[ChuckElias]

A lot has been made of the fact that NFL refs are part-time refs, unlike officials in the other major sports leagues. NFL officials work only one day a week, for a three-hour period, etc.

While I'm not going to argue that they work 40 hours per week, I think it's misleading to suggest that they're getting paid $670 per hour. Just think about your own HS game on Friday night. What does it last? An hour and 15 minutes? An hour and a half? But is that the only time you've invested? Obviously not.

You have to:

1) Drive up to 2 hours to the game site.
2) Arrive at the game site one to one-and-a-half hours before game time.
3) Spend that hour and a half in preparation.
4) Officiate for another hour and a half.
5) Shower, do a post game review, and dress.
6) Drive home.

NFL officials have to:

1) Fly up to 5 hours to the game site.
2) Arrive in the game city 24 hours before game time.
3) Spend those 24 hours in preparation; watching game film, reviewing position responsibilities, etc.
4) Get to the game site 2 hours or so prior to kickoff; inspect team equipment, do pre-game conference, meet with league officials and replay officials (who are not union members, I believe).
5) THEN officiate for 3 hours.
6) Shower, do a post game review with a league official, dress.
7) Drive to the airport for (up to) a 5 hour flight.
8) Drive home.

And that does not include mid-week conference calls or rules meetings or whatever else.

Now, this is still a part-time proposition, true. But let's not fool ourselves into thinking that it just fits into their weekend plans.

Having said all that, if I were an NFL official I'd take the league's deal. It seems more than fair to me. I just wanted to throw in my two cents.

Chuck