NFL to Hire Scabs Referees as Mediation Ends
The National Football League (NFL) and the union for the league's officials mediated their labor dispute in Washington, D.C. The hope is that a new deal can be worked out for the 2012 season and the future. The two sides mediated Sunday with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
However, the mediation is over, the old contract is expired and ESPN reports that the negotiations are over. The result is that the NFL has reportedly advised all 32 teams that they will now hire scabs – replacement officials.
The National Football League will be seeking referees everywhere, but the Bowl Coalition Series (BCS) conferences for these replacement officials. Retired college officials and officials from smaller conferences and arena football officials are being considered for the replacement jobs.
Eleven years ago in 2001, there was a need for replacement officials, but the role of referees on the field are much different today than years past. The NFL used replacement officials for one preseason game and the first weekend of the regular season.
Back then, the officials did not have to concern themselves as much with protecting the players safety on the field. With that concern elevated in the minds of the players, no one really knows the full effect of replacement officials this year.
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