What is our responsibility in "protecting" players?

[cincybearcat]

This is not a conversation about the replacement refs specifically...but just something that has gotten a lot of media attention because of it.  Anytime you hear one of the "talking heads" on TV or Sports radio talking about the replacement refs...some point in the conversation it seems to get on the topic of "well wait until a star player gets injured...then the NFL owners/coaches will want to incumbant refs back on the field".  This just doesn't compute with me.  Now obviously anybody on this board understands the importance of preventive officiating...not only when it comes to preventing ticky-tack fouls like LOS stuff...but also perhaps personal fouls, i.e. letting players know when the play is done...that you're in the area, etc.  And granted, if any of us where working a higher level of ball than we were used to, where the speed of the game is significantly higher than we are used to...there will be a possibility of ANY missed call...including say a high hit on defenseless player, which seems to be the type of fould that is getting talked about.  And it sure would stink if a player got hurt on a play in which a foul SHOULD have been called...and the player is laying on the ground without a flag down next to him.  BUT how does that then put the responsibility of the injury on the official?  That seems to be what everyone is insinuating?  I guess I've just never stepped onto a field thinking my job is to prevent injuries.  That is the rules-makers jobs to create rules to prevent injuries...it is the coaches jobs to teach techniques that abide by those rules to prevent injuries.  It is my job to manage the game and enforce those rules fairly...and penalize when they are not followed...but that does not prevent injury?  Am I loosing my mind?

[bama_stripes]

Our penalizing a player for a foul doesn't make his victim any less injured.  The failure to penalize a player for a foul which results in an injury may reflect poorly on our ability or judgment, but it didn't cause the injury.

"Common-taters" need to stick to what they know.

[JasonTX]

You guys have obviously not learned that the yellow flag is a miracle, cure all injury device.  When you throw it, the player will miraculously get up and walk away from any type of injury. 

[bossman72]

An older official in my association said this and it's stuck with me:

"We are at the game for 3 reasons:
1) The safety of the players
2) Maintain the integrity of the game of football
3) Ensure one team does not gain an unfair advantage over another team"

Truer words have not been spoken

[bossman72]

You guys have obviously not learned that the yellow flag is a miracle, cure all injury device.  When you throw it, the player will miraculously get up and walk away from any type of injury. 

True, while it won't heal the first injury, it's a deterrent and prevention for the second, third, fourth injuries that would have occurred had we not put our marker down and said "this act will not be tolerated."

[HLinNC]

The NFL position is overblown and a negotiating ploy IMO.

How many of those NFL hits a couple of years ago that caused Goodell to act actually drew flags?

Our role is to call all safety related fouls in order to prevent the inevitable brawl that would erupt if we didn't.  If we magically prevented injuries, coaches would have us at practice everyday too.

[DallasLJ]

True, while it won't heal the first injury, it's a deterrent and prevention for the second, third, fourth injuries that would have occurred had we not put our marker down and said "this act will not be tolerated."

  I agree that this idea that the the risk of injury is higher is greater because of the use of replacement refs is ridiculous.  What everyone seems to forget about the 1st, 2nd or 3rd bad hit is that the NFL will fine for those hits regardless of whether a foul is called.  Replacement officials may miss calls (holds, DPI, OPI, BIB) because of the speed of the game, or miss an enforcement because these are new rules for them, but to say they will be the reason for increased injuries is just flat wrong.

  Just my humble opinion.

[ECILLJ]

  I agree that this idea that the the risk of injury is higher is greater because of the use of replacement refs is ridiculous.  What everyone seems to forget about the 1st, 2nd or 3rd bad hit is that the NFL will fine for those hits regardless of whether a foul is called.  Replacement officials may miss calls (holds, DPI, OPI, BIB) because of the speed of the game, or miss an enforcement because these are new rules for them, but to say they will be the reason for increased injuries is just flat wrong.

  Just my humble opinion.

The Commissioners office fines players for committing dangerous acts, regardless if it is called by a regular referee or a replacement referee. This is not a new policy. I agree with those whom believe our flags do not increase or decrease injury. The player himself is the most responsible followed by his coach.

[Rulesman]

"Common-taters" need to stick to what they know.

...which, in many cases, ain't much!