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NFL selling its integrity to scab officials
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August 31, 2001
CINCINNATI -- This is why we're here: not to watch the epic struggle between Dominic Rhodes and Brett Millican for the right to carry Edgerrin James' Gatorade, but to watch a bunch of morally bankrupt opportunists cross the officials' invisible picket line as -- excuse me while I gag -- replacement referees.
Now, let the record show, the scab refs were not terrible -- not as terrible as, say, the Colts' replacement defense in the first quarter. (Those were replacements, right? Please tell me they were replacements.)
The pseudo-zebras were told not to call anything Thursday night unless it involved a severed limb, and there was very little in the way of carnage to be found on the field.
Sure, there were some hiccups, the most notable coming when referee Aster Sizemore mistakenly ruled an illegal participation penalty as a 15-yard mark off -- it's 5 yards, since you asked -- but, hey, after the Phil Luckett follies, these guys did a creditable job.
The problem is, this now gives the NFL leverage and the exceedingly stupid idea it can go into the regular season with these clowns. The league could look at this game, and five others Thursday night, and make the case the games were played without incident.
But there's something more important than money and what the refs view as a lack of respect.
It's the integrity of the game.
And that, as the ad goes, is priceless.
Consider this: Whether the league likes it or not, gambling, legal and illegal, is a huge part of the NFL's allure. And the argument can be made that no official can have more of an impact on the outcome of a sporting event than a pro football official.
With the locked-out referees, you're talking about men who have passed FBI security checks and, for the most part, come into the league with more than 10 years of experience. They are not all above reproach, and some of them are downright lousy at their jobs. (I'm not saying they're old, but CBS is the station of choice for most NFL referees.) For the most part, though, we know they are men of integrity.
And the scabs? We already know these guys are willing to sell their souls and their comrades down the river for a stinking $2,000 a game. What makes anybody think they'll stop there? What happens when Johnny Knuckles stops by and suggests there's money to be made in helping the Rams beat the spread?
Maybe that seems like a stretch. But given all the money that is wagered, and all attendant scrutiny, the NFL must remain above reproach.
Is it really worth it to the league to play hardball when a gambling scandal could bring the operation to its knees?
The referees may be talking about sizable raises, but let's be honest: They're making sports reporters' money here. In a league that generates billions, the money involved in this tiff is chump change. At least there should be middle ground.
For now, there's nothing except saber rattling. The NFL has increased its guarantee to scabs from two games to four. The league hopes the zebras will see they're replaceable and recall the way the baseball umpires spontaneously combusted.
The locked-out referees are hoping the league will value their contributions and come to its senses.
This may seem like a small matter now. But it has a chance to blow up into something far more destructive.
MORE
Ask the Experts
Have a question or comment for Bob Kravitz? Submit it using this form.
Bob will respond to selected submissions each week on IndyStar.com. Click here to read his most recent answers.
August 31, 2001
CINCINNATI -- This is why we're here: not to watch the epic struggle between Dominic Rhodes and Brett Millican for the right to carry Edgerrin James' Gatorade, but to watch a bunch of morally bankrupt opportunists cross the officials' invisible picket line as -- excuse me while I gag -- replacement referees.
Now, let the record show, the scab refs were not terrible -- not as terrible as, say, the Colts' replacement defense in the first quarter. (Those were replacements, right? Please tell me they were replacements.)
The pseudo-zebras were told not to call anything Thursday night unless it involved a severed limb, and there was very little in the way of carnage to be found on the field.
Sure, there were some hiccups, the most notable coming when referee Aster Sizemore mistakenly ruled an illegal participation penalty as a 15-yard mark off -- it's 5 yards, since you asked -- but, hey, after the Phil Luckett follies, these guys did a creditable job.
The problem is, this now gives the NFL leverage and the exceedingly stupid idea it can go into the regular season with these clowns. The league could look at this game, and five others Thursday night, and make the case the games were played without incident.
But there's something more important than money and what the refs view as a lack of respect.
It's the integrity of the game.
And that, as the ad goes, is priceless.
Consider this: Whether the league likes it or not, gambling, legal and illegal, is a huge part of the NFL's allure. And the argument can be made that no official can have more of an impact on the outcome of a sporting event than a pro football official.
With the locked-out referees, you're talking about men who have passed FBI security checks and, for the most part, come into the league with more than 10 years of experience. They are not all above reproach, and some of them are downright lousy at their jobs. (I'm not saying they're old, but CBS is the station of choice for most NFL referees.) For the most part, though, we know they are men of integrity.
And the scabs? We already know these guys are willing to sell their souls and their comrades down the river for a stinking $2,000 a game. What makes anybody think they'll stop there? What happens when Johnny Knuckles stops by and suggests there's money to be made in helping the Rams beat the spread?
Maybe that seems like a stretch. But given all the money that is wagered, and all attendant scrutiny, the NFL must remain above reproach.
Is it really worth it to the league to play hardball when a gambling scandal could bring the operation to its knees?
The referees may be talking about sizable raises, but let's be honest: They're making sports reporters' money here. In a league that generates billions, the money involved in this tiff is chump change. At least there should be middle ground.
For now, there's nothing except saber rattling. The NFL has increased its guarantee to scabs from two games to four. The league hopes the zebras will see they're replaceable and recall the way the baseball umpires spontaneously combusted.
The locked-out referees are hoping the league will value their contributions and come to its senses.
This may seem like a small matter now. But it has a chance to blow up into something far more destructive.
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