Loading ...Preseason football is almost a month behind us and practice is reserved for days leading up to game day, right? This doesn’t ring true for all on the field, apparently. Additional sources are coming out, pouring in, and voicing their opinions on the current replacements refereeing/ lockout situation.
New York Giants LB/DE Mathias Kiwanuka was the most vocal blue player this week.
“There’s no doubt the integrity of the game has been compromised not having the regular officials out there. All I know is that we would all benefit from having the regular refs out there. That’s not to take a shot at the guys who are out there,” said Kiwanuka. “They’re doing as good a job as they can, because it takes years to perfect the skill of being an NFL ref. When you look around at some of the calls being missed, player safety is the big issue.”
DE Justin Tuck is another that will always speak his emotional mind, but seemed to play both sides upon doing so.
“I am not necessarily mad at the replacement officials. I am more upset with the NFL for not handling this and taking care of this in due time I guess. I think the replacement officials are doing their best in a very sticky situation for them and you got to go out and play the game. The regular guys, when they get back, they are going to miss some calls too. They didn’t ask to be thrown into that predicament,” Tuck said. “It is a tough job. Even the regular guys miss calls."
Antrel Rolle spoke in the same sentiment as Tuck’s latter comments about overcoming whatever is in their way since there is nothing that they, as players, can do about it. He’s right, but that doesn’t necessarily mean remaining quiet about the continuing standoff between the NFL and the NFLRA.
This past week, during Monday Night Football, there were many times that there was a lax in actual football snaps/play and an increase in nonsensical football banter – until announcer Mike Tirico made sense (yes, dazzling sense).
“It’s been said a lot these guys are doing the best they can. Remember they’re all rookies when it comes to the NFL—and they’re not the best rookies available because those are the guys who work in the SEC or the Big 10 or the Big 12. It’s like taking a 6th round group of draft picks, making them a team and saying ‘go play against the best in the NFL who have been out there along time.’ And what players have been doing after week one, they’ve figured out what the parameters are with the substitute teachers and now they’re taking advantage of them wherever they can.”
A surprising bash came from a former NFL official this past week. Previous referee Jerry Markbreit (retired ’93) condemned the league during an appearance on ESPN's "The Mike Lupica Show." In it, he basically slammed NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell.
"It's obvious to me that (Goodell) just doesn't even care," said Markbreit, who refereed for 23 NFL seasons. "Otherwise, how could they replace professionalism with unprofessionalism in a game that's so tough to work, even for the best officials in the land? The management of the games gets tougher (in the coming weeks)…These guys have relied on competent, top-notch, terrific officials all these years. And now they have a bunch of amateurs out there and it's going to fall apart. It's not going to get better, as the commissioner said… It's going to get worse…it's absolutely true…They just don't care about the inadequacy and unprofessionalism of these scab referees who are trying to do something that they don't have the ability to do … It just makes me sick to my stomach."
Well now, add this to the facts that one official was already removed for pretty much being a bragging New Orleans Saints fan and another recently passed comments (mid-game) to Philadelphia Eagles RB LeSean McCoy “that he needed him for his fantasy football team.”
We haven’t even pulled any documented facts/footage from the arsenal, but agree on the unprofessional and amateurish part. Enough is enough—it’s like having bandwagon and fantasy fans (that lack consistency and can easily be coerced) officiate out there. Flag, please.
photo credit: Ed Yourdon via photo pin cc
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I was raised to hate Jerry Markbreit and anything he says, so I’m not going to change now. For real though, I recall from my childhood that he disliked the Giants and made calls accordingly.
Him and Ron Winters, eff ‘em.
+1000
Those two made so many bad calls against us that it was very hard to believe they had something against the Giants.
Real breaking news right here…
It’s not about money.
If I’m the NFL … owners and management … then the last thing I want is another group with the power to shut the game down. They already have to deal with players, their union, agents of every stripe and character, politicians, television networks, sponsors … you name it.
The refs are making a play for power. They’re flexing their muscles … showing the NFL who’s boss. And I can tell you this from my own experience as I suspect most mangers can … that once someone tries to leverage you if they get away with then they’ll do it again … and again … and again.
Employees can negotiate for raises … for benefits … for perks. Fair game. But when they want to show you who’s boss then you have no choice but to get rid of them.
It’s not about money … it’s about control.
I agree but I heard something interesting. If what I heard was accurate, the entire impasse came down to pensions. The NFL defines the referees as part-time employees and does not want to pay them a pension because nobody pays pensions to part time employees. It might not only be about control, but also about precedence. I don’t know. But I think you’re right. For the first time since I’ve been following the NFL, this is not about just the money.
LOL at Gabbart.. and I though only Kujo and Krow suffered from this injury… From PFT”Gabbert good to go, despite banged up “butt muscle””
I’m a huge Goodell fan and support nearly all he’s done since taking over, but this ref crap needs to be fixed ASAP. They are an embarrassment and black eye to the NFL
Oh! YOU’RE the Goodell fan! Nice to meet you! When you see Roger, could you do me a favor and tell him:
1. GMs and teams should not be fined if they don’t interview a head coaching candidate based upon his skin color, like the way you fined the Lions and Matt Millen for hiring a white coach without interviewing a black candidate first. It totally pisses me off that you put me in a position to have to defend Matt Millen.
2. Certain cornerbacks with “reputations” should not be allowed to grab and hold and make contact beyond 5 yards when nobody else is allowed to–especially when they play for the Jets;
3. The regular referees suck almost as bad as the replacements and you’re kidding yourself if you believe all the media hype about how bad the replacements have been–they’ve been only slightly worse than the real ones, who are too fat, too old, too over-officious, and don’t seem to understand the game at all;
4. The number of late night games for the east coast fans are ruining the sport and killing off the next couple of generations of fans because they can’t stay up on a Sunday or Monday or Thursday night when their favorite team is playing because of school the next day;
5. NOBODY should EVER have to fly from the east coast to play a game a mile above sea level in Denver on Thanksgiving night;
6. The Jacksonville Jaguars suck as a team, suck as a franchise, suck as a city, and the fans don’t support the team, and nobody cares. Close them down. There are too many teams in Florida and they should go.
7. We DON’T WANT an 18 game schedule and it pisses me off that you’re still trying to think of a way to do this;
8. Please stop letting the people who sing our national anthem turn it into a pop-music song. It’s not. It’s a march. Demand that it be sung properly and respectfully and not like someone who’s trying to get Ceelo Green or Christina Aguilera to turn their chairs around.
9. PSLs are a freakin’ rip off. Under your stewardship, NFL franchises have become like Cosa Nostra demanding protection money. This is on you.
Well, that’s it for me. Anyone else have a request for Mr. Goodell?
With respect to #9, I love PSLs. Long time waitlist members/fans like myself, who had to wait decades to get the call because some guy’s great great grandfather had tickets at the Polo Grounds, who also just sold them because he could, were finally able to take advantage of a captialistic model and get in.
And when you throw in the fact that this is The House That Eli Manning Built, since it’s irresponsible for me to go to every game at this point in my life, I’ve done pretty well selling my tickets and paying my up front PSL cost off.
The sub ref’s suck dog balls. No freaking was was KP’s hit worth a fine.
In other news:
New York Giants running game was held back by DE/LB being able to come across the face of either Diehl or McKinze for a few years now. Also, Jacobs and sometimes Bradshaw did not hit the holes quickly enough. Add to that the systematic shutdown of O’Hara and Seibert. Along with bumafacation of Snee.
By far however, it was the tackle position that allowed the running game to be “pinched” from the outside in. If either tackle could have just gotten in the way things might have been better. Also, blocking from the TE position was less than stellar.
Things have changed to say the least. I continue to caution…Reese must draft a swing (OG/OT) player who can be up to speed quickly. Not only to insure the ball can be moved on the ground, but most importantly to insure that Eli is not seriously hurt.
Next, with the addition of Rivers, the middle and short zone coverage improved.
If Rivers stays or goes, Reese again must draft a high functioning linebacker able to run/cover and defend the run. Meaning a 3 down linebacker and nothing less than that.
Finally, (even though the pick will be first round) Reese has to find yet another DE who can keep teams from running, as well as apply pressure from the edge.
Tuck and Osi are not going to last forever. Hopefully Reese will not wait as long as he has in addressing the offensive line deterioation. If Osi leaves for money and Tuck opts to call it a career or not Kiwi does not flash to the QB like Osi or
Tuck (formey) could. I like Ojo and Marshall but a standout player is needed.
Those of you think that Kiwi will do, please remember that Kiwi is one twisted neck from possibly beig out of football.
Bradshaw will be on a mission when next we see him. He will not bow out with a wimper. The handwriting is on the wall however. But that kid has the heart of a lion. He will represent. As for Wilson, he can contribute returning kicks and punts in a big way. But this kid has pride. He is stung by his failure opening night. At some point THIS season, he is going to be a holy terror to NFL defenses at large. We’ve not yet sine the havoc that both Brown and Wilson can visit upon a defense when they get the ball underneath the vacant space created when Nicks and Cruz streach the defense. STANDBY folks.
I also see Randal developing into return threat and he might just push Hixson and Barden toward the end of the season.
One thing is for sure, Eli will find whoever is open to devestating effect. The Giants are equivelent to a Black Market Weapons dealer. There is no shortage of leathal attachments to be had.
I agree with all of this, but you’re dreaming if you think someone they draft will become a starter in 2013. You may not mean that but I think you implied it.
I suspect Ojomo is going to develop into a very good player.
The middle zone is still a vulnerability in the defense because Blackburn has hurt them there. Rivers hasn’t really had enough time to help turn that around much yet.
norm has noted that over the last few weeks the 2009 draft suddenly looks very good. I agree. But what I already know is the 2012 draft (plus the free agency signings, including Bennett, Rivers, Locklear and Hill) will be looked at later as an absolutely brilliant off-season for Jerry Reese & Company.
This isn’t going to be “fixed”. The league is going to break that union. The players and coaches had better get used to these guys because the regular officials won’t be back until they agree to come back after taking some token compromises from the owners that will be used as window-washing the fact that the zebras came back with their tails between their legs.
I hate this. But by the end of this season there will be a larger pool of officials with NFL experience and the league can then quite possible weed out the lousy guys among the regulars, of which there were plenty. No way the league settles without getting rid of the defined benefit pension (they’ll get a defined contribution plan instead) and the right to more easily dismiss officials.
In case any of you impacted haven’t found it yet, the NFL Network is live on Time Warner now. It’s channel 462 in the Hudson Valley.
You have to subscribe to “sportspass” for $6/mo to get Redzone.
Done it … f’k Time Warner … bast’ards. I dropped Showtime.
Is Redzone showing anything for you yet? I subscribed via the website, but it still says “call to subscribe” when I view it. I know it probably is blank when it’s not “live”, but just want to make sure my subscription is active before 1pm tomorrow.
It lights up at 1:00 PM Sundays…
For the record, the only butt injury I ever experienced was when Demo’s mother wanted to try those beads. I tried to stop her, but she’s as big and beefy as her spawn, and she got the best of me. Wonder if she got to Gabbert too?
GiantsWFAN ?@giantswfan
44 RT “@mixtapetully: @giantswfan who starts at RB next week?”
GiantsWFAN ?@giantswfan
10 a game? RT “@nick__i: @giantswfan how many touches does brown get when Bradshaw comes back?”