One thing that I really like about this blog is it gives me documented proof of things that I've said about various subjects throughout the sports world. When I write something that later turns out to seem prophetic, I can gloat and flaunt my prognostication skills. When I write something that turns out to be extremely asinine, I can conveniently overlook it and it can be buried away where only the keenest of eyes can find it.
Today is one of those times that I can use this blog to drive a point that I made months ago. On May 10th, I wrote about the possibility of another labor dispute that might lead to a certain group of officials being locked out by the NFL. At the time, this was probably mostly an afterthought to most fans, and I can't say that I would blame people for glossing over this news. I thought it might be a problem, but I wrote that in the end the dispute would probably be settled prior to the season beginning, and all would be fine.
I may have been correct to at least worry somewhat about the labor dispute between the league and its officials, but there is no way I could have imagined how big of a problem it would eventually become.
Early this morning, the league announced that it had reached an agreement with the NFL Referees Association to put the normal officials back on the field in time for tonight's game between the Browns and the Ravens. While the agreement will not be officially ratified until Saturday, the league will temporarily lift the lockout to allow a crew of NFL officials to work the game tonight.
While the exact contention points are unknown, it seemed as though the retirement benefits packages the officials would receive was one of the main issues that the NFLRA would not give in on. The referees are still part-time employees, and their salaries are expected to average $173,000 by 2013. The league also has reserved the right to train incoming officials and use these trainees to replace working officials that may be under performing based upon the league's standards.
In my opinion, this makes perfect sense. If players can be benched due to poor performance, then officials should be able to be "benched" as well. The NFL promotes itself by saying that it is made up of the best in the business of football, whether it be as far as players, executives, or officials are concerned. The replacement officials obviously did not meet that standard. For the regular officials to live up to that standard, they should be responsible for keeping themselves in the best condition that they can, both physically and mentally.
As I read about the language included in the agreement between the league and the NFLRA, it all actually seemed to make sense. It has long been said that referees and offensive linemen are similar in that the less they are mentioned, the better. During any given game, if an offensive lineman is mentioned multiple times, it usually means he is being called for multiple penalties. That is why the best offensive linemen in the league are many times unknown to the casual fan. They don't throw touchdowns or intercept passes, but they do their job and are acknowledged by the players that really matter. If we hear the name of an official multiple times, it is often because he is in the middle of some kind of controversy. Ardent followers of the league know the names of many of the head referees, but not many know the names of side judges or umpires or other assistant officials unless they are involved in some sort of controversy.
What all of this recent talk of referee contracts really taught me was how hard these officials actually work to remain unknown. Being an NFL official, as I said in my prior essay, is in many ways a thankless job. If they officiate a game well, they are not praised, they are just doing their job like they should. If they make what some might consider a bad call, they get berated from each and every direction. However, the officials not only to continue to work hard on the field, but they work hard off the field as well.
One of the biggest concerns about the replacement officials was their unfamiliarity with the intricacies of the NFL rulebook. Whether they had come from high school, college, or even the lingerie league, the replacement officials were not well-versed in all the minute details of the NFL and its rules. Therefore, some parts of the games that were formerly taken for granted by players, coaches, and fans, were unable to be correctly managed without the normal officials. I never knew that the league gave its officials weekly tests to ensure that they were aware of any and all rules changes that might have been implemented, but thanks to this lockout, I now am.
While the officials were locked out, Ed Hochuli, one of the most well-known officials, organized conference calls and administered tests to simulate the ones given by the league each week. On-field conditioning sessions were also organized to guarantee that the regular officials would be ready to go the second that a new deal was ratified. When initial reports surfaced about the league and the officials nearing a deal, most insiders believed that it might still take some time before the regular officials would be ready to return to action because they may not have been completely up to date on the rules changes and not in peak physical condition. However, we learned that that was not the case at all. Not only were the officials willing to come back as soon as a deal was signed (and in this case, actually before a deal was signed), but they seem to be more than ready to come back and officiate as well.
Sure, officiating in any sport is like I have said multiple times, usually a thankless job. However, it is nice to know that when straits are dire and we are forced to deal with the alternatives, most of us can actually appreciate the work that these men and women put in to perform their duties to the best of their abilities. So before we all start hassling the officials because of their on-field calls, I think this lockout has at least taught us that they deserve a lot more credit than they get, and in the enormous pie that is the National Football League, the officials do in fact deserve a sizable piece.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: 5.5 games out of a playoff spot with 7 games to play means the season isn't officially over, but we will need a miracle plus some more to be playing into October. Like I said though, I will never give up until the team is mathematically out of the race, but that day seems to be getting very close. Patrick Corbin and Barry Zito will take the mound this afternoon as we finish a series with the playoff bound San Francisco Giants.
Daily Giants Update: Once again, we get a night game this Sunday, as this will be the third game we have played under the lights out of the four games on the schedule. We will have had plenty of time to rest and get healthy after beating up on the Panthers a week ago, and despite their 2-1 record, the Eagles have not exactly looked good. Division games are always toss-ups though, and getting a win on the road in Philadelphia would be huge in both the present and the future, so hopefully we can do just that.
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