How will the real NFL referees perform during their first week?

The real/legitimate/official/trustworthy/do-gooder NFL referees are back. As the world breathes in a sigh of relief so does Players View.

But to be honest,  around here there is a ongoing debate as to how well the real referees will perform during their first week back on the job.

They have stated that they have spent a great deal of time watching the film of the first three weeks of NFL games so that they can keep up with the current environment.

That more or less translates into they have gotten together with a tray full of greasy snacks and a few brews to sit back and make fun of their replacements.

If they are like most adult men that watch sports, the real refs most likely made a drinking game out of it.

The rules were simple. One shot for every bad pass interference call.  It’s doubtful they made it through the first half of the first game.

Fitness buff Ed Hochuli probably exchanged sit-ups for shots. Who needs P 90 X now?

Seriously, the climate is so hot right now on this issue that as they take the field Thursday to maintain order during a nationally televised game, can you imagine the pressure that they are under?

Their return guarantees that the NFL Network will draw record numbers for a Thursday night game.

Time Warner added them to their program listings just in time.

The world will be watching because by and large folks want to see perfection at work.

They will receive a standing ovation akin to anything that you have ever seen.

The story has built up to this point and to their credit the powers-that-be got them back on the field at just the right time.

Hardcore fans understand that these guys will make mistakes. The hardcore fans just want justice to be served during the replay process.  That’s what it is there for.

The true perversion of the game took place when upon replay bad calls were upheld.

The hardcore fans understand that there will be errors. But they can count on the real referees not to throw a yellow flag for a phantom pass interference penalty just because somebody thinks they saw something fishy going on.

Not to disrespect the casual fan but it’s been my experience with talking with plenty of them this week that there is an air of an impossible end result at work with them.

There is a feeling in that group that suggests that barring a few errors once or twice a year, that the real referees will bring perfection via officiating to the sport.

That is not now or ever going to happen.

The refs are no different than the athletes. They need a season of adjustment to get used to being back on the field to get cranked up.

Calling pre-season games is as much of a trial run for them as it is the teams on the field.

Tonight and through this weekend, I’m ready for the mistakes especially as it pertains to the new rules.

I’m ready for drags on the timeline as they get together to sort a few things out.

The Colts and the Steelers are happy to take the early bye week this year because things should on-and-popping by next week.

Things will be a little off to get started but a guy like Mike Carey will get in the zone and fast.  Matter of fact, he’ll start ejecting players if they bring the MMA-style atmosphere that they have been getting away with thus far to his game. He does hold the record for doing that sort of thing.

That’s the value of the real referees. We know them and what to expect from them.  Whether we realized it or not, they were a huge part of our experience as observers.

Now that they are back, be prepared to cut them some slack for a couple of days. They will need it.

Check out Mike Carey sorting out a skirmish in a way the replacement referees never would have below.