NFL officials fired

[oldtimerref]

Just got an unconfirmed message that several NFL officials were fired in a bribery investigation. According to this message one of the officials worked the Super Bowl.  Has anyone else heard anything about this or is this just a terrible rumor.

[Etref]

So far fact check says untrue

[oldtimerref]

YOU ARE PROBABLY CORRECT SINCE NOTHING HAS COME OUT FROM ANY NEWS OUTLET. RUMORS ARE AWFUL SORRY THAT I EVEN RAISED THIS QUESTION.

[ElvisLives]

A small number of ‘non-tenured’ (my term) staff may be released, but it only has to do with performance, and absolutely no other reason. Now, are they really sub-par? That’s very subjective, and, perhaps, political. But in no way due to any outside influence on their on-field performances.
I know the original post was an ‘inquiry,’ and not a direct accusation. But, personally, I would never post any unsubstantiated information that even suggests such impropriety by any official(s) at any level.

[Grant - AR]

I've been forwarded several (and I've seen a few) of these types of stories.  I'm sure the original post was a similar situation.  Most of them seem to be floating around on Facebook.  Unfortunately, I've seen a former official friend share a couple of these without trying to verify them first.  I think most of them are started by fans trying to fuel conspiracy theories...probably because their team didn't win and they thought the officials missed a bunch of calls in the other team's favor. 

A good friend who's been retired for a few years told me, during the season, he saw almost one fake story per week about officials from the NFL, SEC, BigTen, etc. who were "fired" for gambling, conspiracy to help one team, etc.  Some people are convinced that officials at the highest levels are compromised and there's no way to convince them differently.  Personally, I think there are a lot of fans out there who hope this is the case because it will confirm their suspicions. 

[Kalle]

Considering how rare bribery cases are in (top level) sports officiating are (I know of only two, one in NBA and another in UEFA) any credible accusation would instantly make huge headlines in all medias. So, a single social media post is very likely a hoax.

[dammitbobby]

I've been forwarded several (and I've seen a few) of these types of stories.  I'm sure the original post was a similar situation.  Most of them seem to be floating around on Facebook.  Unfortunately, I've seen a former official friend share a couple of these without trying to verify them first.  I think most of them are started by fans trying to fuel conspiracy theories...probably because their team didn't win and they thought the officials missed a bunch of calls in the other team's favor. 

A good friend who's been retired for a few years told me, during the season, he saw almost one fake story per week about officials from the NFL, SEC, BigTen, etc. who were "fired" for gambling, conspiracy to help one team, etc.  Some people are convinced that officials at the highest levels are compromised and there's no way to convince them differently.  Personally, I think there are a lot of fans out there who hope this is the case because it will confirm their suspicions.

This is 100% true - but at the same, time, the officiating offices at the highest levels aren't doing themselves, their officials, or anyone downstream any favors by refusing to address things that optically give that impression. I completely get it - officials should never be the story, the thin black and white line is just as, if not stronger than its blue counterpart - but silence instead of affirming or admitting mistakes is only getting more and more damaging. Social media, cell phones, and slo mo televised instant replay have completely changed how fans consume the game, and officiating is not keeping up. As the proverbial saying goes, fecal matter rolls downhill, and it affects all of us at lower levels.

We're starting to see changes though, such as Goodell and others making public statements refuting the claims that games are fixed, or that officials favor one team or player. We need to see that at more levels, IMO.

 

[oldtimerref]

I brought this up only to ask a question but I have been retired so long that social media was never an issue or a problem. I have never heard of any questions related to NCAA or NFL officials period.