Boycott the NFL?!?!

Has it finally become time?  The owners and league officials seem to think the replacement officials are "good enough".  I had my doubts but last night, I became sure that "good enough" was not nearly either good or enough.   Patiently I have been watching as these officials (who I admit are swimming in VERY deep waters) try their best, but come up consistently short.    But at each turn I have been able to say "its wasn't that bad" or make the excuse that it didn't really impact the game.    However, last night was a farce!

It is bad enough to watch your team stall on offense like they were Pop Warner players trying to compete with college players.   That had NOTHING to do with officiating and everything to do with needing to wake up.   But, to see that same team come out at the half and wake up, find their stride and control the game only to have it ripped from them by completely inept officiating - THAT makes me furious.

On Facebook last night I posted:

"I am a huge fan of the NFL and specifically the Green Bay Packers. Tonight I am embarrassed for the NFL but very proud of the Packers. I am just about ready to boycott until the NFL brings back the real officals. Real officials would not have let the horrible defensive pass interference call earlier...let alone the abomination that ended the game."

Roger Goodell and the team owners think that they can provide anything and call it NFL football.  However, I believe they are providing a product that only remotely resembles NFL football.   LA does not have a team and therefore I have no opportunity to purchase season tickets.   If I was fortunate enough to own season tickets, I would contemplate reporting the NFL to the authorities for fraud!   What is going on this season is simply bait and switch.    Television networks should scream that they did not get the product they bought.  Even though I do not hold season tickets, I "pay" to watch by providing an audience for the sponsors.

The only power any of has is the ability to opt out.   Boycotting the games until the NFL and officials come to an agreement, that is the power we have.   But do we have the strength to exercise this power?   I for one wait a very long eight months to feed my addiction.   I start counting down at August 1st for the start of the season.    But now... I feel cheated, lied too and defrauded.   That feeling you get when you are excited to buy something, you put down your hard earned money only to get it home and find that it really wasn't what you thought it would be.    That is the feeling I have now.

Perhaps it is time.  Time for fans to prove we want the real thing and will not settle for some second rate substitute.   Perhaps it is time to show the NFL that we see what they are giving us is so much less than what was promised.    Where is the integrity of the NFL and the owners?  Unfortunately a very good friend of mine said it at lunch today "It just about the money... and only the money."   I am afraid he may be right.