Lockout over!!!

[Texas Aggie]

Did anyone notice that the replacement officials didn't have their position (SJ, U, etc.) on their shirt, but the regular ones do? I'm wondering if guys were moved around some and/or the regular guys are using last year's equipment.

[APG]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Did anyone notice that the replacement officials didn't have their position (SJ, U, etc.) on their shirt, but the regular ones do? I'm wondering if guys were moved around some and/or the regular guys are using last year's equipment.

Mike Pierra answered this question a couple of weeks ago...they didn't have position letters exactly for the first reason you're thinking...officials weren't "locked" into a position and would allow the league to switch positions if need be.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by APG

Mike Pierra answered this question a couple of weeks ago...they didn't have position letters exactly for the first reason you're thinking...officials weren't "locked" into a position and would allow the league to switch positions if need be.

To add to this, when they were looking for the guys to work during the lockout, it was unclear what positions everyone had worked. So they did not initially give them positions on their back because they did not know if someone would had extensive Referee experience as opposed to wing experience. The Referee that worked the HOF Game was a Referee in D3 and a crew chief, but for the lack of a better description, might not have been the best suited for that position. The NFL kind of took the word of the officials background more than they should or really could in that short period of time. And when the officials went to the training initially, they did not keep everyone that attended.

Peace

[HLin NC]

Jeff- did they submit any video of their work to the NFL during the hiring process? I can't imagine many or any were ever scouted at that level.

[jeschmit]

I saw some rust on Mike Carey's crew at the St. Louis game today while I was in attendance...


Several dropped balls during tossing them to set for play.
Carey pointed the wrong way on penalties twice.
I thought there was two DPI calls that were missed (one for STL and one for SEA).
The umpire fell backing out for a punt formation.

Just a little rusty from what I saw. Nothing that can't be worked out in a couple weeks though!

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by jeschmit

I saw some rust on Mike Carey's crew at the St. Louis game today while I was in attendance...


Several dropped balls during tossing them to set for play.
Carey pointed the wrong way on penalties twice.
I thought there was two DPI calls that were missed (one for STL and one for SEA).
The umpire fell backing out for a punt formation.

Just a little rusty from what I saw. Nothing that can't be worked out in a couple weeks though!

There were a number of gaffes over the first Sunday with the regulars that, had these calls been made by the replacements, the media would had renewed its feeding frenzy.

The biggest was the fumble by Sproles in the NO/GB game that could have victimized the Packers for the second straight week. It would have been interesting to hear the press conferences and read the tweets if GB hadn't come back to win that one.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Manny A

There were a number of gaffes over the first Sunday with the regulars that, had these calls been made by the replacements, the media would had renewed its feeding frenzy.

The biggest was the fumble by Sproles in the NO/GB game that could have victimized the Packers for the second straight week. It would have been interesting to hear the press conferences and read the tweets if GB hadn't come back to win that one.

Well, the mistakes were surely less.

Regarding GB, though, I watched that whole game - and wondered at BOTH of Green Bay's challenges. The first was as GB was driving in the 2nd. It was an incomplete pass - winning the challenge would have made it about 3rd and goal from the 5 or 6 rather than from the 12. So the reward was small - and the risk high, as it was rather clear to me it was incomplete. Whoever told him otherwise should be canned.

The second was early in the 3rd quarter, on a simple first down completion by New Orleans in the middle of the field. Yes - a successful challenge means NO has to punt, but still - medium reward, and high risk again, given it was their 2nd challenge and it looked to me to be obviously complete.

I honestly don't think Green Bay can ***** about the fumble given that they gave away their 2 challenges for nothing. Coaches forget these are limited and challenge stupid crap like these two plays. Save them for IMPORTANT challenges, and for goodness sake, get someone in your booth that has a clue and will tell you when a challenge is likely to be upheld.

[Trap]

I do think there was a bit of a double standard regarding the replacement officials. Everything they did wrong, they were crucified. In the games yesterday, the mistakes (real or perceived) of the "original" refs were pointed out and let go.

I do think there was a big difference in adminstration of a game, but the calls, at least from what I saw yesterday weren't much different.

Don't get me wrong, NOT critizing, just saying the reporting was different.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Manny A

It would have been interesting to hear the press conferences and read the tweets if GB hadn't come back to win that one.

Green Bay was ahead when that happened so they would've had to have screwed up and given up the lead.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

Jeff- did they submit any video of their work to the NFL during the hiring process? I can't imagine many or any were ever scouted at that level.

I do not think so, but then again many answered a "request" for officials to work these games. Some names were recommended by "scouts" that had some college experience that knew officials that might be willing to make that move. I do not know all the details, I just know guys in our area names were initially given to NFL people.

Peace