Face of the NFL Changing

Breaking news from SportsBozos!

-by John Busacca

The NFL today has announced that they will begin promoting their referees and make them the new face of the shield. Due to increasing demand from rabid fans, Referees will be promoted on all networks so the real star of the show can be on full display. During pre game, we will be able to see full pictures of all refs and find out what school they went to. In addition, during the half time shows on fox, the analysts will break down the on field performance of each referee squad across the country. Instead of seeing 1^st half highlights of Kirk Cousins tearing up the Jets, we can have Terry Bradshaw pull out a teleprompter and tell fans “ Look right here folks, referee Mike Cary from the University of Wisconsin was all over this pass interference call, and look at him huddle with Ed ‘The Biceps’ Hoculi before announcing the penalty..boy these guys are calling a great game Jimmy’!!

The NFL has also announced they will include their refs in ‘Fantasy Football’ and fans across the country can choose which ref will call the most penalties. You will receive corresponding points based on the yardage lost.   According to Commissioner Roger Goodell “This is a turning point in our league and will enhance the fan experience. You may only receive 14 fantasy points from your starting QB but a referee may be able to earn you 40 points or more”! The commissioner went on to say the NFL is in negotiations with Madden 2019 to have a referee be on the cover due to overwhelming fan demand to focus on the referees. All tongue and cheek kidding aside, the NFL has a BIG problem that is not being addressed and is impacting not only games, but careers.

 

Each and every week calls are being made that directly affect the outcomes of games. Contrary to popular opinion, these calls have significant impact. Clay Matthews roughing the passer calls basically kept alive a game winning drive for his opponent. Instead of being 5-1 and in the driver’s seat for home field advantage, the Pack is playing from behind. How many teams (like the Saints) want to play a late January game outside in Green Bay? Now they may not have to because of the referees. Yesterdays end to the Dallas vs. Redskins game was another devastating bad call that could affect not only who is in or out of the playoffs, but whether Dak Prescott gets the big contract in the off season or Coach Jason Garret retains his job. EVERY center in the NFL grabs the ball in a certain way and always adjusts it as the Cowboys long snapper did. More importantly, would there have been screams from the opposing fans for not calling that penalty and taking the game winning kick off the board?  The referees right now are so colossally bad that the NFL needs to do something now in order to avoid further meltdowns.   The refs right now look like they create new and creative ways to interject themselves into the field of play instead of making sure it’s a fair field of play.   The simplest of penalty calls for false start or encroachment turns into a meeting of 5 zebras who huddle together like old men outside on a city street checking out young Senoritas! At some point the NFL has to step in and tell them that fans do not want to see you involved in every single play. It has almost become like a referee rock show and I am seeing them more on the screen than Cam Newton or Tom Brady!   This insanity has to end and when in doubt, swallow the whistle and hold your flag. Fans can take a game that is not called closely and players can adjust much better to fewer penalties.

I knew several referees in football and basketball growing up and almost to a man they all said their job was to not be involved in the game, call the obvious and let players play. Right now, NFL referees are the face of the league.

-BSB