wow there they are for all to see
 

San Diego at Buffalo and there they are for all the world to see....Officials wearing black pants with white stripes....my Fiance says they look like jogging pants...LOL....:eek:

Are you serious? Black pants? Cannot be colder than the Vikings/Bears game and they are in white knickers. I have to see that on the highlights.

NFL sponsor $$$$$ :(

Black pants, wide white stripe......:)

I noticed that too (the Vikings/Bears refs are in white knickers); wonder what the rationale is for wearing black vs white? Certainly appeared to be worse weather in Chicago - the officials were wearing the hoodies under their caps.

I was at a banquet this past week where this was discussed by a NFL official. Reebox is a big sponsor for the NFL and wanted to design a uniform for the officials as well. This is really Reebox's idea all the way with the blessing of the NFL. If you did not notice the suits that some of the NFL Coaches were wearing were made by Reebox as well. There are also some pants that Reebox has provided that is white with a black stripe. From what this NFL Official told us was that use of these uniforms are based on the temperature of the game. I know that already there were some modifications to these black pants being worn, but basically it is based on how cold it is.

Peace

According to Weather.com the weather in Buffalo was 31 with the wind chill at 21, while in Chicago it was 19 with a wind chill of 5.

http://assets.buffalobills.com/uploa...C2E6722B50.jpg

I wasnt a big fan of the new shirts at first, but they are growing on me. Still not a big fan of the sleeves though. But these pants, there's no way that's going to grow on me. I personally think its very tacky, and the officials blend in to much with everything else.

The shirts have grown on me. I can see why the pants might offer more wind protection and more layering possibilities than conventional knickers. I wonder why they didn't go with white pants?

Anyway, I don't think it's that bad. I've been in games where I wish I had a longer pant that was windproof.

Eric

They look like the long hockey pants that the players wore in the NHL in the late 70's and early 80's.

There they are again on the Sunday nt game. One thing they may do have a filter down effect saying, the officials should be able to be warm in order to call a great game. Remember, the players get to go to the sidelines when not in the game, put on heavy coats, sit on heated benches, and have big heater blowers to warm up next to. The officials only get to go in at half time and don't run as much as the players to keep warm.

The pants looked to have the same pockets that knickers would have and they have their normal black belts on but at one point the line judge tried to flag for false start and instead out came one bean bag, then the other, then finally the flag.

Just got my first look at the new pants on the Sunday night game. I wasn't able to catch much action this afternoon except for the Bears game. Like everyone else, I thought for sure I would see them in this game. I think they look terrible!!!! The shirts are "ok" now, but I don't ever see myself liking these pants. Stick with the white kickers.

The new shirts and new pants look sharp!

The option to wear the pants might be a CC decision. Ed H always leads the NFL R's in the right direction...

I like them. I didn't like the shirts at first, but I like them now. I bet as time passes, these will grow on those that don't like them too.

The pants look stupid, and I predict the league won't adopt them past this season, if even past this week.

I don't like the shirts much, but that isn't that big a deal.

As posted a few months ago, I saw the uniform in person late this summer. The pants are the same material as Honig's elite knicker, which makes me wonder, why the hell use it? It doesn't add any warmth, given these guys are probably wearing UA tights underneath whatever they wear.

Cooperalls!

They look like a bunch of intramural refs! And where are their socks??

My first guess would be on their feet. :D

REPLY: I also spoke to an NFL official friend at our banquet this past Tuesday. He said that wearing the black pants is a crew decision at game time, but but only if the temperature is below 38F. Last evening in Denver, the temperature was 14F !!! He also said that the big decision makers in going to these new uniforms were the Bud Lite (??) commercials and another set of advertisements for a casino that depicted guys in the old NFL officials uniforms. Since these new ones are trademarked by Reebok and sanctioned for exclusive use by the NFL, they can't use them on such advertising. Also, Ed did say that these new shirts and pants do allow them more room for 'layering' in the really cold weather.

I like the shirts, particularly the all-weather version. The jury is still out on the pants though. The layering possibilities are better I imagine with the loing pants.

I'm a traditionalist, so I still prefer the knicker style over the pant style uniform.

But what we like or don't like isn't a concern. After the season ends, I hope we'll hear some feedback from the men that actually had to wear the new look uniform.
If they like it, then that is all that matters. Should a uniform change filter on down to the lower levels of football, so be it. I'll wear it.

Happily, according to one NFL HL that I talked to, the new commissioner does not like the black pants so I hope they fade into history after this season.

I agree, if it helps keep the officials more comfortable so they can officiate at their best, then its a great idea. As for when used, I was at the GB - Jets game yesterday, and 1 hour b4 gametime it was 10 degrees with -5 wind chill. The crew in GB was in knickers. I was surprised to see the black pants in the other games when in GB they weren't used. I had been hoping to see them in action in person.

First of all, I don't want to say I don't like them just because they aren't traditional. While I am a traditionalist, I guess it does need the looked at "outside the box."

Here is why I don't like them: as some one said, they look like jogging pants. I have a pair of black Adidas jogging pants (or wind pants if you prefer) that have the 3 white lines (kinda an Adidas trademark) down the side. Now these only have the one white stripe, but that is what I think of when I see these pants, so I immediately think "unprofessional." The shirts were growing on me a little, itty bit, however, the black part on the bottom side of the sleeve looks like it's plastic, and on the long sleeve version, these shirt look like a chinsy (sp?) plastic officiating jacket. You put the pants and the shirt together, they look like they are at the gym on a weekday after work.

I think the shirts bring attention to the officials. This is not a good thing. I am a traditionalist. I see white on the shoes at all levels and this looks cheap and unprofessional. (Don't tell me that if the NFL uses something that it is neccesarily good.) I see blue bean bags which are harder to see on a green field. As for the pants, I never had any problem with staying warm with knickers and layers underneath.

I think we are in the era of fads and this is drawing unneeded attention to officials.

My fear is that the FED and NCAA will copy the NFL and we are all in for new costs for uniforms.

Neither the Fed nor the NCAA is going to copy any of the uniforms. The grey shirts in basketball never really filtered down to Fed and NCAA, who both have rules specifying stripes.

A Honigs rep told me that next year, their shirts will be made from the same or similar material as the NFL Reebok shirts are this year. That will be worth looking into.

Here's another color they might consider:

http://happymills.com/wp-content/NFLref.JPG

And here's to hoping we never go to black shorts and a solid red shirt We don't want anybody to turn into this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzf-c...elated&search=

Wow!
 

I my own honest opinion, I feel like the pants make the NFL Officials look like glorified "flag" football officials.:eek:
Also, as said earlier, the NFL has patented the uniform so it will not be coming to us any time soon.

It looks like a cheap track suit. At least lose the white stripe on the pants.

There are a few state and local associations that, rulebook be damned, do allow officials to wear the grey shirts.

Grey Shirts
 

The NCAA did start using the grey shirts for wrestling officials.:cool:

The "unneeded attention" philosophy is ridiculous IMO. It always has been. I don't go out of my way to draw attention to myself, but I sure don't try to be invisible, either. No good officials that I know do.

We went to blue bags this year. They don't look dirty after a few weeks. And I wear the most comfy shoes I can find. My current ones have white on them.

At least they're not asking them to dress like "referees" for "professional" wrestling. :D

I happened to be at the Buffalo vs San Diego game in Buffalo this past weekend. The officials uniforms really stuck out. Everybody in the stadium was commenting on them. I kept thinking they were warm up gear since it was cold, and before the game started they would change into their real uniform.

My take: The shirts are fine, but that stripe down the side of their pants has to go. Looks unprofessional And the funny thing is that this will filter down, so soon the college ranks and eventually the HS schools will be following suit (no pun intended)

Here's my take on the "new look". Anytime there is a change, and I don't care if it's a uniform or a rule change, people are going to voice opinions for and against. If the changes don't have a negative effect on the game they usually stay around. Thirty years from now when a majority of us are too old to officiate and the NFL changes the officials uniforms to white knickers and narrow striped black and white shirts listen to the people comment on how stupid they looks. Over time people do adapt to change and I'm sure that will be the case with the "new look" uniforms.

What really bothers me is that there are so many officials who resist change based on the "we've always done it that way" philosophy. Whether it is black pants, new shirts, sun glasses, beards, etc., they simply refuse to adjust with the times, or for what makes perfectly good sense. The funny thing is we have not always worn white knickers, and hats have changed styles and colors over the years also. Even penalty flags changed color. If we talk about rules or mechanics, we are much more open to change.

I heard someone say these pants are being tested this year and next year that's what they will wear every game.... anyone have any truth to this?

I think the new look for the NFL zebras is kinda cool, especially the tops which look quite modern (love the fonts for the #'s). As for the long pants, they look a bit odd at first (and much like the hockey pant experiment of the 70's as someone mentioned previously), but fine after a while. Bottom line is, that if the officials are warmer and more comfortable in the new gear, I think it stands to reason they'll be able to concentrate fully on the task at hand. Perhaps not a whole bunch more, as one would assume at that level those guys can block out just about any negative influence, but even if its another percent or two...why not?

Reminds me of a tradition in our market of working the HS Senior city finals (held in mid November) in short sleeves, regardless of the temperatures, which are usually in the mid teens on the old F scale (we're on the 53rd parallel folks).

Needless to say, the macho look can be almost fatal some years, but when I got to WH one of the two games this year, I told the crew to dress warmly and be as comfortable as possible to allow them to concentrate fully on giving the kids the best game possible. The traditionalists grumbled but my crew called a great game in the wind, snow and -11C (+10F) temps and they thanked me afterwards!

Some traditions just need to die....

During our officials clinic this summer Mike Pereira emphasized several point about the new uniforms. The use of performance fabrics, a copyrighted look and the use of the pants in cold weather. I don’t think the pants will catch on for other than cold weather, but at some point we have to admit that men in knickers is a strange look too.

REPLY: Right now, the "rules" regarding using the black pants make it a crew decision at game time, but only if the temperature is below 38F. Warmer than that, they have to wear their knickers.