refs sometimes operate can lead to errors.
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