football this weekend

[edm]

Here is an interesting fact - Most players make over $ 70,000 per game in the NFL !

Highest-Paid NFL Referees – Average Salary of an NFL Referee

How Much Does an NFL Referee Make?
The average salary that an NFL referee earns per year nests between the sums of $25,000 and $70,000. This is not as much as the referees for others like the NHA and NBA make. The umpires in Major League Baseball make around $141,000 annually. The NBA referees make around $128,000 annually and the NHL officials earn around $139,000 annually. By looking at these sums, individuals will see that the NFL referees are at the bottom of the charts when it comes to the amount of money they earn. However, one has to consider the fact that an NFL referee works one game a week, while referees in the other sports work multiple games per week. The job of NFL referee required flexibility and go through training before match.
Salary Range for an NFL Referee

The NFL referees only work on Sundays. It is obviously mandatory that some of them work somewhere else on other days of the week. The salary range for an NFL referee will vary between $25,000 to $70,000. NFL referees also work as entrepreneurs, inventors, dentists and farmers.

Fun Fact: The first African-American NFL referee was Johnny Grier who made his regular season debut on Sept. 4, 1988.

[Denny]

The TV networks have brought up this subject many times and I say that this is definitely something that the NFL needs to address and change. My point is regarding the officials and the referees for each playoff game every season. Anyway, the officials for each of these playoff games "are All-Star officials and they are picked by the best official from their respective positions." For instance they have an umpire, back, side and field judges. During the regular season games, take for example Ed Hochuli who is an NFL official. He has a "regular season crew with him during the regular season!" However, during the playoffs it may be Hochuli only and the rest are all handpicked All Stars from each position only in the playoffs. That is where they need to make some changes as far as who is doing the officiating in the playoff games. The same people that work the regular season games, should also work during the playoffs as well. There should not be any "All Star crews working the playoff games!" Just my thoughts. Anyone else have a say?

[edm]

I would suggest that two items should change regarding NFL officials:
1. Officials should be able to use video re-plays at any time if a call is in question. The networks have many cameras - showing many angles -why not use them to help make the correct call on a play ? These games are way to important not to make the correct call.
2. NFL officials should be a 'full time job'. I may be wrong here but - I think these guys have other jobs during the week. Once again - these play-off games are way to important with a lot of money riding on every call.

I'd be interested to know what other folks think here. The NFL seems to be dragging there feet once again on making changes. They are behind the times on concussions, domestic problems and now officiating.

[Denny]

So, apparently they must have changed that rule to where it is not a penalty. Funny though as I watch NFL Film's Super Bowl videos every year at Super Bowl time. The point is one of the past games, it shows a penalty being called on a defensive player for exactly that which they even said on the video was "face guarding." I just don't see how they can at first call "PI and then end up reversing that call." Obviously as some suggested, there was a conspiracy or else the officials were paid off probably by Jerry Jones owner of the Cowboys. It's just a crying shame as Detroit probably would have went on and beat Dallas. However if that would have been the case, then they would have had to travel up to Seattle and I don't think they could have beaten the Seahawks especially in their home stadium where they seem to dominate. Just my thoughts.

[Nighthunter]

I seen on NFL sports that 'face guarding' is not a penalty in the NFL for the past 5 years. Did not know that!!

[mopar tim]

I can not even fathom what the ref's were thinking when they picked up that flag. I'm not ready to say the game was fixed but all of the sports sites I've been to question this call. I waited till today to post anything on this because I wanted to see what the football watching world would have to say about it. I am not happy about it but what can you do.

[Middle rouge]

Well Lion's fans - One can only wonder how much the officials were paid to pick up that flag ?

I'm not going to speculate on that. But what has me furious is the fact that Dez Bryant ran on to the field to Whine about the flag being thrown. He wasn't supposed to even be on the field at that time, and yet, he got away with unsportsmanlike conduct.

The video that TMZ released, however, is a whole other story. Can't wait to see what becomes of that.

And, if you didn't hear, the owner of the rams has announced he intends to build a stadium in LA. Speculation is either his team will move there for 2016, or he might lease the stadium to another team

[edm]

Well Lion's fans - One can only wonder how much the officials were paid to pick up that flag ?

[Denny]

Okay for all of you Lions followers that will be watching today's NFL Playoff game. If Detroit wins, then the Lions will go on the road next weekend and play at Seattle. If Dallas wins, they go to GB while the Carolina Panthers then would travel to Seattle. Again if the Lions win, then they travel on the road to Seattle next week. That will be a nightmare for the Lions if they end up beating the Cowboys and then having to play at Seattle next weekend. I don't like the Lions' chances in either game the Dallas game or next week if they have to travel to Seattle. Anyone else have thoughts on the Lions' next game with Dallas and possibly at Seattle?

[Don_Detloff]

Go Lions!

[Denny]

Well edm and Tim you College guys had your fun in the sun with MSU and the college games on New Year's Day. Now, the fun really starts and begins as it is the NFL's "second season as some would call it or the Playoffs!" So, you want to know why I like the NFL more than college ball huh? Well I will not go into details but when I was younger, I used to follow College Football a lot and liked to watch the bowl games. Now that I have gotten let's say wiser in my years, I have not watched much college football as I used to in my early years. I have just developed a passion for the NFL as you have some great rivalries similar to College Football such as in the case of the Ravens vs Steelers. Whenever they play each other it is a war among those two. Also in the NFL, some teams can play each other three times in a season such as the case with the game between the Ravens vs Steelers. Yeah that may seem boring to many but, for true fans and followers that is what Football is all about! You want to see good football and the NFL Playoffs are the best time of year to see that as it doesn't get any better than the Playoffs! You can also have the top seeded teams fall in the Playoffs and get upset as it happened before many times before.

[edm]

Here is why I support MSU football -

From his first day on the job, Dantonio has pledged to support student-athletes as they pursue excellence, both in the classroom and on the playing field. In his first eight seasons, a total of 128 players have earned their undergraduate degrees. In addition, 98 Spartans have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, including seven Academic All-Americans (Blair White, 2009 second team; Mike Sadler, 2014 first team, 2013 first team, 2012 second team, 2011 second team; Max Bullough, 2013 first team, 2012 second team). Michigan State has placed three student-athletes in the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Class (Kirk Cousins in 2011; Bullough in 2013; Sadler in 2014) in the past four years, equaling Duke for the most of any school in the NCAA FBS. Sadler became MSU's first four-time Academic All-American and was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy (nation's top scholar-athlete).

[edm]

Denny - yes I'm a MSU fan. I attended MSU starting in 1963 and graduated in 1968. Those were the 'good ole' days'. My days at MSU were GREAT ! I remember the ice cold milk and all the ice cream you could eat and drink on a hot summer's day. If you ever get a chance to visit MSU - don't pass up a chance to visit the student union for a large bowl of ice cream on a hot summer's day - you'll never forget it !

[mopar tim]

You are correct Denny, I am a MSU fan when it comes to College ball. I do follow the rest of the Schools more for the player knowledge when it comes time for the NFL Draft. As far as the NFL goes I am a die hard Lions fan but I do follow the Patriots and have for a long time. The other sports I follow a lot are NHL- Leafs, Islanders and Oilers. My true love in sports is the Detroit Tigers.

[edm]

yup Denny - I watch a lot of college football. I enjoy the guys who play the sport for the love of the game with an outside chance of making it big in the pros. Not many college players make it to the pros. Come draft time, most college players have played the game just to hopefully get a college education. If you and Tim missed the MSU - Baylor game, then you misses a real 'barn burner'. The OSU - Bama game was another 'barn burner'. Both games were excellent to watch to the very end. The pros, on the other hand, play the game for nothing more than 'the money'. It seems like all they are worried about is their contract. I'd be interested in why you folks enjoy the pros more than college football ? It's nice that we have our favorite brand of football in this great country.

[Denny]

Don't feel bad Tim about "Not paying attention to many of the College games this week due to a busy week!" I myself have had a busy week as well and missed many games that I would have liked to have seen on New Year's Day. Also missed watching the NHL Winter Classic as well but, the Wings were not in it and thus I did not get interested in it because of that reason. As for Lions, if they get lucky somehow and beat the Cowboys then they don't have a chance and a prayer on the road in Green Bay or Seattle. If they have to play in Seattle, that defense will just bury them and their offense will eat up Detroit's defense! If people thought that the loss in GB was bad, it may get worse in either Dallas, GB or in Seattle! Hey edm and Tim, it sounds like you guys besides Lions fans are "College junkies and don't follow the NFL other than the Lions too much?" Do you guys watch much NFL other than the Lions as it seems you always talk about college games especially MSU and I take it you guys are both big and huge MSU fans? Finally, I also hope and pulling for the Ducks to beat the Buckeyes has I have family in Ohio and now I can get on them about their hopes in the NCAA title game and the Ducks hopefully beating them. We have always had a thing going with the UM vs Ohio State game.

[mopar tim]

I also like Oregon's chances over OSU. Oregon is a much better team as a whole than OSU. As far as the Lions go enjoy this one because I think there season will come to an end after this game. Sorry I didn't pay much attention to the College games this week it was a busy week for me. Happy new year to everyone and Go Lions!.

[edm]

I'm picking the Oregon Ducks to beat Ohio State Buckeyes. The Ducks looked VERY strong in their win over FSU and I think Meyer has run out of rabbits to pull out of his hat. I admit that the QB position at OSU this season has been a real problem but, how many times can OSU overcome major problems ? What does everyone think about this game ?

[Denny]

Holy Toledo in case anyone missed it and if you did unless you were rooting for FSU to beat the Oregon Ducks, you did not miss a thing on that game. The Ducks buried the Seminoles 59-20 and now play in the College Football Title game I think it is that they are calling it or whatever it may be? Now Oregon awaits its next opponent for the title game whomever that may be? Anyone have any thoughts or picks on this weekend's NFL Playoffs other than the Lions game with Dallas? In next weekend's playoffs I have read that Denver and Green Bay could both be ripe for an upset as it has happened before with the top seeds. Remember when just a few years ago, Baltimore upset Denver on their way to being in the Super Bowl and beating Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers! You can bet that a top team will get upset as it always happens every year in the playoffs! So, who do you think is the team to fall in this year's big dance party? I say it is definitely Denver as they're still having their hangover from the Super Bowl loss to Seattle. Anyone else have a thought on this? Can't wait to watch some NFL games but, I think perhaps the second round might be the better round to watch IMO on TV! Guess we will just have to wait and see on that one.

[edm]

I agree with Denny - The Cotton Bowl finish kept my interest right down to the end of the game. I think that Mark Dantonio has now won the last four bowl games that MSU has played - quite a record for any school ! I believe that Mark's salary should be increased based upon his record at MSU. The Lion's will need all the help they can get against Dallas. The first quarter should set the pace of the game. I hope that the Lion's can retain Suh after this season as he certainly drives the defensive effort. I'm not sure what the line on the game will be at game time but, I'm sure the Lions will be getting points on the bet slips.