Do the fans have any recourse in the labor dispute concerning the Referees

My major complaint about these refs is the flow and rhythm of the game, the rhythm of the NFL is one of the reason why I prefer the NFL over just about any other professional sport. Even the hurry up offense of the Pats, seems to be slowed down by these refs..

It is too herky jerky for my likes, and the accompanying nail biting is uneven at best..

So as fans, short for fanatics, do we have any recourse?? What can we do to speed this along, an economic boycott would not work, as we are not going to stop watching games and buying NFL garb... if tickets are given up, someone else will take the seat.

I know that during the lock out last year, some folks started a massive email campaign.. not sure if that was effective, but it made folks feel empowered and when things finally happened many thought it was because of this.

Does anything think that some type of massive email campaign that would flood the NFL have any impact?? Everyone knows many fans, and it could be done.. Goodell has to do something.

An interesting conspiracy theory is that Goodell is content with the status quo of this labor dispute, as it takes the focus off of the "bounty gate" debacle and the head injury stuff...

Thoughts??

I'm all for hiring someone to blackmail Goodell. Surely he has pictures out there that he doesn't want anyone to see...

I'm boycotting MNF tonight, and any non pats game moving forward.

if all the fans stop watching games, the ratings will go down and the money will as well.

The only thing that would work would be if the fans got together and boycotted. Don't go to games, don't watch on TV, don't buy NFL merchandise. Also boycott the sponsors of NFL games. If the fans could get together and hit them in the pocketbook for just one weekend, it would go a long way into sending a wakeup call. The bad thing about that is that most game tickets are already paid for so I don't think anyone would want to give up a game to make a point.

The fact that this labor dispute has extended into the season just shows how incompetent Goodell is. Questionable and inconsistent fines. Enforcing memos over the rulebook. Trying to change the rules of the game. That is the competition committee's job. Coming down heavy handed on 2 franchises that did not deserve to be singled out and made an example of.How about bombarding all the owners with e-mails and petitions to have Godell removed?

chasa said:

I'm boycotting MNF tonight, and any non pats game moving forward.

if all the fans stop watching games, the ratings will go down and the money will as well.

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Yeah well that's not going to happen so it's time to find another course of action.

KontradictioN said:

I'm all for hiring someone to blackmail Goodell.

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What if the anger directed at Goodell were direct at the owners?

I think some of the owners might care what fans think. Goodell does not, as long as we are watching TV and attending games.

Could season ticket holders sue for being given an inferior product? The suit would get thrown out in time, but the embarrassment factor might have an impact before then.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

What if the anger directed at Goodell were direct at the owners?

I think some of the owners might care what fans think. Goodell does not, as long as we are watching TV and attending games.

Could season ticket holders sue for being given an inferior product? The suit would get thrown out in time, but the embarrassment factor might have an impact before then.

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You'd have to organize a mass exodus in regards to not attending the football games. But it wouldn't make sense to punish the owners. Goodell is the one that's spearheading the talks with the referees. He's the one that's completely inept, and has been since becoming commissioner.

chasa said:

I'm boycotting MNF tonight, and any non pats game moving forward.

if all the fans stop watching games, the ratings will go down and the money will as well.

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I would defly be on board if it would work. How about if nobody went to their respective games for 1 day. I very, very much doubt that would happen, but it most certainly would work. The $ they would lose would be more than enough to cover any pay increase the refs are asking for. It's time show GODell who pays his salary. The FANS!

Or accept the simple fact that this is what it is any nothing fans or mediots have to say about it is going to matter. The league owners have drawn a line in the sand and for some reason the officials think they will get their way when the players couldn't. The owners have even refused to enter the discussion because they aren't going to fuel the officials perception that they have any leverage. They don't. Let alone on par with the players. They can either accept the fact that like most folks their days of collecting a defined benefit pension plan are OVAH and they can and will be replaceable for cause if needbe and the league will control their terms of employment and eventually extend them to full time status if that works better for the league.

chasa said:

I'm boycotting MNF tonight, and any non pats game moving forward.

if all the fans stop watching games, the ratings will go down and the money will as well.

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Only if you have a Nielsen box (or cancel Sunday Ticket, assuming you have it). Otherwise who's going to know whether you're watching or not?

Don't get me wrong, there's impact on their bottom line, but it's all long-term, not immediate. The league knows this.

KontradictioN said:

You'd have to organize a mass exodus in regards to not attending the football games. But it wouldn't make sense to punish the owners. Goodell is the one that's spearheading the talks with the referees. He's the one that's completely inept, and has been since becoming commissioner.

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But didn't the owners vote/hire Goodell in the first place? Im not being an @$$, serious question

chasa said:

I'm boycotting MNF tonight, and any non pats game moving forward.

if all the fans stop watching games, the ratings will go down and the money will as well.

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Exactly. Hit them in the bottom line.

KontradictioN said:

Goodell is the one that's spearheading the talks with the referees. He's the one that's completely inept, and has been since becoming commissioner.

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Goodell is a minion and agent of the owners. They hired him and they can fire him. Blaming Goodell and not the owners is playing into the owners' hands.

I guarantee you that (as I said in another thread) if the owners said to Goodell today "Ok, that Pats/Ravens game was the final straw. This is making a mockery of the game. We want this settled by Thursday" that it would be settled by Thursday.

KontradictioN said:

You'd have to organize a mass exodus in regards to not attending the football games. But it wouldn't make sense to punish the owners. Goodell is the one that's spearheading the talks with the referees. He's the one that's completely inept, and has been since becoming commissioner.

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Goodell works for the owners so yes it is them. The Owners are the ones who pay the officials. Do you really think if Goodell were leading talks that the Owners didn't want they would not have come out and said something by now?

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

What if the anger directed at Goodell were direct at the owners?

I think some of the owners might care what fans think. Goodell does not, as long as we are watching TV and attending games.

Could season ticket holders sue for being given an inferior product? The suit would get thrown out in time, but the embarrassment factor might have an impact before then.

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It would not surprise me to see a class action suit like this show up. Season ticket holders and Direct TV Season Ticket subscribers pay for NFL football and one could argue (but may be a BS argument) that the NFL is not providing a product that meets the consumers' expectations. Maybe base the suit on a State consumer protection Statute like Mass Chapter 93A which prohibits unfair or deceptive business practices. I understand there are deficiencies with this argument but there have been many more frivolous suits brought in courts. I think the major point would be to try and embarrass the NFL with more negative publicity regarding the replacement refs and how they affect the product that we as consumers expect the NFL to provide for the dollars we spend. Are consumers getting the NFL football that they paid for in advance?

Lowercaseg said:

one could argue (but may be a BS argument) that the NFL is not providing a product that meets the consumers' expectations.

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You realize that a Jets fan tried this exact argument when suing the NFL and the Patriots over Cameragate? (And it was shot down at the federal district court and circuit court of appeals level (and SCOTUS denied cert, of course.))

Boycotting also will not work because the League has already been paid by the Networks. Really the closest thing s probably something similar to the chant last night. I don't think the FCC is going to let networks get away with allowing expletives on television like that. Maybe once NBC gets away with it but if it happens over and over again They would have to fine them. I don't think Networks would be happy with it they can't stop showing the games so they'd have to keep taking the fines. I believe pressure would be put on the league to get something done. Short of violence (which I am NOT advocating) that's about the best and clearest way I can see the fan message getting across.

Stop watching NFL football. Be satisfied with the SEC game of the week in college football.

rlcarr said:

Goodell is a minion and agent of the owners. They hired him and they can fire him. Blaming Goodell and not the owners is playing into the owners' hands.

I guarantee you that (as I said in another thread) if the owners said to Goodell today "Ok, that Pats/Ravens game was the final straw. This is making a mockery of the game. We want this settled by Thursday" that it would be settled by Thursday.

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pwes said:

Goodell works for the owners so yes it is them. The Owners are the ones who pay the officials. Do you really think if Goodell were leading talks that the Owners didn't want they would not have come out and said something by now?

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For one, the 49ers/Vikings game was far worse when it came to officiating than the Pats/Ravens game was. For another, the owners haven't even attented the negotiations. What does that tell you?

Maybe fans should picket the games outside the stadium like some sort of fan union against scrubs

Season ticket holders are being screwed by the league by putting out a product that is not worth what they are paying for.

Sort of like going into a Fancy expensive Restaurant and them selling White Castle Hamburgers