nfl
Players, coaches show frustration over refs
- Article by: NEWS SERVICES
- Updated: September 19, 2012 - 10:54 PM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano speaks with a referee during an NFL game against the New York Giants.
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The numbers say there isn't much difference in the NFL with replacement officials. Comments from players and coaches say otherwise.
As fan outrage grows over calls and non-calls, delays in doling out penalties and indecision by the replacements, statistics show strong similarities between the number of flags thrown this year by the temporary crews and last year by the guys who are locked out.
The NFL knows things are far from perfect -- something that could have been predicted with officials whose recent experience typically was not even at the highest college levels. But things never are perfect with the regulars, either, and the league shows no sign of being forced back to the negotiating table.
"We are going to continue to do everything possible to raise the level of performance of the current officials" through training tapes, conference calls and meetings, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday.
The league does that with the regular officials, too.
One point of emphasis this week will be game control and making sure players are penalized for unnecessary actions ranging from roughness to unsportsmanlike conduct.
The average number of penalties is down from 15.2 to 14.7.
But game control and simple professionalism by the officials have become key issues this week after complaints from a number of players.
"There's no doubt the integrity of the game has been compromised not having the regular officials out there," Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said. "We've got to get that taken care of."
Added Rams coach Jeff Fisher: "We just all hope, and I'm speaking on behalf of all 31 other head coaches, we hope they get something done. We're trusting that they will."
The Eagles' LeSean McCoy was stunned when one of the replacements told him he was on the official's fantasy football team. The league prohibits its game officials from playing fantasy football.
"I'll be honest," McCoy said, "they are like fans."
Etc.• Redskins receiver Joshua Morgan felt the full downside of the social media age this week, receiving death threats and other venomous message on Twitter because of his fourth-quarter blunder in the loss to the Rams.
"I heard everything, especially when they get you on Twitter and are sending you death threats and wishing you bad things and your firstborn," Morgan said.
• The Patriots signed tight end Kellen Winslow and re-signed wide receiver Deion Branch to add depth to a pass-catching group that lost Aaron Hernandez to a right ankle injury.
• The injury depleted Lions claimed cornerback Jerome Murphy off waivers from the Saints. Detroit lost cornerback Drayton Florence for at least eight weeks because of a broken arm suffered Sunday.
• Browns linebacker Scott Fujita said he plans to reschedule his postponed meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the Saints bounty scandal.
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| Seattle - LP: F. Hernandez | 0 | FINAL |
| Cleveland - WP: J. Masterson | 6 |
| Toronto | 0 | Postponed |
| NY Yankees | 0 |
| Arizona - LP: W. Miley | 1 | FINAL |
| Miami - WP: R. Nolasco | 2 |
| Cincinnati - LP: A. Chapman | 2 | FINAL |
| Philadelphia - WP: A. Bastardo | 3 |
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| Los Angeles - LP: K. Jansen | 2 | FINAL |
| Atlanta - WP: L. Avilan | 5 |
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| St. Louis - WP: J. Gast | 4 |
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| Detroit - LP: J. Ortega | 8 | FINAL |
| Texas - WP: R. Ross | 11 |
| Memphis | 83 | FINAL |
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| Red Bull New York | 1 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 1 | FINAL |
| D.C. | 1 |
| Real Salt Lake | 4 | FINAL |
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| Date/Opponent | Time | W | L | Score |
| 2013 preseason | ||||
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