I have no idea what NFL referees get paid, but shouldn't one of the richest sports in the world have full time referees? Instead of using overweight, old guys, I'd be much happier as a fan having a referee who spends his/her week reviewing tapes, working out and being on-hand at team practices instead of selling insurance to make ends meet.

Her interactions with Ben Roethlisberger would be quite interesting.

I haven't been following the referee lockout too closely but I can't imagine the league entering the regular season with a scab crew. NFL officiating, while not perfect, is largely regarded as being solid and untainted. The NFL would be foolish to gamble on one of the major symbols of integrity it possesses. I mean, when was the last time a credible allegation of point shaving surfaced in the NFL? After what happened in the NBA, there's no way you let a decent set of officials walk.

To swiftly end this mess, the ref union should just send Ed Hochuli in to "negotiate".

I hope she's not the one who has been doing CUSA games for the last couple of seasons. She is bad.

Still trying to figure out how the NFL can get away with locking out employees and yet hiring replacements. Federal labor law has been shifted that far in favor of corporations?

You think with as much money the NFL makes they could spare some for the refs, and enough so they don't have to take side jobs.

SuperT: You think with as much money the NFL makes they could spare some for the refs, and enough so they don't have to take side jobs.

What's fair for about 20 days of work a year to do a job thousands of other idiots would line up for a chance to do for free?

bubbaprog: Still trying to figure out how the NFL can get away with locking out employees and yet hiring replacements. Federal labor law has been shifted that far in favor of corporations?

Aren't they contract workers or something so they can get away with it?

SuperT: You think with as much money the NFL makes they could spare some for the refs, and enough so they don't have to take side jobs.

And this.

The Muthaship: SuperT: You think with as much money the NFL makes they could spare some for the refs, and enough so they don't have to take side jobs.

What's fair for about 20 days of work a year to do a job thousands of other idiots would line up for a chance to do for free?

If thousands of idiots were lining up to do it for free, I don't think the NFL would be paying referees.

regindyn: If thousands of idiots were lining up to do it for free, I don't think the NFL would be paying referees.

The NFL pays them to make the fans feel like they are getting people who know what they are doing. If they decided not to pay them, I'd cover whatever bet anyone wanted to make that lots of people would volunteer.

The Muthaship: What's fair for about 20 days of work a year to do a job thousands of other idiots would line up for a chance to do for free?

This just in: NFL officials do a lot of work outside of game day to prepare for the games, just like the players do.

PowerSlacker: This just in: NFL officials do a lot of work outside of game day to prepare for the games, just like the players do.

Like what? I know they have a rules seminar in the off season every year. Let's say that's a week long. That gets them to 27 days. At the minimum, that gets them $952.93 a day. Not bad.

/up to $2,592.59 a day.

The Muthaship: PowerSlacker: This just in: NFL officials do a lot of work outside of game day to prepare for the games, just like the players do.

Like what? I know they have a rules seminar in the off season every year. Let's say that's a week long. That gets them to 27 days. At the minimum, that gets them $952.93 a day. Not bad.

/up to $2,592.59 a day.

They work 25-35 hours a week according to this story.

PowerSlacker: They work 25-35 hours a week according to this story.

Most of them claim to spend 25-35 hours a week "preparing" for their role as referee. Included in this is exercising, and watching games on tape. Exercising is for yourselves, guys. They do a ton of standing around in their "job". And they really don't look that fit, overall. Watching film is elective (and probably something they enjoy, leading them to become involved in the game). The rules change pretty rarely, and hardly ever during the season, so "keeping up with rules changes" is just more bullsh*t. They make the job sound harder than it is in negotiations so they can get more money. Nothing wrong with that. But, if they were working anywhere near that much, the wouldn't be able to do the other jobs that lots of them do.

(Some football rule pun about sex)

Would she be as bad as Violette Palmer has been for the NBA?

The Muthaship: PowerSlacker: This just in: NFL officials do a lot of work outside of game day to prepare for the games, just like the players do.

Like what? I know they have a rules seminar in the off season every year. Let's say that's a week long. That gets them to 27 days. At the minimum, that gets them $952.93 a day. Not bad.

/up to $2,592.59 a day.

If they're being treated as contractors, they're probably responsible for their own healthcare, taxes and expenses. I doubt anyone is getting rich being an official.

Does she speak Braille?

bubbaprog: Still trying to figure out how the NFL can get away with locking out employees and yet hiring replacements. Federal labor law has been shifted that far in favor of corporations?

You've always been allowed to hire temporary replacements for locked-out employees. Locked-out employees are still entitled to things like unemployment compensation, etc., which is why lock-outs are rare in the non-sports world.

What I learned from this thread: Apparently if you enjoy your job, you don't deserve to be paid for it.

SuperT: You think with as much money the NFL makes they could spare some for the refs, and enough so they don't have to take side jobs.

Starting salary is $78,000 a year. They don't HAVE to take side jobs. They choose to because it's a part-time job.

Still trying to figure out how the NFL can get away with locking out employees and yet hiring replacements. Federal labor law has been shifted that far in favor of corporations?

A union has a better position under federal law if the dispute is over working conditions or management refuses to negotiate. This is a dispute over pay and the parties have been negotiating.

Get off my turf!