NFL Fans Get the 'Stakeholder' Treatment in Ref Dispute

Denver Broncos head coach John Fox speaks with head referee Jimmy Buchanan and head linesman Kevin Akin during a game vs. the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia DomePhotograph by Steve Jacobson /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

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By Stephen A. Miles and Nathan Bennett

September 27, 2012 at 4:41 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

The outrage over the National Football League’s replacement officials reached new heights Monday night, after a controversial call handed what most agreed was an unearned win to the Seattle Seahawks over the Green Bay Packers. Now, after a torrent of criticism, the league has settled with referees. But what are we to make of the decision by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to lock out the officials in the first place?

Goodell’s decision wasn’t about money—it was about power and control. The enhanced benefits the referees sought were a rounding error in the world of professional football. The NFL is a vigorous, highly profitable monopoly, with $9 billion in annual revenue. Existing TV deals guarantee that the league has many bright years ahead.