Don't Blame the Officials

On any given Sunday, Monday, Thursday, or sometimes Saturday in the NFL season the men affectionately known as "zebras" find themselves determining the outcome of NFL games.

Do you think these guys don the black and white uniforms and step out onto the field, whistles in hand with no idea of the rules of the game? No...it takes many, many years to make it to the NFL. Take a look at these guys next time you watch a game..you won't see anyone in their twenties, maybe not even their thirties...it takes a lot of officiating to get to the NFL. But that training and expertise still doesn't stop us from questioning the eye sight of these guys or whether they really know the NFL rules. I know I see a lot more rule breaking from my seat in the stadium or even from my living room couch.

There are seven guys on the field: the back judge, line judge, side judge, field judge, referee, umpire, and head linesman and they still have to go to the guy in the booth on occasion to make a decision. They sometimes huddle on the field for what seems like an eternity only to come up with some explanation of a flag that no one understands. I especially like it when they come out of the huddle and then decide there was no penality on the play. Why is it that the ref's have so much influence on the outcome of the game? I say it's about luck. Football is really a game of chance; luck if you will. Many games come down to a lucky play, lucky weather, or maybe even a lucky call; not neccessarily good coaching or player skill. If you needed a favorable flag to win a game you probably didn't deserve to win it anyway. If you loose a game on a bad call I say that's luck.... maybe bad luck, but get over it. Life isn't always fair. That's not to say I haven't nor will never complain about the refs. It's the nature of a good football fan to complain about the refs. But my rant today is still don't blame the officials. Consider them a part of the game. Play better and smarter and maybe keep your lucky rabbit foot in your pocket.

Your Mom