By Kyle Zamiara
Promotions Editor
With two weeks now gone in the NFL season, fans, coaches and players have pointed out one critical flaw this season: replacement officials.
Footballs have been wrongly placed, pass-interference calls missed, and unsportsmanlike-conduct calls have been given out like Skittles. Reviewed plays have been called unreviewable after reviewing.
Every NFL game of the 2012 season has seen miscues by the men in black and white. Some have even changed the outcome of games.
Last Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. the mighty New England Patriots hosted Kevin Kolb and the Arizona Cardinals. Tom Brady had his team in his typical come-from-behind spot late in the game with the Cards in a two-point lead.
The Zebras had a different plan. Cardinals’ running back, Ryan Williams, fumbled the ball right back into Patriot hands with 1:01 left on his own 30. Brady was licking his chops. Flashes of Leodis McKelvin taking the ball out of the endzone blew through my mind. Two plays later, Danny Woodhead burst up the middle for a 30-yard touchdown. Game, set and match.
But referees nullified the touchdown with a questionable holding call on Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots ended up going for a field goal, but it sailed left. The loss marked the first in 11 home openers at Gillette Stadium.
Hey, if more dubious calls in the league means Patriots’ losses, I’m all for it. But I’m not sure how much longer I can take brawls after every extra point.
According to therichest.org, on average, NFL referees make anywhere between $25,000 and $70,000 each season. Those numbers are considerably low compared to the $125,000 plus NBA, NHL and MLB officials make, but NFL officials only work 16 games a season. Umpires work 10 times that amount. It’s a tough case for the officials to make.
NFL referees are looking for another $4 million from the NFL to cough up. The NFL is roughly a $9 billion business, according to forbes.com. That’s half-a-strand of hair off of Grizzly Adams’ beard to pluck out.
The problem isn’t the officials. We should be somewhat grateful to have them, so we can enjoy football every Sunday afternoon. They were given a few weeks to learn how to call an NFL game. Not an easy task for retired high school referees.
The NFL needs to buck up and pay the referees on strike the amount they deserve. It’s not easy being an official with millions of people watching you. Heck, ask intramural flag football referees how tough it is to call a game.
So while the NFL decides whether or not to reach for change in their deep pockets, I’d like to thank the men who’ve made it one of the most interesting two weeks in NFL history.
Thank you, Craig Ochoa, who is said to be a former Lingerie Football League referee, for mistakenly saying, “Arizona will not be charged a timeout,” in a game between the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens, reported nbcsports.com.
Thank you, Donovan Briggans, for letting former Notre Dame receiver, Golden Tate, shake down the thunder on Dallas Cowboys’ linebacker Sean Lee, and then flagging Dallas for a late hit on Russell Wilson on the same play. Tony Romo felt that hit on the sidelines. Go Irish!
Finally, thank you, Brian Stropolo, for almost officiating a game for your favorite team, the New Orleans Saints. It’s a shame you didn’t get a chance to, because I could’ve used a few more touchdowns from Drew Brees for my Fantasy league.
I can’t wait for Week 3.
