The problem with this is that it's very difficult to guarantee the videos are perfectly in sync in a short time frame.

As for the calls yesterday, both of the marginal calls were correct imo (Evans and Bradshaw).

In the case of the Evans non-catch it was 100% correct and not any sort of judgement call. You have to maintain possession through the complete process of the catch and the process isn't over until you make a football move. In the same way that wouldn't have been ruled a fumble if it had happened in the open field.

The Bradshaw call was more of a judgement call but it was a completely reasonable one. His forward progress had clearly been stopped and although the whistle may have come a fraction of a second after the ball started to come out the decision would still have been made before the ball came out.

The syncing wouldn't be based on pressing play when the ball is snapped or something. I would think it should be very easy "with today's modern technique" to sync all the cameras to an external clock and have them 100% synced.

The bean bag was to mark where the forward progress was stopped. He immediately signaled the play dead.

Live, they clearly blew the whistle before the fumble. In the replay, the whistle was clearly after the fumble. All that proves is that the sound isn't properly syncd to the cameras.

your "r" key appears to be malfunctioning

LOL, phone posting.

...might actually get worse! Talks have broken down between the NFL and the refs, and "The NFL's search would ... target retired college officials"! Schefter has said they may hire Arena League Officials. CAN'T WAIT

When I worked for the Arena League most of the refs were also college officials some for the Big East & Conference USA.

We all know this a BS bargaining strategy and that there is no way there are not true NFL officials on the field week 1.

If they hire B1G officials there may be riots after about 1.5 quarters.

NFL and NCAA refs and retired NFL and NCAA refs are for the most part one big fraternity. Even if they're in different unions or whatever you have to do pretty far down the chain to get a lot of guys who wouldn't be screwing over their friends by scabbing. I am sure the NFL does have a plan but I don't think they will be able to find teams with anywhere close to the accuracy of the current calls (however bad you guys think it may be)

Riverman isn't going to make it through the season if the real refs don't come back. The touchback is particularly amazing.

http://deadspin.com/5933558/how-bad-...mment=51744732

In the Baltimore-Atlanta game, "first down Arizona"

that touchback is incredible. the one guy was standing right there, how could someone overrule him? The hierarchy of officials has always been a problem, seems like triply so when you're talking about inexperienced crews.

The touchback is unreal.

I assume the NFL plan is to fine coaches and players for complaining about the replacement refs until they generate enough money to pay the real refs what they are asking for. It shouldn't take long.

I will be legitimately concerned for the safety of these replacement refs if they work regular season games. Crazy fans are out there, and it is scary enough for the good refs. These guys are going to go through hell if they blow calls this badly in meaningful games.

I'm gonna miss Ed Hoculi's long explanations and big muscles.

The Cardinals are so good, they get first downs in games they aren't playing.

could you imagine if 1 of these officials makes an egregious call against the eagles at home. They have already assaulted santa clause in the past

There are going to be some amazing gambling beats if these slappies ref real games

watching bengals jets so far excellent officiated game

OK can someone explain what the **** is going on?

The refs can't make that much. They aren't even full time. Just ****ing pay them.

Replacement refs would be a complete disaster. Aside from their general incompetence, they are way more likely to fix games knowing they are eventually getting fired. Surely the NFL is smart enough to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

I thought you hated all the refs

The owners ****ed the players so thoroughly that they think they'll prevail over the refs too.

I like this quote from the PFT article about Belichick quoted in the Deadspin article:

"It remains to be seen whether other coaches will muster the nerve to agree with Belichick.

Strategically, they’d be wise to do so. Eventually, the locked-out officials will be back, and it will be impossible for them to complete ignore who had their backs — and who didn’t — when making close calls in real time."

we're as likely to adjust to the speed of the game as D-2 and D-3 refs are. hell, noodle's a cameraman, I bet he'd do better. lol at 10 yard defensive holding.

Yeah, but these ones are even worse since no good ref wants to be a scab

I don't know what fair pay for an NFL ref is. I remember not long ago they were asking for NBA/NHA/MLB officials money, which seemed fair until I remembered that those leagues play 5-10 times as many games (don't know how many of those a given official works).

It seems kind of old-school to have part-time refs in something as organized as the NFL. If I were an NFL owner I might okay a pay raise, but if I'm going to shell out $250k per ref then it needs to be a true year-round job with (full-time) training in the offseason. And very competitive. If you just want to just attend some training and review meetings, ref 18 games or so, and go back to you law firm, hey.