Whoever edits the side panel of those examples has a pretty good sense of humor. I was laughing at quite a few...whether this guy knew what he was writing about or not.

I was at the Packers/Niners game and saw the helmet toss by Smith after he had it part way removed by Rodgers' cleats from my seat...and then watched it at home on the DVR probably a dozen times. He took the helmet off the remaining 3/4's of the way and tossed it with both hands. Clear show boating. There was nothing wrong with that call....and that was exactly why that was made an infraction in the first place. Pull your damn helmet back down onto your head and play football.

Which leads me to another train of thought. If the NFL is really dead serious about the concussion issues and head safety in the game, why is it not mandated top to bottom for every player on the field to have all 4 points (2 for those with 2) of their chin strap fastened? Neon Deion started it and it still hasn't gone away.

4 of those are bad. Most are the rest are judgement on borderline plays. A couple are embarrasing or dumb, but not egregious.

Same story different season. No official is perfect and being that a good part of those calls are judgement, we can probably have this same list continue if the "regulars" come back.

1. Right on the incomplete pass/fumble border. That the player was hurt, is what we call "playing football". You take your risks.

2. I can agree. B player runs right over A player in the end zone.

3. Looks like a good offsides call to me.

4. I can agree from my angle, but I also see where the game-speed hit would look illegal.

5. Legitimate complaint, but hardly worth getting upset over.

6. I can't tell if the player returned with just this camera angle. You need to look down the LOS to know.

7. The author mis-describes the play, but he is right that it shouldn't take 6 minutes to decide if the play can be challenged.

8. If it wasn't corrected, this would be pretty bad in the game management category. I didn't see the game, but I hope they fixed their error.

9. I can't tell with certainty from this angle if he was offsides. It's also poor management from the QB to take risks if you don't see a flag thrown.

10. I can see where the covering official would see that as a hook by the B player, and possibly playing through A's head.

11. DPI looks like a push at full-speed. I may have called it, too.

12. Legitimate. Looks like this crew wasn't used to the scrutiny that 1080p cameras will bring to your spots.

13. I'm not read up on the OPI rules for passes that don't travel beyond the neutral zone in NFL. They could be correct, but I'll have to reserve judgment. It is a low block, also, which may be a foul.

14. The lineman IS 2 yards past the LOS. The U was slow to move into position and stops about a foot in front of the position the lineman stops at, meaning they could both think everything is fine.

15. Yeah, bad. Correct number, wrong color. (IBB called on SF, was GB)

16. Doesn't even seem like the kind of play they want you to call the USC on.

17. I don't know who DPI went against, but I can see charging it to B31.

18. I'll buy that false start. I wish the author would show us the other three. If they're not just as convincing, I'd shut my pie-hole.

19. Should A have to wait for U to set up when they can't see him? But the B player on the field should have been caught.

20. Game management issue. There is a booth crew to charge this one too, as well.

21. Another game management issue that shouldn't have happened.

So is the NFL going to provide some more remedial training, or are they simply going to let all their fans sulk all year long?

They're a lot better than I would be if they had called me up in July with a "Guess what?"

Au contraire!


http://goldenrankings.com/mbordelon4345/BillyKilmer.jpg

Not unless the union de-certifies itself.

Okay, yes technically an employer cannot fire workers whom they've locked out. Rather, the NFL will not have to make any compromises at all to get a new agreement.

True.

I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually bring in a mediator.

They might not be able to fire them, but they also don't have to assign them to any games.

I would guess that wouldn't work either as it would amount to firing them.

The officials in the GB-Chicago game must be shills for the NFLRA, especially the white hat. If there was no precedent for someone other than the Referee making the mike announcements, last nights game was reason enough to set one. That was horrendous. Nothing like hearing on the PA - "First down! No, wait. Um... Third? Yeah. 5 yard penalty, repeat third down ... ... ... right?"

Yeah, nothing says "over my head" like bad mic technique. :eek:

REPLY: I love this quote from the article. Clearly, the coach knew what he was saying, but the reporter had no clue: "Colts coach Chuck Pagano said, 'They got a big play on us off a deep P.I. penalty that was questionable.'"

REPLY: You're right. The one you're referring to is Sarah Thomas, and I hear that the NFL is keeping a close eye on her right now. She's currently working in C-USA and worked the 2009 Little Caesar's Bowl (OK...so it wasn't the Rose Bowl). She's got some good credentials.

I had the pleasure of meeting Sarah last spring at a clinic. Personally, I can't wait to see her on an NFL sideline.

She is probably going to be the regular NFL official to work in the NFL. Time will tell but I would love to see it happen if she is really that good.

Peace

Local MN columnist joins in with the replacement-ref bashing:
Souhan: Replacement refs are bad for business | StarTribune.com

Money quote:
Amen.