POLL: Sweeney Pushes Legislation to Spike NFL Replacement Refs
The state Senate president says player safety and fans' investments need to be protected.
After a disastrous weekend of wrecked calls by the NFL's replacement officials —capped by a blown call to end Monday night's game between Seattle and Green Bay that resulted in a call by Packers fans to boycott the league — New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney said Tuesday he plans to introduce legislation that would nix pro games played under replacement refs in the state, citing the risk to player safety.
Sweeney's move wouldn't affect the Philadelphia Eagles, but the New York Jets and Giants who play in MetLife Stadium.
“This past weekend in the NFL has not only made a mockery of a great sport, but shined a very bright light on how important fully trained and professional officiating is to player safety,” said Sweeney in a release. “We wouldn’t allow a factory or construction site to operate without fully trained supervisors on hand to ensure the safety of employees. Why should we do anything differently when the job site is a playing field?”
The much-maligned replacement referees have worked the 2012 season thus far as the league's regular compliment of officials are locked out in a contractual dispute.
The laundry list of blown calls, phantom penalties and the inability of replacement refs to control the game, where injuries occur even when there are highly qualified refs, is proof something needs to be done, Sweeney said. He further cited the replacement refs' affect on the quality of play on the field, and said it hurts the investment fans have made in tickets and personal seat licenses, which can run into the thousands annually.
“Whether the sport is football, soccer or baseball, when referees don’t know how to properly enforce the rules, there is a real chance for unnecessary and serious injury,” said Sweeney. “If the NFL insists on putting replacement officials on the field, putting players at risk, then the state shouldn’t be playing a part in that.”
Harry Uberti
6:25 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Sweeney has finally proven himself to be a big enough self-agrandizing moron to run for national office
Bengal D
10:18 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
This is our state Senate president. Wow. I'm glad we are doing so well as a state that we have time to fix this all important issue. Why do those in gov't feel they have to be involved in everything? We need to reign ALL these politicians in now!
Michael G.
10:18 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Why does this take precedent when NJ is freefalling with high real estate taxes and 9.9 % unemployment. Remember this on Election Day.
Jim Hutchinson
10:45 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
I hope he gets the law passed and then the Giants and Jets will have to play their home games on the road. He is a perfect example of a person who cares only about politics and trying to make points and little about our real problems.
Michael G.
1:22 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
We can all make the RIGHT CALL on election day and rid ourselves of these career politicians.
Bill Storm,
8:31 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
If you notice, he only said this after his team, Packers, lost to the Seahawks. It didn't bother him the previous weeks.