NFL officials have obviously had a tough season, and we haven't even reached the higher stakes of the playoffs.
Calls are missed, and useless mid-week apologies are issued.
Think about it: There's the initial call on the field. Then there's a replay review. And sometimes that is followed by another judgment issued from the league offices. That's when the league sends out statements saying they're sorry.
Those can't be traded for wins.
The mistakes often lead for some to call for the NFL to have full-time officials, which has never made any sense.
Current officials work weekends only. Their "real" jobs are often impressive. Ed Hochuli, arguably one of the league's most conspicuous officials, is a lawyer during the week. Other officials are educators or business executives.
The NFL has often bragged about the real-life careers, believing it demonstrates the intelligence and character that are needed to make the grade as an official.
If the NFL required full-time commitments, it would lose a lot of the men who call games now. It simply wouldn't make sense for them to give up careers to work in football.
It's never been adequately explained what the full-time officials would do with their week. Review video? They do that now. Have critiques of their work made available? That happens now, too.
Study the rule book? So few of the controversies pertain to the application of the rules.
It's about making the calls in a split second in an environment where the players are bigger and faster than they've ever been. How is a week of classroom work going to help anyone discern which 300-pounder has possession of the football after six of them pile on it?
What are the studies they would undertake? Microphone Technique 101? Advanced Theory Of The Illegal Shift?
Maybe what the NFL needs is more officials. Maybe that means two more on the field for every game. Perhaps there should be an eye in the sky, watching from above.
Those could possibly help. Punching a time clock from Monday to Friday won't.
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--LOOK SHARP
The NFL has a dress code and enforces it.
Sometimes players get word during the week that they've run afoul of the code because they appeared on the field with an untucked jersey or drooping socks.
It's nitpicky, but necessary. Just look at what baseball players do when they're given some latitude within the idea of wearing a uniform.
Part of the reason the NFL is so detailed is the league wants to protect its brand.
Yet the NFL doesn't give a second thought to having players wear ridiculous "alternate" uniforms like some of the monochromatic designs that have been used for Thursday night games.
The St. Louis Rams looked like a giant mustard drip the other night in an all-yellow uniform that was distracting, especially when the Tampa Bay Bucs were in a blood-red ensemble.
The idea there is extra jerseys sell, so the league is willing to experiment.
If there was money to be made in slouching socks, those would probably be OK, too.
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--NO PRIZE
One of the local supermarket chains is giving away prizes in the name of helping to relieve the stress of the holiday season.
One of the prizes being offered is tickets to Penguins games.
The Penguins haven't exactly been a stress reliever so far this season.
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--FAMILIAR NAME
Give Vontaze Burfict of the Cincinnati Bengals credit for one thing. He's made himself a household name in no time.
You may not love him, but you certainly know him.
Do you suppose Santa will be delivering some Burfict jerseys to kids in the Cincinnati area this week?
He's a dirty player who loves to yap, but Pittsburgh fans would love him if he wore black and gold.
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