When Opportunity Knocks

[DLH17]

Originally Posted by Rich

There's a lot of time, effort, and sacrifice that NFL officials make to get to that level. No NFL official is going to be hired until he works quite a while in Division I. No officials get to Division I without putting in time at smaller college levels. No officials get there without putting time in at HS and lower levels.

The replacements have taken the ultimate shortcut. Why should that be praised?

I understand and respect that perspective.

While I don't personally know any of the replacement officials, it's probably not a stretch to say most of them are excellent officials at whatever level they were working previous to the NFL. What a great opportunity for them to learn, at the highest level, and take back with them an awesome experience when they eventually settle into their previous roles as college, etc, officials.

Maybe, just maybe, a few catch the eye of a decision-maker and thereby creates an opportunity to move up to the NFL ranks down the road.