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Buffalo, NY (WBEN) One writer believes the NFL may be pressured into working out a deal with locked out referees. But only one group has that power.
"If the broadcast partners, who have a lot of money invested in the NFL, put a lot of pressure on the league to get something done, it would happen sooner rather than later," says John Wawrow of the Associated Press. Wawrow believes broadcasters are not the only ones unhappy about how things have gone. "Fans can't be happy over what they're seeing, and it hasn't been good TV watching, especially the Monday Night game that dragged on and on and on."
Wawrow partially faults the league for not preparing the referees for what they were about to experience. "They seem to be uncomfortable with the rules, perhaps. Many of them come from the lower college ranks. There also seem to be reports of an awe factor some of these officials are awed being on the same field with NFL players and coaches," adds Wawrow. He believes the games have been moving more slowly and with less cohesion.
Wawrow adds games have become more chippy. "Veteran players are trying to find how far they can go as far as using their hands, and maybe take an extra shot after the whistle. That's because they can take advantage about what the referees haven't been schooled about at the NFL level," says Wawrow.