Actually, they were locked out because they didn't want to have their pension plan turned into a 401k. Remember that they were LOCKED OUT, they are not striking.



This is a good point. If the refs were striking to get more money, it would be the telling one. But this is different. If the game is the product, refs are something like quality control. They don't make the rules on the field, they enforce them. The product is worth billions in revenue... what is it worth to spend to assure the quality of that product? Make no mistake, the quality of the product is suffering.

Also, NFL refs make from $25 to $75k a year depending on the number of games they call. This is more or less unchanged from five years ago. Now, like you say, not bad at all for less than a month of actual work. (I would guess about two days of work per game played, between film review, rules review, training, etc.) So no one is claiming hardship for these guys, and most of them have other jobs. (Which is also why the lockout is odd... you probably can't starve an NFL ref into signing on the dotted line.)

But why not make NFL refs full time? Pay them $75-$100k per year, maybe 75 as a baseline with bonuses earned based on performance (and also reflected in Playoff gigs) and expect a full work week. Everyone knows they could do their jobs better, why not make sure they are all spending the weeks studying the teams they will be playing, watching film, learning play styles, reviewing rules, critiquing each other, etc? it could only be good for the game, and would actually assure higher league control of officiating. (Which is probably why it doesn't exist... it would turn a rich man's hobby into a working man's livelihood, current refs probably wouldn't stand for it. Good lord, did I just make an anti-union point? Better move on.)



Can you prove it? If so, do so, because it hasn't happened yet, which is why the players appeal was upheld. Goodell serving as both prosecutor and judge led to the overturning that already occurred. The question there is not "is a bounty system legal?" The question is "Do we need due process in order to deprive players of their livelihoods in punishment?"



Again, it is the NFL, not the refs, making demands. Lockout, not strike, remember? That said, you do make good points... nobody is claiming the old refs were perfect. but as I said in my response to Trzas... Anonymous up above, it is less about bad calls and more about poor control of game flow and zero ability to command respect from players or coaches. That lack of respect stems from a simple dynamic you cannot ignore in a situation like this: It is nearly impossible for a scab to earn the respect of a union guy, and after the recent labor dispute, every last player is pretty darn pro-union.

In my opinion, that will be what finally forces the hand of the NFL if anything does. If it doesn't happen soon, the old refs may even gain some clout and respect, allowing them to actually start demanding stuff.