Want to officiate in the NFL?

[Brad]

Originally Posted by prosec34

I'd give up whatever future I had in officiating for just one game working in the NFL. Of course, my future is just high school, but regardless, you could call me a scab all you wanted. I wouldn't care.

You're probably exactly the type of person they will end up getting as replacement officials. By that I mean someone with your type of experience, who is not realistically pursuing a career as an NFL official. Well, they'll probably get those with college experience -- but I don't think you'll see top big conference Division I officials out there. Most NCAA coordinators of football officials are past or current NFL officials, and there is a lot of loyalty there.

[Texas Aggie]

The NFL officials DO have the support of the players union ... however, I doubt you would see the players refuse to play

The "we're with you as long as it doesn't hurt us..." isn't what I call support. If the NFL players said, "give the officials what they want or we won't play," the lockout would be over faster than they could issue a press release.

I do not believe the NFL would take on replacement officials and then refuse to allow them a chance to stay or reapply once the lockout is over. That doesn't make any sense. They would be admitting they didn't pursue officials with NFL caliber skills.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

I do not believe the NFL would take on replacement officials and then refuse to allow them a chance to stay or reapply once the lockout is over. That doesn't make any sense. They would be admitting they didn't pursue officials with NFL caliber skills.

Challenge: Find the name of a single NFL official that worked as a replacement in the last lockout.

You have one hour and Google at your disposal ... GO!!

[Texas Aggie]

None, because no one actually worked. I'm sure you recall an event on 9/11/2001.

Now, reportedly, more than 200 individuals were offered a chance as replacement officials. If you can get me a list of those individuals, we can check game logs to find out who, if any, made it to the NFL. Until then, I'm quite certain that you can not say for sure no one made it.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Brad

You're probably exactly the type of person they will end up getting as replacement officials. By that I mean someone with your type of experience, who is not realistically pursuing a career as an NFL official. Well, they'll probably get those with college experience -- but I don't think you'll see top big conference Division I officials out there. Most NCAA coordinators of football officials are past or current NFL officials, and there is a lot of loyalty there.

And they are laying out the threats, too.

I could see some older D3 officials going for it and figuring that if they can't get their schedules back it would be a great way to go out.