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top 200 commentsshow 500

[–]mediumedium 353 points354 points ago

Can we all be clear this is a lockout, not a strike. The refs are not asking for more money, its the NFL demanding them to take a pay cut.

[–]Kash87 184 points185 points ago

This makes it a fuck of a lot worse in my opinion

[–]Uncoolio 32 points33 points ago

Can someone please ELI5 and don't know anything about sports?

[–]Magzter 26 points27 points ago

You don't really have to know anything about sports. NFL wants to pay the referees less, referees don't want to be paid less, so they decide to not work until the NFL back down on the pay cut so the NFL refuses to let them work until they take a pay cut.

Edit: Guys, it's virtually the same thing. I never implied it was a strike and I'm on the Refs side.

[–]Kalmah666 36 points37 points ago

Its a Lockout... The NFL is forcing them not to work, not a strike

So the NFL is trying to make the Refs back down...

[–]smigenboger 6 points7 points ago

So it's a reverse strike?

[–]turtleyurt 35 points36 points ago

Agreed. Lockouts are a form of punishing employees and trying to force them to relinquish their demands. The employer, namely the NFL, is the instigator in this case.

[–]RaipFace 9 points10 points ago

your response reminds me of Star Trek, when someone says something complicated and then someone else simplifies it into something anyone can understand - except the opposite.

[–]GargamelCuntSnarf 20 points21 points ago

Like a balloon, and-- something bad happens!

[–]Taodeist 6 points7 points ago

Okay, I'm done re-kafoobling the energy motron ... or whatever.

[–]JJEE 0 points1 point ago

Speedy thing goes in, speedy thing comes out.

[–]fuckyoufuckyou666 64 points65 points ago

Either way it still looks like this to me.

[–]Kalmah666 14 points15 points ago

This looks more like the NHL lockout where nothing is getting done...

[–]Cladari 18 points19 points ago

The NFL is not asking them to take a cut, this is just wrong. After researching the dispute I've come to the conclusion that the refs are being selfish.

**The NFL wants to move their pension plan to a 401k type plan. Every NFL employee and most normal people have this plan.

**The NFL wants to increase the number of crews by 3 in order to begin weeding out bad refs and increase their choices for big games. The refs are against more people employed as refs.

**The NFL wants to employ 7 full time refs, one for each position, to act as a mentor and reviewer. The refs are against this as they see it as a move to full time refs which they are against. They want to keep their other jobs.

**The average ref earns 150k a year for a part time 20 weekend a year job. Most refs also work another job. They have been offered around 6% more money and they claim it's not enough.

Who is the greedy side here? Who should be hammered each bad call? The League or the locked out refs? Who should relent?

[–]tomstockmail 2 points3 points ago

The NFL is a multi billion dollar industry with the best players raking in millions. Why aren't the best refs making millions when they're a key part of the game (if they weren't then why is Wisconsin on fire right now)?

[–]layinbrix 366 points367 points ago

We'll hold the NFL hostage for... ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

[–]sfc949 289 points290 points ago

You know the funny part is, the disagreement is over roughly 2 million dollars, so in essence, they're actually holding them hostage for... TWO MILLION DOLLARS!

[–]notsonerdy 202 points203 points ago

two meeelyon dollars

[–]SlowAtEverything 201 points202 points ago

Why ask for two million dollars when you can ask for..... ONE MILLION DOLLARS

[–]defaultconstructor 56 points57 points ago

Dammit dad!

[–]on_the_redpill 41 points42 points ago

I'm no conspiracy theorist by trade... but maybe these lowly refs are in on it, intentionally fucking things up to help out their brothers.

[–]fumar 26 points27 points ago

Considering some of the crews got kicked out of the LFL (Lingerie Football League), I personally feel that a lot of them are extremely incompetent. However I'm sure some of these refs realize the gambling/gamefixing opportunity they have and are crooked.

[–]njdss4 6 points7 points ago

Wow, if you get fired from a joke league like the LFL, you have got to be horrible at your job. It's a mystery as to why the NFL would even consider hiring those idiots.

[–]fumar 15 points16 points ago

They did a REALLY shitty job vetting the replacement refs. One of them was scheduled to ref a Saints home game week 2 and there were numerous pictures of him covered in Saints gear outside the Superdome on his public Facebook page.

[–]TheBrownie 2 points3 points ago

I'm pretty sure the pool of potential scrub refs are pretty small. Probably equivalent to dleaguer scrubs playing in the nba in the nba lockout.

[–]headwrong 18 points19 points ago

Is the Lingerie Football League what I think it is?

[–]kyoutenshi 7 points8 points ago

Yes.

[–]Rcfan0902 5 points6 points ago

Yep. My old neighbor plays for Baltimore in the LFL

[–]naegele 3 points4 points ago

Yes, yes it is.

[–]headwrong 3 points4 points ago

Oh no.

[–]DildoChrist 7 points8 points ago

Oh, yes.

[–]Happyphase 5 points6 points ago

WHY WONT ANYONE LINK THIS THING?

[–]youknowit19 5 points6 points ago

The plot thickens...

[–]LGMuir 5 points6 points ago

My understanding is these refs will be ostracized for taking the job as "replacement refs" I think you're on to something tho, maybe they took the jobs knowing they'd support them and help their progression through the ranks

[–]on_the_redpill 4 points5 points ago

My understanding is these refs will be ostracized for taking the job as "replacement refs"

That's the cover. No one will suspect that they're actually working together.

[–]notsonerdy 2 points3 points ago

everybody has a price

[–]Jwroth12 6 points7 points ago

throw us a freeeking bone here

[–]shifty39 18 points19 points ago

I've seen the $2 million figure thrown around and i'm not sure where it comes from. It's closer to $48 million as well as other conditions such as accountability for their calls

[–]Sunwalker 1 point2 points ago

It's approx 2 million per team.

[–]The_Aggro_Crag 15 points16 points ago

All they wanted were some freakin sharks with freakin lazor beems

[–]djinteractive 14 points15 points ago

attached to their heads.

You can't forget that part.

[–]wvndvrlvst 37 points38 points ago

As someone with zero familiarity with the NFL or the sport in general, can someone briefly explain to me what all the hullaballoo surrounding the replacement refs is all about, and perhaps provide examples of their ineptitude, and in a broader sense, what sort of implications this has for the sport?

Thanks!

[–]stratagizer 24 points25 points ago

ELI5: the professional referees for the NFL aren't allowed to ref because of a pay dispute. The NFL instead paying part time refs to officiate games. These stand-ins are doing a terrible job. Its not just complex rules they are messing up, its simple things like if the ball passes through the goal posts...while standing underneath said goal posts.

If you are non-american picture this: a soccer player makes a shot on goal. The ball bounces off the goal post and out of bounds. The ref awards the shooter a goal.

[–]SirKeyboardCommando 2 points3 points ago

Wait, which game did the refs fuck up the field goal? I hadn't heard about that one.

[–]nats15 10 points11 points ago

They didn't he's a butthurt Pats fan. The main fuck up came last night when a clear interception was called a TD for Seattle.

[–]A_Higher_Porpoise 7 points8 points ago

Im a lifelong packers fan living in seattle. That call made me physically sick. Even hawks fans around me looked like they just watched a dog get run over. Fuck the lockout and the ref wannabes.

[–]azimir 2 points3 points ago

It could just be that the NFL wants you to realize how often the normal refs get it right. For every guy in the stands yelling obscenities at the refs, they want another 1000 going "I'm glad the usual guys are back because the alternatives sucked."

[–]gryts 3 points4 points ago

NE Balt, there shouldn't have even been a field goal with 2 seconds left because of a timeout debacle.

[–]VAGINA_BLADES 50 points51 points ago

I know you're all very old and out of touch, but a million dollars isn't a lot of money these days. Peyton Manning makes $18 million a year alone.

[–]layinbrix 125 points126 points ago

Right, people you have to tell me these things, okay? I've been frozen for thirty years, okay? Throw me a frickin' bone here!

[–]NintendoDestroyer89 13 points14 points ago

Get my frickin' sharks with the frickin' laser beams attached to their heads!

[–]AndroidKim 9 points10 points ago

[–]Sloppyjoe716 7 points8 points ago

I never did the math but I remember hearing somewhere that an average American could live their whole life off a million dollars. Granted that was in the early 90s but a car, house, and college education combined would only be 300,000 and that's a really nice car, good school, and descent house Edit Not taking a family into account

[–]anxdiety 9 points10 points ago

All Walter White needed was 700 000 that he calculated early on when he first started out to secure his families future.

[–]Tezerel 10 points11 points ago

Depends where you live honestly. Very rarely do decent houses hit the market at less than 300k in SoCal.

[–]Strangely_Calm 1 point2 points ago

Decent houses in my hometown are priced at $750K and up.

[–]PleasedToMeatYou 0 points1 point ago

Houses aren't even available for less than ~350,000 in SoCal, let alone decent. That's the range where livable condominiums start.

[–]occupythekitchen 3 points4 points ago

maybe my dream or fantasy (depending on the day) of the game being reffed by cheerleaders in too tight bikinis will come true

[–]quotejester 62 points63 points ago

As I am someone who isn't American, could somebody please explain what this all means? I've seen NFL lockout refs being mentioned a lot, and I just don't get it.

[–]ChagSC 44 points45 points ago

Professional refs are in a labor dispute

Replacement refs were brought in.

Replacement refs screwing up big time. Shit storm big time.

[–]Yid 85 points86 points ago

I've got no idea what's going on either. Being British, all I know is that the ref is a wanker. Not sure that applies here.

[–]rabble-rouser 129 points130 points ago

Just imagine if FIFA decided to cut the pay of all the Premier League refs, and then the refs told them to go fuck themselves. So FIFA brings in a bunch of stumbling asshat replacements who don't know what they're doing, and they gradually start making worse and worse calls as the season goes on, end up costing some teams the wins they deserve, crippling the league, and making a mockery of a game that millions of people love. That's what's happening in America right now, except with more Bud Light and Buffalo wings.

[–]Yid 74 points75 points ago

That makes sense, cheers! Impossible to happen here though, we pay refs £20 cash a game and a free Panini sticker book at the start of the season.

[–]onion_cutting_champ 34 points35 points ago

Panini stickers are the playground equivalent of heroin.

[–]Yid 16 points17 points ago

Only if they are shiny.

[–]RupeyDoop 6 points7 points ago

I will trade you Dion Dublin for Nigel Winterburn.

[–]abitRandom 7 points8 points ago

Now where did I put my Melvin glasses....ah! here we are...

Dear Sir, I think you'll find that the English Premier league is governed by the FA which itself is a member of the UEFA and FIFA.

Toodleloo!

[–]ThePuddingMaster 8 points9 points ago

So FIFA brings in a bunch of stumbling asshat replacements who don't know what they're doing, and they gradually start making worse and worse calls as the season goes on, end up costing some teams the wins they deserve, crippling the league, and making a mockery of a game that millions of people love.

Essentially this has already happened, except they aren't replacements.

[–]Lucifa42 9 points10 points ago

Imagine all the refs from the premier league aren't allowed to officiate because of money disputes.

They can't bring in lower leagues refs because those refs don't want to cross the picket line.

The premier league is now being officiated by Mr Johnson, the PE teacher from Kettering secondary school.

[–]PapaCody 22 points23 points ago

NFL wanted full time officiating crew. Refs wanted health benefits and more money. NFL locked 'em out and brought in new guys that have some experience refing other types of American football (one was a ref in a lingerie league... apparently that is a thing). Turns out these guys have no idea what they are doing and have been botching call after call. Players started testing what they could get away with, players are getting injured, entire games are getting ruined by horrible, horrible calls and everyone is angry.

[–]quotejester 18 points19 points ago

Wow. That actually sounds fun to watch, if you aren't really emotionally invested in any particular team. Didn't think things could go so wrong on such a large stage. Sounds like someone fucked up bad.

[–]StumbleBees 2 points3 points ago

Yeah, kinda like the 'Hand of God.' Good times. :(

No! This is not good for anyone.

[–]McMeanface 7 points8 points ago

This fellow has a pretty good ELI5 about the replacement refs.

Stupid shit has been happening for a good seven weeks now (3 in regular season), but this is the first time that a referee's call directly determined the outcome of a game. A final play that probably should have been ruled in favor of the away team was called in favor of the home team, and many League fans and players think that this might be the straw that broke the camel's back.

I heard a really interesting piece on NPR the other day about big-time gambling. These officials lack confidence (among many other important traits that relate to their responsibilities as NFL referees), causing far fewer penalties being called on the home teams. Tonight put yet another nail in the coffin.

[–]thelovepirate 104 points105 points ago

We seriously need to pay them all the money in the world to get them back. These replacement refs are not cutting it at all.

[–]Casper92 198 points199 points ago

Buffalo Wild Wings is behind all of this.

[–]darthstupidious 39 points40 points ago

Them and their sneaky technology that controls every aspect of a football game...

[–]farewelltokings2 14 points15 points ago

TIL that my sprinkler system is sneaky.

[–]darthstupidious 4 points5 points ago

Hey, if you could control it from a remote distance, always have it viewed on camera, and trip little kids with it if they threw a football in your yard... that'd be pretty damn sneaky. And genius.

[–]farewelltokings2 3 points4 points ago

Wait, this isnt normal?

[–]gtr053 0 points1 point ago

No OT, though.

[–]Honey_Dog 54 points55 points ago

Well the replacement refs are making the games A LOT more fun to watch.

[–]NavyDavie 37 points38 points ago

I saw someone throw a bottle at one of the screens in the bar on Sunday during the Ravens game for one of the calls. It was just a projector screen so it bounced off, but that's still pretty bad.

[–]one_random_redditor 72 points73 points ago

That's cute.

/English football fan

[–]one_random_redditor 3 points4 points ago

Sadly true.

[–]smiling_lizard 0 points1 point ago

That's cute.

/Russian football fan

[–]snoharm 17 points18 points ago

That's cute.

/Someone not interested in a pissing contest over how immature fans are.

[–]smiling_lizard 3 points4 points ago

/s went undetected.

[–]Raptorace22 10 points11 points ago

Speak for yourself man. That game was painful to watch. I feel bad just for being there.

[–]kingofphilly 2 points3 points ago

Hey, at least none of the stadiums went all "soccer riots", so there's always that positive silver lining in all of this!

[–]WilsonHanks 9 points10 points ago

Except when you're a Patriots fan or a Packers fan.

[–]ShinInuko 6 points7 points ago

But hilarious for Hawks fans.

[–]Packers91 2 points3 points ago

go to /r/nfl no Hawks fan wanted this

[–]poopmaster747 4 points5 points ago

It's kinda like Russian roulette. We enjoy the game until it's our turn on the other side of the gun. You just hope the refs won't fuck up a call against your team.

[–]Billob 0 points1 point ago

I know right? I think they should implement a rule that forces refs to throw their hats at players feet to trip them from now on. So much fun!

[–]ScumbagMatt 5 points6 points ago

It's more complicated than just paying them more money. They also want a Pension plan instead of moving towards the 401ks, a pay raise of 20% for working only 16 games per year, and job security. This "Job Security" is prohibiting the league from having full-time officials on hand. You see, the refs have full time jobs and want this as a part time job, with a pension, on the side. Apparently making $150,000 per year for refereeing a game is not enough for them.

[–]RBobo 16 points17 points ago

I mean, I'm not gonna comment on how reasonable/unreasonable their demands are. But the NFL makes infinity dollars a year.

[–]bretticusmaximus 9 points10 points ago

When you look at what the players make, and the money coming unto the sport, it doesn't sound so greedy.

[–]nathism 24 points25 points ago

I keep waiting for hollywood to come out with a movie called The Replacement Refs, in the same vein as The Replacements.

[–]Excentinel 18 points19 points ago

Sounds like a perfect Uwe Boll project.

[–]BobbyMcPrescott 0 points1 point ago

They should offer it to De Palma first though.

[–]zWeazul 10 points11 points ago

next AMA request.. "replacement ref that blew the call"

[–]NodsInApprovement[S] 30 points31 points ago

Ref that blew the call here, did it to reap karma and become famous.

[–]zWeazul 8 points9 points ago

the power of reddit karma is spread far and wide.. we have become too powerful.

[–]rattlemebones 9 points10 points ago

If I was a regular ref, I'd go back to the negotiating table and ask for $50 MIL a game after watching this shit show

[–]NotaMethAddict 27 points28 points ago

If this doesn't get them to pay the refs I don't know what will. Seriously.

[–]allamericanterrorist 11 points12 points ago

you're right, Kyle

[–]ilikefacts 20 points21 points ago

While the poor performance is definitely a bargaining chip, I'm sure they'd much rather get paid for doing a job they've worked really hard to obtain.

I mean, if you really wanted to be a ref, being an NFL ref is just about the highest you will see your career go (trailing only superbowl reffing, which is still NFL).

Just let them play. This is pathetic. The only way it will happen though is if people stop watching or if coaches get more vocal. Unfortunately, neither will happen because coaches are owned by the owners and fans will watch no matter what. Let's admit it, Goodell is right on that one.

[–]lukasj3 20 points21 points ago

they did work really hard to obtain this job. This just amplifies how hard their job is and how well of job they actually do

[–]Solid364 6 points7 points ago

I don't know, a lot of fans are getting tired of these constant bad calls, If someone were to start a boycott I'm sure many would follow

[–]ilikefacts 11 points12 points ago

I think there's a lot of bitching and moaning, and I think that this is causing a serious stain on the season, but I doubt viewers would actually follow through on a boycott.

In fact, it's possible all this negative coverage is actually increasing viewership. Really, though, it's just sad. Hopefully the packers seahawks game will be the turning point, but I'm not holding my breath.

[–]Herculix 4 points5 points ago

Yeah, as someone who doesn't give a shit about football unless I'm playing it, but who knows enough to sit down and watch a game and not feel retarded, I've seen so much crying about these refs that I'm about to sit down and watch a game just for the amusement factor.

[–]SGMD1 4 points5 points ago

I mean, if you really wanted to be a ref, being an NFL ref is just about the highest you will see your career go

It's important to remember than NFL reffing is a part time job. Most NFL refs hold other jobs during the week. An NFL ref named Walt Anderson, who has 16 years of experience, is a physician during the week in Houston. An NFL ref named Ed Hochuli is an attorney in Arizona. I agree they should get pay raises, but I understand the argument against $100K+ salaries for 15-20 Sundays of work.

[–]the_jefe 5 points6 points ago

Plus weeks of training every year and years to climb that high up the ladder to the NFL.

[–]pU8O5E439Mruz47w 3 points4 points ago

gasp

Weeks of training!?! How inhumane!!!

[–]travman064 6 points7 points ago

Do they really not get paid 100K+ salaries?

Good refereeing makes the game better, and arguably brings in more fans, and more viewers=more money. They try not to show shoving and scrums and such on T.V because the NFL doesn't want to be associated with that. They easiest way to cut back on that undesirable behavior would be with the best and most experienced referees. I don't see how the NFL could say that good referees aren't worth 6 figure salaries, especially when the ones that are willing to work for less apparently don't cut it.

[–]Right_on_BRO 0 points1 point ago

What the obvious question should be is why not review the replay? Hi-def cameras, amazing quality, and all put on slow-mo repeat over and over again. People sitting on their couch knows the play better than the refs. But the decision is made upon his course of view from a distance and only that. Is "hey, can I review this on recorded material" like something that's taboo, or discrediting to the football ref? I can see with the amount they are making, and having technology do your job would be quite upsetting.

Their job is hard, but it's because of this mass culture of sports to not just utilize the amazing technology in which is used every game.

[–]dWoell 2 points3 points ago

I'm not sure what you're saying. They do review the replay.

[–]Zeydon 125 points126 points ago

Nobody outside Seattle raised a stink over the play-calling at the Seahawks/Steelers Superbowl, but when popular team is screwed over in a much less significant game, suddenly it matters.

Not that I'm saying it was the best call to make, just irritated that it's perceived as a problem based over who is impacted instead of what is fair.

[–]fumar 24 points25 points ago

The regular refs make mistakes as well. But they make mistakes on extremely tough calls and almost always get the call right after replay, I can only think of a handful of times where they've screwed something up after looking at a replay since instant replay came into the league.

These refs not only get big calls wrong, they get basic calls wrong. SF got 5 timeouts in the 2nd half yesterday, Washington received a 20 yard personal foul last week, the refs ignored a blatant fight in the Pats-Ravens game Sunday, this happened yesterday in the Eagles-Cardinals game, and Kevin Ogletree was tripped by a ref's hat that was thrown in his path in the end zone FOR NO REASON.

I could go on, but to compare what is happening in the NFL now where there are 2-3 easy calls that are blown PER GAME to 1 bad game in the Super Bowl is just silly. These refs are completely incompetent. They can't get basic calls right and when something complicated happens, it takes them 10 minutes and they still get it wrong.

People aren't upset just because of what happened to the Packers, it's a snowball that has been building since week 1.

[–]MrFBueller129 15 points16 points ago

No it matters because it is the high point of three weeks worth of horrible officiating.

[–]Darkfriend337 20 points21 points ago

I didn't watch the game you mentioned, so I don't know how serious the failed call was, but this was a really really bad call, that almost anyone could see, could be immediately blamed on the refs, happening to a favorite team, on Monday Night Football. All those combine to get the shitstorm you see now.

[–]Rainblast 17 points18 points ago

Not to mention even after a review they decided to just commit to the fuck up.

You get a chance to correct the error and you just double down? What the fuck!

[–]ChagSC 3 points4 points ago

A horrible phantom hold and an uncessary roughness penalty when Hasselbeck made a tackle changed that game.

[–]Purplethreadhooker 68 points69 points ago

I don't know why you're being downvoted. That ref's bad call did cost the Seahawks the Super Bowl. It felt like the Northwest was the only place where anyone even cared.

[–]christmas_sweater 54 points55 points ago

"There are bad calls in every game." That's all I heard during the aftermath.

For what it's worth, just about the only person who did care was Bill Leavy, the head referee that day. His quote:

"It was a tough thing for me. I kicked two calls in the fourth quarter and I impacted the game, and as an official you never want to do that. It left me with a lot of sleepless nights, and I think about it constantly. I'll go to my grave wishing that I'd been better.... I know that I did my best at that time, but it wasn't good enough.... When we make mistakes, you got to step up and own them. It's something that all officials have to deal with, but unfortunately when you have to deal with it in the Super Bowl it's difficult."

Respect.

[–]TheMagicJesus 27 points28 points ago

I know I did. I was pissed. They didn't play as good as they could have, but the refs were complete bullshit that entire game.

[–]PunkRockRobot 4 points5 points ago

To be fair, I think the difference is that in the Superbowl the bad call due to an individual. While the current fiasco is somthing that is becoming inherent in the system and popping up more and more in the games.

Remember a week ago a lot of the coaches and commentators and players didn't really say much, but after this weekend's ineptness in multiple games, with the apex being yesterday's game with the Patriots and the Ravens (or so we thought until Monday) the people on the sidelines are finally voicing their concern and giving their vote of no-confidence.

tldr: The Superbowl call was a bad call made by a single ref. This is the system (with the lockout) itself making the bad calls.

[–]chishiki 15 points16 points ago

As a Seattleite; Word. Don't remember anybody freaking out when THE NFL CHAMPIONSHIP was on the line.

[–]JayZStillsNashnYoung 15 points16 points ago

I've seen lots of discussion on that game, to this day! It's widely accepted that the Seahawks got screwed. Are you saying this bad call was justified because of the Super Bowl? You'd have an argument if it was the Steelers that were the victims of this bad call, but not the Packers.

[–]irishmac3 10 points11 points ago

Thank you for mentioning this. How quick people are to forget that Seattle was robbed out of a title with consistent bad calls. But you do that against the GB in a regular season game and off with your head!

[–]MassPeopleProduct 8 points9 points ago

great way to rationalize a shitty call that cost a team a game.

[–]irishmac3 3 points4 points ago

It wasn't the only call this week that cost a team. Or last week. Or the week before. My point was that if that call ended up costing Seattle, not that many people would care.

[–]JayZStillsNashnYoung 3 points4 points ago

Yeah, GB totally deserves this loss since the Seahawks had a badly officiated Super Bowl that was years ago.

/s

[–]irishmac3 0 points1 point ago

I didn't say that. this was 1 of many games with the outcome called into question by bad calls. Real refs or replacement. Teams get screwed. It happens. And it is a regular season game in week 3

Edit: GB deserved to lose because they gave up 9 sacks, played like shit, their defense could do very little against a rookie qb and offense was terrible for a team that went 15-1 last year against a team that went 7-9.

[–]kamakazekiwi 1 point2 points ago

Those refs actually came out and publicly apologized for the calls in that game years later. No one noticed.

I guess this is kind of our retribution for that superbowl... Although this win just felt terrible.

[–]GoldLegends 2 points3 points ago

I don't really give a damn if they're popular or not, but if a team won/lost because of a really controversial call, then it's just bullshit.

[–]Mcnichs 19 points20 points ago

[–]totallytravis 16 points17 points ago

Can someone let me know what happened tonight? Everyone was complaining all over my news feed.

[–]corbygray528 69 points70 points ago

Seahawks throw a bomb last second to the endzone, lots of people from both teams go up for it. It looks like it's intercepted as a green bay player has full possession of it but seahawks player had a hand on it too. One ref signals for a TD and the other ref signals for interception. They kept it at a TD and seahawks won the game even though to pretty much everyone everywhere it was clearly an interception. There has been mention of the "Simultaneous Possession" rule, which states if two players of opposing teams catch the ball simultaneously, possession goes to the passing team. However, it appeared that Green Bay had possession, and the Seahawks player gained possession forcefully after the catch had been made which would be a plain ole interception and does not fall under simultaneous possession.

[–]Andrew_Would 37 points38 points ago

Plus the ref in the end zone, the black one in the video, who signaled for an interception is suppose to have the final call on that type of play. It's BS because the offensive pass interference, and blatant possession by green bay throw out the simultaneous possession rule. It's one of if not the worst calls in NFL history.

[–]corbygray528 19 points20 points ago

Exactly. The whole "simultaneous possession" argument and who really had the ball is a moot point since it all should have come back due to the offensive pass interference anyway. If it's an interception, game over, penalty declined. If ruled a TD, offensive pass interference and run the play again. That should not have ended the way it did. The ref who called the TD was in perfect view of the pass interference and did nothing about it. That's absurd to me.

[–]Andrew_Would 5 points6 points ago

Yeah it's all unbelievable. I'm gonna be pissed about this for so long. Along with every one of my packer fan friends.

[–]calebcharles 4 points5 points ago

It smacks of professional wrestling.

[–]arestheblue 5 points6 points ago

He didn't signal for an interception. He signaled to stop the clock. (not that it matters...)

[–]anxdiety 4 points5 points ago

Who knows what they are really signalling. During the 49er's game they weren't even announcing who the penalties were against. The announcers were completely confused. That was on top of the free time outs.

[–]powderpig 5 points6 points ago

Yeah, it's almost as BS as the nonexistent pass interference on 3rd and 5 that led to the only touchdown by the Packers, and was the only reason the game had to end on a hail mary in the first place.

[–]NodsInApprovement[S] 27 points28 points ago

[–]Herculix 8 points9 points ago

Wow, they called that a Seahawks catch? These refs are like the Cecil Peoples of the NFL, holy fuck.

[–]Mcnichs 7 points8 points ago

Also, there was a critical pass interference penalty called on GB near the end that was BS, a lame roughing the passer call on GB shortly before that which overturned a likely game ending interception and ton of other bad calls for both teams. One of the announcers said "I want to jump out of the broadcast booth" due to how horrible the calls were.

[–]juliovega914 8 points9 points ago

Can someone please ELI5 this Lockout for me?

[–]ubernuke 6 points7 points ago

The bare bones version is that the previous contract between the NFL and the referees expired and the NFL doesn't want to pay what the refs are asking for so they hired officials from lower football levels to take their place. These replacement officials do not seem to be used to the speed at which the game is played at the highest level and have made many bad calls as well as not having a full knowledge of the rules (college and pro rules are not the same).

[–]turtleyurt 2 points3 points ago

The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expired between the NFL and the referees. During their contract negotiations, the NFL refused to meet the referees' demands for better pay and health benefits. The referees don't want to relinquish their demands, so the NFL punishes them by forcibly banning them (or "locking them out") from work. The NFL can't find anyone better to hire than incompetent replacements in the meantime, so the game has suffered and everyone is mad.

Except the original refs. Things are starting to look up for them.

[–]Excentinel 5 points6 points ago

The NFL said "screw you zebras, we're cutting your pay", the refs said "seeya around", and the NFL went and hired NCAA DII and DIII refs to replace them.

Seriously.

The NCAA has prohibited active DI-level refs from working Sunday games during the lockout, so the only refs with experience calling games in front of 50,000+ people are those that were fired by the NCAA for whichever reason.

[–]the_jefe 6 points7 points ago

This is genius. The replacement refs are actually in on it with the real refs, doing as bad a job as they can so the league is forced to give in.

[–]Ritz_Frisbee 3 points4 points ago

I'm fully expecting Roger Goodell to rip off his mask and reveal himself as Vince McMahon, then kick Marty Jannety through the Barbershop window.

[–]elkaj 5 points6 points ago

What if the replacement ref's are working with the refs on strike.

[–]MgIaCyAcH 1 point2 points ago

this post is beautiful....making such a horrific call is one thing....but doing it again after a review...sheesh

[–]Talarot 0 points1 point ago

MUWAHAHAHAHAHA MUWAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA MUWAHAHAHAHAHA

[–]Me66 0 points1 point ago

I'm European, please explain!

[–]emindoraku 0 points1 point ago

I'm european and i dont fucking get this.

[–]abdulrahimh 0 points1 point ago

[–]Lolman_scott 2 points3 points ago

What about the children!!! Wont anyone think about the children!!!

[–]skrillex -1 points0 points ago

Only Dougie Howser could pull off a summary so quickly.

[–]Cyfa 1 point2 points ago

This entire NFL weekend has just been a disgrace. Yes I'm buttmad like fuck.

[–]adie5 -1 points0 points ago

Can anyone explain this situation? Why are some refs locked out? What does it mean that a ref is locked out?

[–]heyitsConnorF 1 point2 points ago

[–]persona_dos 0 points1 point ago

They need to go back to Foot Locker.

[–]ImaginaryEscapist 1 point2 points ago

I love how they called the Sunday night game, Patriots at Ravens. They let those players beat the shit out of each other. It almost made me think Roger Goodell called the refs before the game and said,"Look, the fans are getting restless about some of these calls so how bout not calling anything?"

[–]coffedrank 0 points1 point ago

Oh merchant, you are truly my greatest ally.

[–]teethteetheat 0 points1 point ago

I HATE THEM SO MUCH.

[–]insomniak03 0 points1 point ago

I vowed to keep my mouth shut about all this, but that roughing the passer call tonight was the final straw for me.

[–]fumar 1 point2 points ago

I have no idea how anyone could support the replacement refs after this silliness on Sunday.

[–]MrAdamXD 0 points1 point ago

ಠ_ಠ

[–]jaxonya 0 points1 point ago

the NFL should just get the cyborg football players that they show on fox and make them into refs. they have the technology

[–]Blastface -1 points0 points ago

I'm English. I don't understand what's happening.

[–]bugsy187 -1 points0 points ago

Wait. Don't the refs just want to keep their pensions? Didn't the owners lock them out? That doesn't exactly make them Dr. Evil and Co.

[–]dougiefrresh 0 points1 point ago

It's funny because it's true...It's not funny because nothing is going to be done about it.

[–]pharmabeast 0 points1 point ago

It's crazy that Gooddell was able to turn the media tide against the players and get them to cave in to end a lockout, but has decidedly lost the same battle with his referees. The NFL is too high caliber of a product; it isn't meant for "replacement" anything. This is dumb.

[–]whiteblackman 0 points1 point ago

won 200 because of their incompetence tonight. Picture that much more relevant for me.

[–]WhiteGuyThatCantJump 0 points1 point ago

Damnit. After that game, I could really use a shmoke and a pancake.

[–]Poon_viper 0 points1 point ago

It's a game that helps keep society at bay... Let that touchdown go

[–]Mikes_friend_Tyler 1 point2 points ago

[–]hoddap 0 points1 point ago

Context for the non-Americanese please!

[–]sauceskwatch 0 points1 point ago

The fill-in refs should refuse to work any more games because they're not schooled in these rules and it's making them look like shit and ruining their careers. That would be...something.

[–]Ragnarok022 0 points1 point ago

Can someone explain for non americans what Lockout Refferees are? And why this is so funny? Thank you. :)

[–]airbreather02 0 points1 point ago

Muwahahahahaha!!!!!

[–]BobCox 0 points1 point ago

A think at this point they should start raising the $$$ amount it will cost to get them back.

I know I have stopped watching, not out of the solidarity but because my doctor has warned me about things that cause this level of stress.

[–]NozzALa 0 points1 point ago

I can imagine this actually happening. If the NFL doesn't cave and give them whatever they want after this, nothing will ever change their minds.

What a disaster.

[–]dokeyfunk -1 points0 points ago

Read the headline as: NFL (has) lockout(ed) refs (who are) watching the games (in their free time). Made no sense.

[–]nmurph 0 points1 point ago

I'm Irish and I have no idea what a lockout is.

[–]alhena 0 points1 point ago

E-vil Sports. Its in the game.

[–]WowDancers 0 points1 point ago

The last two minutes of that game were the worst calls I have ever seen.

[–]coffeewithgames 0 points1 point ago

I'm glad I wasn't drinking coffee when I clicked it.