NFL's First Female Official - Chargers vs Pack, 9 Aug

[Forksref]

Unfortunately, this female ref will have little credibility since she is in the NFL as a replacement ref. Had she been moved up in competition with the regular NFL guys and prospects, then she would be deemed worthy. I wonder if the NFL is using her as a distraction from the real problem, which is the incompetence of replacement refs. There is NO way they can do the job well. The NFL game is too fast and too intense for crews of total rookies to handle. How sad.

Also, if any D-I ref worked as a replacement ref, they'd be done in NCAA ball. I know of a guy who did this the last time and he never worked D-I again. Reffing is a fraternity and loyalties run deep.

[HLin NC]

Reffing is a fraternity and loyalties run deep.

This and more extreme philosophies have been espoused at various blogs and message boards. I understand all of that. I am not a union member and live in a right to work state but I understand the good unions do and the flaws that they have. I also understand the current business climate in this country.

At some point, the planet Vulcan philosophy of "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" evaporates into the American principle of "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Each official must weigh for themselves the risk and benefit to accept employment under the present circumstances. Unless presented with the opportunity, none of us can say with 100% accuracy what we would do.

Gotta walk a mile in the other dude/dudette's shoes.

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

This and more extreme philosophies have been espoused at various blogs and message boards. I understand all of that. I am not a union member and live in a right to work state but I understand the good unions do and the flaws that they have. I also understand the current business climate in this country.

At some point, the planet Vulcan philosophy of "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" evaporates into the American principle of "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Each official must weigh for themselves the risk and benefit to accept employment under the present circumstances. Unless presented with the opportunity, none of us can say with 100% accuracy what we would do.

Gotta walk a mile in the other dude/dudette's shoes.

I will speak for myself. If offered a replacement job in the NFL, I would not take it. I personally know 4 NFL guys (2 who have retired) and I would not take their jobs. Simple as that.

[MD Longhorn]

These referees will show us A) DIII officials are not ready for prime-time; and B) NFL referees are better than the general public thinks.

I just hope that the debacle that will unfold tomorrow and over the next few weeks will not be laid at the feet of the female official alone. She's going to blow one - but so will everyone else being moved up WAY above their current talent level, and likely multiple times.

[HLin NC]

But you are not taking "their job". They are locked out. Management can replace them and have opted to do so. The bargaining process willm be used insure they return to "their job".

The replacement official loses "their job" when it is over. Whether they are hired back in the future or are dumped back in to the job market is not under their control or the unions.

It is easy to say "I'll never do that" until actually faced with the decision. Be it based on low ethics or high desire to achieve, each individual makes their own choice at the crucial time

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

But you are not taking "their job". They are locked out. Management can replace them and have opted to do so. The bargaining process willm be used insure they return to "their job".

The replacement official loses "their job" when it is over. Whether they are hired back in the future or are dumped back in to the job market is not under their control or the unions.

It is easy to say "I'll never do that" until actually faced with the decision. Be it based on low ethics or high desire to achieve, each individual makes their own choice at the crucial time

You can say it anyway you want, but it is their job you are taking. If it was not their job then the NFL would have fired all the guys they locked out. They have not done that and when this situation is resolved most of those will be back. I know if I was asked to be a replacement I would not do this at all. I have goals to work college and even higher if that ever would be an opportunity and that would be completely dashed if I made this decision. It is one thing to work in the NFL, but I would rather get there the best way everyone else could. I know the Referee personally that was being talked about in an article and I would not trade places with him at all. Even things he has accomplished he is being used to prove a point and what did he really get out of this experience? It is one thing to work a game, it is another when the national media is saying you do not know what you are doing and saying your background is not accurate. I could have seen that coming on some level. Sorry, I would not have wanted to be apart of that if I had the opportunity.

Peace

[HLin NC]

Does a substitute teacher take the job of a teacher out sick, in a conference, on strike? Of course not. The replacement refs are no more taking the regular officials job than that. When the bargaining process is completed, all will return to normal.

Unless of course the NFL says "to hell with it" and dumps them all and starts over. Possible, but hard to believe. Welcome to unionization vs. the free market.

The NFLRA should not over believe their inability to be replaced. They're good, great even, but they are also expendable just like the players that get cut.

[cmathews]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

Does a substitute teacher take the job of a teacher out sick, in a conference, on strike? Of course not. The replacement refs are no more taking the regular officials job than that.

they may not be "taking their jobs" but by taking these games it potentially weakens the bargaing power of the nflra....if no one had taken these jobs then it probably would have been settled by now...if were settled by now the regular guys would be working...so yes they DID take their jobs...

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

Does a substitute teacher take the job of a teacher out sick, in a conference

Of course not - teachers are allowed time off for sick, conference, whatever, and that's what substitutes are in existence for in the first place...

on strike?

COMPLETELY different, see my other post.

When the bargaining process is completed, all will return to normal.

Here is exactly what you're missing... the fact that some will "substitute" weakens the bargaining position of the locked out individuals.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

Does a substitute teacher take the job of a teacher out sick, in a conference, on strike? Of course not. The replacement refs are no more taking the regular officials job than that. When the bargaining process is completed, all will return to normal.

Unless of course the NFL says "to hell with it" and dumps them all and starts over. Possible, but hard to believe. Welcome to unionization vs. the free market.

The NFLRA should not over believe their inability to be replaced. They're good, great even, but they are also expendable just like the players that get cut.

They are expendable to a certain extent. Most rookie official are going to work with guys that are also rookies. Most NFL rookie officials are going to be on crews with several multiple year officials with 10 or more years of NFL experience. The NFL official I know said he when he came in the league everyone had 10 or 15 years on the crew they put him on and he was the only rookie. Well we have referees that have never done that position. Not that the referee is the only one that should know the rules, but there was a 7 minute discussion about a penalty enforcement which was basic if you know NFL rules in the game on Sunday and that would not have likely happen with an experienced crew. So the NFL is going to take a PR hit if these kinds of basic things happen.

Peace

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

But you are not taking "their job". They are locked out. Management can replace them and have opted to do so. The bargaining process willm be used insure they return to "their job".

The replacement official loses "their job" when it is over. Whether they are hired back in the future or are dumped back in to the job market is not under their control or the unions.

It is easy to say "I'll never do that" until actually faced with the decision. Be it based on low ethics or high desire to achieve, each individual makes their own choice at the crucial time

While there is a small difference between a strike and a lockout here, the idea that you're not taking "their job" is false. By working for someone who is locking out people that you supposedly align with and aspire to be, you facilitate that company being able to continue operations while they prevent your ally from working. If NO ONE would work, the company could not continue to make money while preventing the locked out individuals from working.

I think it says volumes regarding the solidarity of GOOD officials that the NFL was unable to persuade ANY D1 officials to work during this lockout. The fact that they had to go all the way to D3 / High School officials means MOST profession-respecting officials are not scabbing.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

While there is a small difference between a strike and a lockout here, the idea that you're not taking "their job" is false. By working for someone who is locking out people that you supposedly align with and aspire to be, you facilitate that company being able to continue operations while they prevent your ally from working. If NO ONE would work, the company could not continue to make money while preventing the locked out individuals from working.

I think it says volumes regarding the solidarity of GOOD officials that the NFL was unable to persuade ANY D1 officials to work during this lockout. The fact that they had to go all the way to D3 / High School officials means MOST profession-respecting officials are not scabbing.

The jobs don't belong to the referees. They belong to the NFL. The referee's own their labor. What we have is a disagreement over the value of that labor.

The NFLRA think their labor is significantly better than the alternative and so they've set a high price. The NFL doesn't agree and is willing to try the alternative. The new referees will turn out to be better, as good, or worse than the old referees. (I think we'll all agree on worse.) When that happens, the NFL will decide if they can live with the new referees' performance (The fans won't let them.)

Ultimately, the new referees are doing the old referees a favor as the NFLRA is going to be in the position of power when it becomes clear just how much better they are the the new guys.

[HLin NC]

solidarity of GOOD officials that the NFL was unable to persuade ANY D1 officials

Solidarity or arm-twisting?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

Ultimately, the new referees are doing the old referees a favor as the NFLRA is going to be in the position of power when it becomes clear just how much better they are the the new guys.

You don't think it would be a bigger favor to NOT work - giving the NFLRA a much more immediate position of power?

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I think it says volumes regarding the solidarity of GOOD officials that the NFL was unable to persuade ANY D1 officials to work during this lockout

This is probably true, but the NFL was not accepting applicants from major DI conferences either.