Rethink What You Think About the NFL Replacement RefsSeptember 19, 2012
The NFL replacement referees look bad, but perception isn’t always reality. If it’s one thing that Shawn Carter taught us it’s that men lie, women lie, but numbers don’t.
Wall Street Journal has done an in depth study on the replacement referees so far and by the numbers the replacement refs are actually doing a better job than the real officials.
Only 31% of the calls reviewed by replay are being overturned, which means the new refs are getting the calls right. What’s more shocking is that the 31% is lower than last year’s 52% and 2010′s 42%. The frequency in which penalties are called is virtually the same as last year at 47%.
The only clear difference not in the replacement referees favor is that games are lasting an average of 6 minutes longer than last year.
Checkout the full Wall Street Journal article, NFL Replacement Ref Audit.
