Now We Can Blame the Real Refs

Added on Sep 27, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

Surprise, surprise. Two days after the Monday night fiasco, the league owners and the NFLRA agreed to a new eight-year contract that will put the veteran crews back to work starting with tonight’s Browns-Ravens game. Expect standing ovations for the guys in pinstripes at stadiums across the country this weekend. That is until they call a controversial roughing the passer penalty that extends a game-winning drive.

Commissioner Roger Goodell praised the deal last night and attempted to extend an olive branch to angry players, coaches and fans.

“The long-term future of our game requires that we seek improvement in every area, including officiating,” Goodell said in a statement released by the league. “This agreement supports long-term reforms that will make officiating better. The teams, players and fans want and deserve both consistency and quality in officiating… We look forward to having the finest officials in sports back on the field, and I want to give a special thanks to NFL fans for their passion. Now it’s time to put the focus back on the teams and players where it belongs.”

Of course, for the Green Bay Packers, the damage is already done. For the league’s sake, they better hope Monday night’s outcome isn’t the difference in the Pack qualifying for the playoffs.

The good news is the officials will now receive retirement benefits, a hefty pay raise and an the possibility of being hired full-time throughout the year. The bad news is they still aren’t infallible. They will still miss calls, blow calls and draw the ire of players, coaches and fans in the coming weeks and months. That’s a guarantee.

However, it’s highly unlikely the “professional” refs will drop the ball as badly as the clown car crew did on Monday night. After all, officials are on the field to maintain order, not instigate chaos. So, when you’re screaming at Gene Steratore for flagging a cornerback for a questionable pass interference, remember, it could be a lot worse.

Source: NFL.com