History made in NFL officiating

[Landshark]

Watching the Packers Chargers game on ESPN and witnessing the first female to officiate an NFL game.

[Cathal]

How'd she do? Or better yet, how was the coverage on her?

[Brian Fein]

^^ I think what he really means is "was she hot?"

[Cathal]

Hah 
I was actually interested if the coverage was overly focusing on her just because it is a woman official or they hardly talked about her.

[Dave Gray]

I am cynical, but I think the NFL is being somewhat nefarious.

The scab refs are the story here.  But the NFL adding female refs shifts the focus of that story and makes it harder to criticize them.

I like the idea of female refs.  I'm just skeptical that this isn't temporary deodorant to cover up a bigger stink.

[mecadonzilla]

I am cynical, but I think the NFL is being somewhat nefarious.

The scab refs are the story here.  But the NFL adding female refs shifts the focus of that story and makes it harder to criticize them.

I like the idea of female refs.  I'm just skeptical that this isn't temporary deodorant to cover up a bigger stink.

You hit the nail on the head.  This is why Goodell was named commish.  He's good at obfuscation.

I wish I could have watched that game...or any other this week.  With the Olympics on non-stop at my home, my wife won't hardly let me touch the tv. 

[Pappy13]

I am cynical, but I think the NFL is being somewhat nefarious.

The scab refs are the story here.  But the NFL adding female refs shifts the focus of that story and makes it harder to criticize them.

I don't know, seems to me that the NFL is not going to have a full complement of NFL backup refs which means they're gonna have to scrape up a few which means opening up the search to qualified women.  I don't think they were trying to shift the focus as much as just letting the NFL refs know they are replaceable even if they have to use women. If I'm an NFL ref and the woman does a decent job, I'd be getting my ass back to work.

[Cathal]

At lunch, someone said that during the Saints/Pats game, someone called for a fair catch on the 4 yard line but the refs calls it a touchback. Did anyone else see that?

[Spider-Dan]

I think you're talking about the WSH/BUF game.

BUF punted and downed the ball around WSH's 6-yard-line.  The ball was NOWHERE NEAR the end zone and the BUF player never got closer than 3 yards from the end zone.  The refs ruled it a touchback.

[Landshark]

How'd she do? Or better yet, how was the coverage on her?

The coverage was pretty extensive.   

[MikeO]

Replacement refs to open the regular season and from reports will probably do at least a few games

[Landshark]

Replacement refs to open the regular season and from reports will probably do at least a few games

NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith has made this into a safety issue and is calling out Commissioner Goodell on this.  He's saying replacement refs won't be able to spot a player having concussion symptoms as easily.  Suffice to say, I very much see his point.

[Pappy13]

Since when is it the refs job to do this? Don't they have trainers for that?

[Landshark]

Since when is it the refs job to do this? Don't they have trainers for that?

Yeah but it's the ref's responsibility to stop play.

[Pappy13]

Just how tough is it to blow the whistle when a trainer is telling you they have an injured player? This is being blown WAY out of proportion. There will be some mistakes made, but lets be honest, the regular refs make their fair share of mistakes too. This is nothing but a ploy to get the NFL to cave and it's not going to work.