Replay reviews are way too long. If the officials can't decide after 1 minute, the play on the field stands.

 

Completely unrealistic. They have to determine a) whether the call was correctly made or not, and if not things like, b) how much time should be on the clock, c) what yard line the ball should be on, etc....

How about making an official stand before a room full of reporters and answer questions? Do they ever have to explain themselves to the public?

The Canadian Football League has been reviewing pass interference calls since 2014 and it has been very successful and has not added meaningfully to the time of the games. See the attached two articles for discussion of how the CFL does this.

 

What NFL can learn from CFL's officiating breakthroughs, technology, instant replay, review

 

Replays on pass interference calls? CFL shows NFL how it can be done

How about making an official stand before a room full of reporters and answer questions? Do they ever have to explain themselves to the public?

 

How would that help? Do you think the refs will do a better job if they have to talk to reporters after the game? Refs are human and they are doing the best they can. Officiating an NFL game is almost an impossible task with all the things refs are supposed to watch now. In real time, mistakes will be made because the game moves so fast. The issue is how to fix really bad errors because no matter what, they will happen. Making the refs talk to reporters so the reporters can get their pound of flesh will not make the refs do a better job.

The Canadian Football League has been reviewing pass interference calls since 2014 and it has been very successful and has not added meaningfully to the time of the games. See the attached two articles for discussion of how the CFL does this.

 

What NFL can learn from CFL's officiating breakthroughs, technology, instant replay, review

 

Replays on pass interference calls? CFL shows NFL how it can be done

 

I actually thinks this makes sense because no penalties decide games more than PI penalties.

How about making an official stand before a room full of reporters and answer questions? Do they ever have to explain themselves to the public?

 

That would be kind of pointless. "I called it the way I saw it on the field". End of press conference.

 

And I don't think the letting a roomful of reporters badger them after a game will result in them doing a better job.

I guess my question is, how would it help? What does a “full time” official look like? What does making him full time allow him to do that an official isn’t currently able to do?

 

To me, the phrase “full time official” is just a buzz word that doesn’t have much substance attached to it.

 

So you think someone doing a job part time is as good as full time? Do NFL players stop working in the off-season, since there are no games?

 

Making them full time would allow them to work on their game in the off season as well. You don't think that could help?

That would be kind of pointless. "I called it the way I saw it on the field". End of press conference.

 

And I don't think the letting a roomful of reporters badger them after a game will result in them doing a better job.

 

We make player and coaches do it and I doubt it results in them doing a better job.

So you think someone doing a job part time is as good as full time? Do NFL players stop working in the off-season, since there are no games?

 

 

Making them full time would allow them to work on their game in the off season as well. You don't think that could help?

 

Maybe it would. I guess the question then, is what the currently do now in the offseason vs what you'd require them to do if they were full time. It's not like they'll be able to "practice" by officiating more games. And I think it would be incorrect to suggest that their not already full time in terms of commitment, for the job requirements that they have. Not to mention, I'm not sure that anything you do beyond officiating more, will improve the on field accuracy of their calls, which despite some of the issues of late, is still pretty darn good considering the volume of calls (or non calls) they have to make. Like it or not, there's a human element to the job, which is compounded by a sport with a large and complex set of rules, played by unbelievable fast and strong athletes. Making the ref's "full time" doesn't change any of that, or make it any easier to officiate. I don't think the problems you're seeing right now are a result of the officials "not putting in the time". There are outstanding part time workers, and not so great full time workers in the world. Being full time doesn't automatically make you better. I've busted my tail at every part time job I've ever had....I wouldn't, and couldn't have done better just because I went to full time.

So you think someone doing a job part time is as good as full time? Do NFL players stop working in the off-season, since there are no games?

 

Making them full time would allow them to work on their game in the off season as well. You don't think that could help?

 

I go back and forth on the "full time" vs "part time" officials. You will lose A LOT of good officials if you tell them they cannot keep their other jobs...whether you can replace them with as good or better officials is debatable. I don't know what officials can do during a six month off season "to work on their game". You can only watch so much film.

Completely unrealistic. They have to determine a) whether the call was correctly made or not, and if not things like, b) how much time should be on the clock, c) what yard line the ball should be on, etc....

How many NFL people are involved in reviewing these plays? Plenty, I would say. Once the play is designated for review, have one person determine the yard line for all scenarios and one person determine the clock for all scenarios, all while the main play is being decided. Then apply the yard line and time to the decision. Pretty simple. IMO you are making it much more difficult than it needs to be.

So you think someone doing a job part time is as good as full time? Do NFL players stop working in the off-season, since there are no games?

 

Making them full time would allow them to work on their game in the off season as well. You don't think that could help?

 

I suppose it could. But we have what amounts to "full-time officials" in college basketball. Refs in the college ranks are doing several games per week — some as much as 5-6. And while they are considered "independent contractors" to the conferences they officiate for, that many games a week and all the outside filmwork they are required to do sounds like a full-time job to me.

 

And yet all people ever do is complain about the officials in college hoops screwing up.

I suppose it could. But we have what amounts to "full-time officials" in college basketball. Refs in the college ranks are doing several games per week — some as much as 5-6. And while they are considered "independent contractors" to the conferences they officiate for, that many games a week and all the outside filmwork they are required to do sounds like a full-time job to me.

 

And yet all people ever do is complain about the officials in college hoops screwing up.

 

Referees will never be perfect. However, I feel like them concentrating on the job as full time employees could help. I don't see how it could hurt.

I suppose it could. But we have what amounts to "full-time officials" in college basketball. Refs in the college ranks are doing several games per week — some as much as 5-6. And while they are considered "independent contractors" to the conferences they officiate for, that many games a week and all the outside filmwork they are required to do sounds like a full-time job to me.

 

And yet all people ever do is complain about the officials in college hoops screwing up.

 

Same thing with MLB umpires.

Referees will never be perfect. However, I feel like them concentrating on the job as full time employees could help. I don't see how it could hurt.

 

 

I think where it could hurt is in the recruiting and keeping of officials. Most of these guys all have pretty high level jobs, that they probably wouldn’t walk away from. Also, full time implies to me 40 hours or more a week doing something. Where does that “something” take place? That means they all have to move or be on the road Monday-Friday. Given their nice day jobs, I don’t know that many are going to be willing I do that.

 

I don’t know what an officials routine is right now, but I’m betting those guys put in a ton of hours already, even during the off season. And honestly, I can’t think of you can make them do for 40-50 hours every week for th 7 month off season that going to make them better officials. In my opinion, I really don’t think you can make a full time job out of being an NFL referee.

Edited January 22, 20197 yr by bugatti