NFL Prepared to Hire Replacement Refs

NFL's talks with officials break off, sources say - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8006771/nfl-talks-officials-break-sources-say)

I suspect this will get resolved by the time the season rolls around

you talk about something that will really screw up a game? they need to be full time....no more excuses

Oh how will we manage?! To think, they might have to hire replacements for the main reason we watch football! Won't someone think of Eddie "Guns" Hoculi?!

you talk about something that will really screw up a game? they need to be full time....no more excuses

Why do they need to be full time? Can you practice what they do? I guess they could target pratice throwing the flag so not to hit someone in the eye, I just don't see how going full time would change anything.

Why do they need to be full time? Can you practice what they do? I guess they could target pratice throwing the flag so not to hit someone in the eye, I just don't see how going full time would change anything.

I don't understand the logic of saying full-time wouldn't help anything. What do you mean they can't practice. I can think of several things that would help right off the bat:

All refs would be trained to see penalties the same way. For example: Through computer videos you can let them see 4 plays, 3 are PI, one is not, they select which one isn't.

Officials Teams could be varied in the off season, and evaluated and adjusted so that the strengths and weaknesses are better understood.

Officials would be able to watch OTA's and other team based functions providing feedback and also more on field experience for the officials.

Surely the more they see actual and video examples the better they would get.

I don't understand the logic of saying full-time wouldn't help anything. What do you mean they can't practice. I can think of several things that would help right off the bat:

All refs would be trained to see penalties the same way. For example: Through computer videos you can let them see 4 plays, 3 are PI, one is not, they select which one isn't.

Officials Teams could be varied in the off season, and evaluated and adjusted so that the strengths and weaknesses are better understood.

Officials would be able to watch OTA's and other team based functions providing feedback and also more on field experience for the officials.

Surely the more they see actual and video examples the better they would get.

This. More time for training so it's universally understood what constitutes a penalty can only make the refs better. Think about all the film they could watch, all of the examples they could study, that could help them judge better in real time. I would definitely support refs working full time for the NFL. Pretty sure the NFL wouldn't though because paying the refs would take more money out of their profits, with no forseeable way to make up the difference.

Since we always win the Super Bowl in strike seasons, does that include seasons when the refs strike?

Football players used to get off-season jobs until pay became enough that they could focus on being better players by training and/or practicing/playing year round. These refs surely make enough money to be able to focus on one job. Considering the importance of said job just in dollars it is silly to think they are part time.

How many multi-billion dollar companies hire part time workers who directly affect the products they sell? Hell the refs are as much part of the product as the players in a sense.

Why do they need to be full time? Can you practice what they do? I guess they could target pratice throwing the flag so not to hit someone in the eye, I just don't see how going full time would change anything.
so if i came to you and said i think your job is only needed 6 months a year, but in those 6 months you better not make any mistakes, how would you feel/do?

The refs do a bad job imo. Too flag happy. Maybe the replacements will do a better job.