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 in East Rutherford.
“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.”
Quaghogdigger
1:10 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
How about doing something constructive, like pushing for term limits.
Victor
1:10 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
This guy doesn't even have a clue about whats going on in own state let alone try to fix the NFL. How about doing something about our high property taxes instead.
kf
1:13 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
What exactly are the refs going to do to prevent injury? Maybe the politicians should worry about their jobs and let the NFL and the refs work out their problems by themselves. Eventually (hopefully last night was the final straw) the fans, players, and coaches will force an end to this ridiculous situation.
Quaghogdigger
1:22 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Don't you worry about those politicians, kf, thats all they think about is worrying about there jobs. and the next election.
Joey Bagdano
1:18 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
OMG get over it. You'd think there was never a bad call by reg. refs. Puhlease.
paulie
2:27 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
What a political hack. Sweeny clearly has our best interests in mind. Please!!!
Beryl Cusic
3:05 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Between the "Snooki" law and this bozo move, no wonder New Jersey is a laughing stock. You have no business interferring with football.....if you feel the need to fix something, fix the state pension system, fix the outlandish property tax rates. "Physician heal thyself".....fix the problems in New Jersey before you mess with football.
Karen Shepherd
3:38 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Please stop wasting your time and our money. Do something that needs to be done. Not enough room to list them all.
Opinionated
4:48 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
You tell them, Beryl. Let's go for the trifecta. Maybe while the world burns, he could go on The View. But he doesn't look like "eye candy", more like table scraps. But he would make Whoopi look more human-like.
Victor
4:52 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
At first, I thought this article was a joke but then I realized that they weren't kidding. He really is wasting his time doing this. Unbelieveable........get rid of this guy. please remember what this guy is concerned about next election and vote him out. Maybe half time he can spend some time and come up with a plan to lower our astronomical property taxes.
Dentss Dunnagun
5:02 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
I love it when our politicians make buffoons of themselves . Sweeney has set a new lower standard for that description
Localreader
9:36 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Sweeney should be impeached just for wasting our tax dollars on this bill.
Football players have insurance, it's a physical sport, they know the risks involved. But in the meantime, NJ has the highest property taxes...
Cooper
2:02 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
There is not a doubt in my mind this guy either lost money or was knocked out of a pool. He can't be that stupid to even broach the subject.
Bryan
8:21 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Sooo glad our tax money is going to good use to fix these pressing issues! We dont need lower taxes, more/ better jobs WE NEED TO FIX THE NFL!!!!! It is entertainment bottom line! People can tell you every stat about Giants/ jets/etc but cant tell you their kids math grades....How Sad! Mr.Sweeney get to work on the real issues!
huuea
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