NFL says lockout of officials has begun
 

NFL says lockout of officials has begun | ProFootballTalk
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello informs PFT that the lockout has commenced. ”They advised us in March of their intention to take a strike vote and their plans to drag out the negotiations until late summer,” Aiello said.

By taking the initiative, the NFL can proceed with plans for identifying and training replacements, without being backed into a corner by a late-August walkout.

Just what we need, a bunch of unknown scab referees looking to get "noticed" and wanting to impress Goodell by calling things against the "dirty" Saints, in hopes of landing a permanent job with the NFL.... now every time the Saints defense so much as looks at the QB funny these scab refs will be blowing whistles and throwing laundry around. At least with the regular refs, you sorta knew where the bias would be, or how bad, if you paid attention there were certain ones and certain crews who were better or worse than others.... and at least with the real refs, you knew what you were up against most of the time. There was a bit of accountability there.

Mark it down, this is gonna make a sucky year even suckier.... This could actually end up having more potential impact on keeping the Saints out of the Super Bowl at home, than Payton's or Vilma's suspensions...just watch the scabs blow a controversial call against the Saints, that ends up sending them packing from the playoffs, if the Saints begin to make a run and threaten that they might win it all. Wouldn't surprise me. I have zero faith in the NFL to do a competent job right now.

It's hard to believe they could be any worse.

The NFL is getting swung at from all angles but those punches combined are not even close to the one looming around the corner. The real unemployment numbers are hovering danger close to 15%. Get use to seeing a lot of on field details. I have a feeling the pan out button won't be going beyond the 2nd tier.

What? The NFL doesn't make enough money to pay the referees quality money to make the correct calls?
You pay the people better who do a good job. Maybe that's how they should pay the referees. Bad calls can swing a game.

I see a lot of scab CFL refs in our future....

I am sure this is due to a Bounty program amongst officials. The DOJ should look into this and suspend Goodell for incompetence!

“The NFL Players Association is concerned about the NFL’’s decision to lock out professional referees and recruit scabs to serve as referees in NFL games for the 2012 season,” the NFLPA said in a statement released Monday.
NFLPA response:


“In 2011, the NFL tasked officials with increased responsibilities in protecting player health and safety, and its search for scabs undermines that important function. Professional athletes require professional referees, and we believe in the NFL Referees Association’’s trained first responders. The NFLPA will continue to monitor the league’s actions in this situation.”

These scabs are going to get less than 2 months of training. The NFLPA has a very legit concern, there is no way these guys will be ready to protect players much less call games. They'll get their own top ten spot every week for the number of calls they blow.

If no bones are broken and unless someone without the ball gets tackled, let them play.