Replacement Refs - The NFL Exposed

Does the NFL care about anything other than profitability? Their little experiment with the replacement refs shows that they do not. Fortunately, their experiment came to an end Wednesday as they reached an agreement with the professional refs. Still, going through the preseason and 3 regular season weeks with replacement referees shows that the NFL doesn’t care about anyone but its owners and they do not care because all the fans will continue to watch no matter what.

Integrity is firm adherence to a code of moral values. The NFL did not adhere to any moral values while allowing college D-3 and high school refs to officiate NFL regular season games for 3 weeks. Roger Goodell states “my most important responsibility is maintaining the integrity of professional football,” but it looks as if his most important responsibility maintaining the wealth of the owners. He does this with no regards to the players, coaches, officials, the fans or anyone else. This whole experience has led many to question whether the league is as moral as it says it is.

In the past few years the NFL has been preaching player safety. They have been doing everything from handing out huge fines to suspensions all for the health and safety of the players. They have been taking so many steps forward when it comes to player safety but with the ref lockout they took a huge step backwards. NFL players were in danger of serious injury. The NFL replacement refs did not have the experience to make the calls to prevent player injuries. They were not accustomed to the speed of the game so they could not make the crucial calls needed to protect the players. Now, it appears to some that the only reason the NFL was implementing player safety rules were to quiet the critics who said the sport was too gruesome and to attract more fans. Whether the NFL really cares about player safety is questionable.

Some would ask why wouldn’t the NFL care? The answer is simple, through player strikes and lockouts, through ref lockouts, through all the NFL has been through fans continue to watch. With such an inelastic demand, the NFL can do just about anything they want, including replace their officials with D-3 and high school refs. The NFL knows that they can make major changes to the game without changing the demand of the game. That is why they take unnecessary risks and make huge mistakes because it won’t hurt their profit. No matter what, people will buy jerseys, tickets, watch the games, and spend money on the NFL.

The NFL has been exposed for what it truly is: A “duly adjudicated illegal monopoly”, as declared by a jury in an antitrust lawsuit against them, who only care about their owners and their money. It’s much like the times of John Rockefeller and the monopoly he had on oil. He could raise prices as high as he wanted because his customers had no choice but to buy from him, there was little competition. If we had another choice, perhaps a different Football League to watch in America, we wouldn't put up with their nonsense. If you like the sport of professional American Football you have no choice but to be a prospect of the NFL and that is why they don’t care.

Punish Sandusky, Not Penn State

Penn State did not deserve the NCAA sanctions set against them. The penalties did not punish those who were at fault, it harms more than the athletics program, and it was unfair to those not involved. There was no reason to punish an entire school for what essentially 4 people did a decade ago.

Who was at fault for Sandusky's crimes? You can put the blame on 4 people: Sandusky, Paterno, and 2 others previously involved with the athletics program. These 4 individuals won't be punished as a result of the NCAA sanctions. Sandusky is no longer involved with the program in any way. Sandusky will be locked away for a long time, the sanctions will not affect him at all. Neither will the sanctions affect Paterno. He was let go first of all and sadly he has passed away. The other 2 individuals involved will be serving jail time leaving them unaffected by the penalties as well.

There was a 60 million dollar fine as a part of the NCAA sanctions against Penn State. Penn State is facing several lawsuits from Sandusky victims which may cost them hundreds of millions of dollars. The Big Ten Conference will donate Penn State's portion of conference bowl revenue for the next 4 years, projected at $13 million. The school looks to lose close to $15 million each year over the periods laid out by the Big Ten and NCAA. With the $60 million tacked on from the NCAA it could mean cutting scholarships for athletic and non-athletic students. It could also mean cutting professor salaries and things in other educational areas.

It is the Penn State students, fans, and players truly hurt by the NCAA sanctions. None of them had anything to do with what Sandusky did. Penn State will not be a major bowl contender for a long time to come and it is because of the penalties from the NCAA. That hurts no one but the fans, students, players, current coaches, etc. People who had nothing to do with Sandusky's crimes.

The Sandusky case was a criminal case and had nothing to do with football. This was only a reaction from the NCAA who felt like they had to do something and that something had to be big. The NCAA should have left Penn State alone and let the judicial system punish those who were involved.