Replacement Refs [merged x2]

[MikeO]

Aside from giving Seattle a 4th timeout, overall they weren't bad. It is going to take a royal F' up that costs a team a game for the NFL to cave and bring back the regular refs.

If Seattle scores a TD there and Arizona loses this would be the lead story of the weekend though. NFL caught a break that Arizona's defense stood tall.

[mecadonzilla]

Really?  I thought they were atrocious.  They even screwed up the 2 minute warning in Denver tonight.

[MikeO]

Really?  I thought they were atrocious.  They even screwed up the 2 minute warning in Denver tonight.

The regular refs were never perfect either.

[mecadonzilla]

But the regular refs didn't botch the basic fundamentals of officiating like these rubes did.  If anything, screwing up a 2 minute warning on national TV only helped the real ref's cause.  They looked like scabs who don't have enough experience for the job they're being asked to do.

[Fau Teixeira]

But the regular refs didn't botch the basic fundamentals of officiating like these rubes did.  If anything, screwing up a 2 minute warning on national TV only helped the real ref's cause.  They looked like scabs who don't have enough experience for the job they're being asked to do.

The regular refs screwed up a coin flip.

[Cathal]

From the games I saw, the replacement refs looked pretty spot on. Sure, they missed some calls (like the block in the back in the GB vs SF game) and did take a little more time than usual when making calls, but I didn't see anything that cost anyone a game. That's not to say that won't happen as we all saw some horrible PI calls go against the Dolphins in the preseason that could ruin a game.

[EKnight]

The regular refs screwed up a coin flip.

This should end any discussion of replacements vs. regulars. Great post. -EK

[Dave Gray]

I think the replacement did very well.  Every week, we have complained about blown calls -- this time, it seemed like less of an issue.  They didn't "over-officiate".  Sure, some things were clunky and some things were botched, but I assume that these will improve.  So far, they've done as admirable a job as the regular refs, in my opinion.

[tubba marxxx]

But the regular refs didn't botch the basic fundamentals of officiating like these rubes did.  If anything, screwing up a 2 minute warning on national TV only helped the real ref's cause.  They looked like scabs who don't have enough experience for the job they're being asked to do.

this wasn't a big deal.

[Pappy13]

If I'm a ref, I'm telling my union rep to get me back on the field in record time...or I'm going back to work.  In 2 weeks NO ONE will even know they are replacement refs.

[Cathal]

^^^ Unless the commentators keep saying they're replacement refs before every call. 

[Pappy13]

^^ I give that another week or 2 before it becomes old news and they stop saying it. It's already becoming annoying.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

^^^ I am with Pappy on this one, the Refs are slightly worse than the regular refs but are improving each week.  They were horrendous week 1 of the preseason and now are almost as good as the regulars.  At this rate by midseason they will be just as good as the regular ones which will kill the union's bargining position. 

[Dave Gray]

^^^ I am with Pappy on this one, the Refs are slightly worse than the regular refs but are improving each week. 

I don't even think that they're worse...they're just a little more disorganized.  The calls themselves don't seem to be any worse, but there seem to be more "near debacles" about managing the game, rather than just blown calls.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I don't even think that they're worse...they're just a little more disorganized.  The calls themselves don't seem to be any worse, but there seem to be more "near debacles" about managing the game, rather than just blown calls.

Being disorganized is not a good thing.  The game moves slower, and more flags seem to come out late, even when it is the right call.  So yeah, the rookies are not as good as the seasoned vets.