I hope bad/questionable calls don't cost teams more games than normal but there are bad calls that seemingly cost teams games every year. It would be interesting if there was a "bad call" stat that we could look up for NFL refs.

I agree that regular refs would probably do an overall better job just by experience ... but I'm skeptical that it will make as big of a difference as many people seem to be thinking. Sadly I'm not sure there will be a valid way to measure the two groups unless someone is aware of a crediable site that keeps stats on refs.

I feel like we're going to hear a lot of "Another blown call, replacement refs at work!" kind of talk this season but there is bellyaching over bad calls in every NFL game I've ever watched with a group of people. I challenge anyone to find a single Vikings game day thread on this board where someone doesn't complain about the refs at least once.

Yeah, bad calls are one thing. Cam Newton not being touched, dropping the ball, defense recovers, and they call him down? That's another. And not like, close to being touched, but going down on his own. And that fumble from Hilliard last week was one so blatant I don't remember the refs blowing that. It's like they've been told to play it safe, otherwise they're just that bad. This isn't a case of bad calls, I hear people bellyache about them all the time even when they're close enough it's easy to understand why they were called like they were, but this garbage this preseason is almost criminal...

Running out of time. Here's an email I sent tonight. I copied Ed Hochuli at his day job email too but left it off this forum. Contact the powers that be if so inclined. Dave


Date: August 29, 2012 10:26:26 PM PDT
To: "officeofcommissioner@nfl.com" <officeofcommissioner@nfl.com>
Cc: "nflpaexecutivedept@nflplayers.com" <nflpaexecutivedept@nflplayers.com>
Subject: Referees

Dear Commissioner Goodell,

Please bring back the referees by Week 1. Your demands are trivial in the context of the fraud to which you will subject your players and fans in less than one week. Like the ridiculous London games, your move against the refs is the ultimate corporate arrogance. This one decision just might bite the owners and reduce the sport's crazy popularity right now or worse, compromise the integrity of the game. Please don't take that risk.

Best,

Kluwe weighs in on the replacements: http://deadspin.com/5940689?utm_campaig ... socialflow

Great article, thanks. Funny and yet disturbing at the same time.

I thought they did a fairly good job tonight from what I saw. The Cruz play in the end zone was probably the worst missed call.

Yep on both counts.

Yeah, but the NFL isn't stupid, they're going to have put one of the best crews on that game because everyone was watching. They'll bury the bad ones on games between bad teams that most people aren't going to watch. Unfortunately, Vikes-Jags probably qualifies for that

So overall, it seems like the replacements are not doing too bad. There have been some calls but that happens with the real ones.

Do you think the real refs are going to lose their jobs if they don't agree soon?

I'm not watching the Den/Atl game but he tweeted this during the game. Must be pretty bad.

The Broncos have gotten some bad calls, lucky that a play was reviewed only because the Bronc TD occurred in last 2 minutes of the first half, Broncos already used all of their challenges. Still, this game could have the makings of a Manning comeback....and Atlanta deserve to be up 20-7 early in the 3rd.

Well now I'm reading some articles and maybe they aren't doing such a good job. then again, there are articles about the real officials many times too. Idk.

It isn't that they blow calls that pisses me off, but that they have zero confidence and the games are taking forever. As bad as the regular officials were at times, at least they made the call and moved on, not take 10 minutes every time they throw a flag or determine a turnover.

Is anyone else annoyed by how bad the spots of balls have been?

I expect missed calls and it's always a judgement when to call things like PI or personal fouls. But just marking the ball down in the right spot is stuff that you should get right in Pop Warner. It's become commonplace to see the ball marked 1, 1 1/2, 2 yards from the correct spot. Over the course of a game, that can have a huge impact.

Let's just say that if I posted what I really thought of the replacement refs, and it showed up through the filters, I would be banned.

Most of you probably already caught wind of this but for those who haven't:

Report: League, officials met most of day, but substantial differences remain
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... es-remain/

Can the players 'walk out"? Darius Heyward-Bey took a vicious hit that went unpenalized, so now they truly can play the "player safety" card. What is happening in the league right now is scary now.

Well, it happened. The replacement officials botched their jobs so badly that they cost a team a game. Fortunately for the Vikes, Bears and Lions, that team was Green Bay.

Goodell needs to put an end to this fiasco.

Immediately if not sooner. But I have no faith he will do so.

He would rather fine the players and coaches for getting mad at the refs. Goodell is rapidly losing control of the league.

I ask again, can the players "walk out" until something is fixed?

They could but I doubt they would.

Why do you say that, out of curiosity?

This is what Chris Kluwe, the Official Sports ManCrush of Hunter Morrow, said about the refs in the preseason.

An NFL Player’s View Of The Replacement Refs: They’re As Bad As You Think

Brilliant!!! I love Kluwe!!

I think they have too much to lose.

You think so? I'm not so sure anymore..

Well, ask me again in a few weeks and I might have changed my tune! They must be feeling very aggravated...