NFL refs and fines for bad calls

[devonclose]

I wondered if anyone knew whether NFL refs were fined for bad calls they made on the field?

[BktBallRef]

Bad calls? What do you mean by "bad calls?"

They can and do receive reprimands for rule misapplications, which may include game suspensions. If they're fined, it's not made public.

They're rated, graded, and evaluated for each and every judgment call they make. Those ratings are used to decide who officiates playoff games.

[ljudge]

I have seen one instance where an official was fined for not correctly starting the clock and another where the mistake was at least noted pubicly. Tom White received a fine that was half his salary for a game. I seem to recall the amount was $2,600 for not properly starting the clock toward the end of a Baltimore-Seattle Contest. From what I recall it allowed one of the teams an extra timeout that they would have otherwise taken at the time. By not starting the clock the team had a timeout available when they needed it and stopped the clock to kick a game-winning field goal. In another situation I believe Bill Corollo's crew didn't detect a clock malfunction in a Pittsburgh game.

In my opinion it shouldn't be made public. These are guys trying to do their very best just like you and me at the level we work.

[JasonTX]

Mistakes are going to happen because they are human. If we start fining all the people involved in an NFL game then there are going to be some bankrupt players. Dropped passes, missed blocks, poor passes, missed tackles etc. It would be unfair to just fine the officials for their mistakes and then to leave the players mistakes un-fined.

[Dribble]

Players are "fined" in their own right if they drop passes, miss blocks, etc. They don't get paid as highly as their peers who are better at that position. Not a true fine, but there are definitely monetary incentives for everyone to do the best job possible.

I think officials in all the pro sports are subjected to possible fines.

[Snake~eyes]

Originally Posted by Dribble

Players are "fined" in their own right if they drop passes, miss blocks, etc. They don't get paid as highly as their peers who are better at that position. Not a true fine, but there are definitely monetary incentives for everyone to do the best job possible.

I think officials in all the pro sports are subjected to possible fines.

There's plenty of incentive to be a good official in the NFL. Working in the post season is HUGE and can definitely be considered a monetary incentive. Fines generally occur when a rules application is messed up, but not when a judgement call is incorrect.

Originally Posted by Dribble

Players are "fined" in their own right if they drop passes, miss blocks, etc. They don't get paid as highly as their peers who are better at that position. Not a true fine, but there are definitely monetary incentives for everyone to do the best job possible.

I think officials in all the pro sports are subjected to possible fines.

They are also. If you make to many mistakes at the Pro-level as an official you won't be there long.....

[PSU213]

First of all, I agree with everyone else that a pro official has plenty of incentive for making the correct calls (playoffs, being around next year, etc.)--not that we all don't have that incentive, even if we have no chance of working next year's Super Bowl.

The other thing, though, is how are fines going to make split second calls better? Obviously, I'm not in a position where I are going to be (ever, hopefully) fined for a "bad" call. I don't understand how a monetary reason will make my vision any better. If I do happen to miss a call (which has occurred), there are plenty of negative things which might happen, and I don't need a possible fine to make me more gun-shy.

Originally Posted by PSU213

First of all, I agree with everyone else that a pro official has plenty of incentive for making the correct calls (playoffs, being around next year, etc.)--not that we all don't have that incentive, even if we have no chance of working next year's Super Bowl.

The other thing, though, is how are fines going to make split second calls better? Obviously, I'm not in a position where I are going to be (ever, hopefully) fined for a "bad" call. I don't understand how a monetary reason will make my vision any better. If I do happen to miss a call (which has occurred), there are plenty of negative things which might happen, and I don't need a possible fine to make me more gun-shy.

Very true. Why would fine an official on a judgement call? I think there is enough pressure just to preform...

[schmitty1973]

I'm sure if there's any questionable judgement calls made then the officals are verbally "counseled" just like any of us are. It's just not made public. The NFL guys at least have an advantage of watching film of their games, so I'm sure the crew chief would let some one have it if a questionable judgement call shouldn't have been so questionable.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by tpaul

Very true. Why would fine an official on a judgement call? I think there is enough pressure just to preform...

NFL officials can be fined and are fined for judgment calls. They are not usually fined for the typical catch/no catch type of calls. They will get fined if they kicked a rule or if they blow a call that is so obvious that there is no way it should be missed. I do not believe it happens often, but they can get fined. Usually they are just downgraded for bad plays (which do not have to include call they personally make) and those downgrades affect the crew in playoff consideration. Also if an official does not cut it, they will not be around. The NFL probably turns over more officials than any other pro league. It is not unusual for guys to be around for less than a few years and be out of the NFL.

Peace

[mcrowder]

There are some guys here at work I'd like to fine for doing their jobs poorly...