It's finally arrived... the NFL season kicks off Wednesday night with Giants/Cowboys. No more sloppy exhibitions, no more full price admissions for phony games being officiated by refs who would have trouble convincing some cheesy midwest pro wrestling circuit they were on the level.

Wait a minute!

This can't be true.

Mr. Integrity, Roger Goodell, can't possibly be allowing the season to begin with officials who don't know or understand the rules in pro ball.

This is the guy who is so overly concerned about player safety and the game being about the fans, the guy who rammed an agreement down D. Smith's throat at the last second forcing the players into multiple concessions when the last collective bargaining agreement was reached.

This is the man who wakes up in the morning and thinks about suspending players and coaches who mess with the game's reputation, who has the ultimate consideration for the gobs of money coming in via corporate sponsors, who cares about players, fans, sponsors, coaches, their families, the troops in Afghanistan, Pop Warner and ice cream. It is not possible to display this level of caring and not notice the officiating in the preseason was so sub standard that no amount of money or considerations could have allowed this condition to persist into the regular season.

Don't these games count now, Roger?

It's not that people don't have issues with some of the horrible calls and non calls that are made by the guys we are accustomed to seeing out there. There is little love for the Zebras in any sport, and much video evidence of the number of calls that are blatantly missed, both subjective and objective.

But, what we saw in the preseason this year was a living testament to how important it would be to resolve whatever issues the league had with its regular officials because the scab refs used by the league were beyond a disgrace.
The players and coaches have vowed to live with it.

But, the guys who have helped build this league into the monster money maker that it is deserve better.

Yes, the bettors should at least be accorded the courtesy of a few modest considerations being given to the locked out officials, so there is, at least, a chance of avoiding some of the atrocities we saw during the league's annual fleecing of the public, the preseason.

This guys weren't just bad, they were flat out awful.

Grabbing officials from the lingerie football league hardly seems like an acceptable alternative to having experienced NFL refs working the games.

It doesn't matter how many times you may have cursed out the regular crews, you couldn't help but have new found respect for these people after watching the clown show that just took place.

The idea this horror movie is about to continue with games that matter is, flat out, unacceptable.

With all the controversies surrounding Goodell's reign over the world's biggest sporting endeavor, this one smacks of ineptitude.

It's hard to imagine there is not enough money in the league's coffers to accommodate whatever concessions the regular officials are seeking. What became apparent is that there is no great alternative. As bad as these guys may be, the replacements are so weak, they can't be allowed to work the regular season.

Drop to your knees, Goodell, and get this done before kickoff.

If your mission is to present the game at its highest level, you can't allow this farce to persist.

Refs and officials seem to have little leverage to bargain with in any sport.

But, this is the one time the officials clearly have won.

Bring them back now!

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