What the NFL could learn from the NBA
A few years ago, the NBA had a problem: its officials were on strike during the 2009-10 preseason. This meant people used to calling women’s or college basketball called games. These officials were used to a slower, less physical game where it’s easier to make snap judgments. These officials did not translate well to the NBA.
At the time, I paraphrased a Jimmy Breslin line: “Can’t anyone here call a game?” These replacement officials called fouls at ludicrous speed: several had more than 70 total fouls. Others had inexcusable slips of judgment. One let a player shoot a third free throw after play had resumed, another sent the wrong player to the line. It was an ugly scene.
In that strike, the two sides came to a deal before the season’s start, saving the NBA from having its regular season affected by those incompetent whistle-blowers. There’s a lesson there for pro leagues.
The NFL should heed the NBA’s lesson. It too is going through a referee strike during its preseason. But as the clock ticks down to a new NFL season, the two sides are still far apart. As per a report on Saturday night, talks have broken off and no new meetings are on the table.
Replacement officials will be calling the Wednesday night opener.
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These are officials with even less qualifications than the basketball replacements, with experience in leagues like the Lingerie Football League. They’ve pulled embarrassing gaffes, like when they called a touchback on a ball downed at the four-yard line. Their performance doesn’t inspire confidence.
And don’t forget the risks. If we’ve learned anything about football over the past couple seasons, it’s that concussions are far more dangerous than previously thought and the risk of playing football is higher than imagined. Normally, NFL officials are hard-pressed to keep things on an even keel: the game gets out of hand occasionally and there are injuries. That’s why part of an official’s job is to tell if a player suffered a concussion and make sure they get medical attention. Someone who was calling LFL games last year doesn’t have that kind of training. It’s a risky move for a league with a lot of concussion baggage.
But it’s also a move the NFL is willing to make. Their refusal to schedule more meetings and to use replacement officials is telling. As long as people are watching, they’ll keep playing games. It’s a page that’s long been in the NFL’s playbook.
Nearly 30 years ago, the NFL went through a players’ strike which started during the season. Rather than cancel games, the NFL went ahead with what it called “replacement players,” but in labor terms might be more accurately called “scabs.” These replacement players crossed picket lines to play, sometimes bringing players along with them, like Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau. (Those interested should turn to the Mike Lupica/William Goldman book “Wait Till Next Year” for more stories about the strike, it’s impact in locker rooms and how the public treated replacement players.)
In effect, the NFLPA was undermined by those actions. The players folded and fully returned to work after a short strike without the union’s demands being met, only to be told they were too late to play in Week 7 games! At the time, it was a major win for the league’s owners: Paul Zimmerman said they were crushed. But since then, the NFLPA has rebounded, getting free agency and salary hikes for players, plus a revamped pension plan for it’s retired players. But most of those wins came in the courtroom, not at a bargaining table. When left to it’s own devices, the NFL likes to play hardball.
Currently, there aren’t any more meetings planned between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association. The season is set to begin this Wednesday. No biggie, right? Haven’t most of the preseason games gone off more or less okay? And sure, the NBA got away with using replacements, right?
This is different: With just 16 games for each team, each game means that much more. With officials who can’t even spot a ball properly, there’s so much more that can go wrong. With the potential for serious injury, especially concussions, the risk is enormous to players. By putting the officials though the wringer and starting the season with replacements, the league is making its stance clear: no matter what happens on the field, as long as people watch, they’ll keep playing.
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