nzoner 936 Posted April 3, 2015 Pic in link The NFL has hired its first full-time female official, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Sarah Thomas, a Mississippi native who Wilson said has been a finalist for an NFL position previously, has officiated Conference USA games in the NCAA for nearly a decade. She has also officiated during NFL camps and the preseason previously. A technicality would keep Thomas from being the first woman to ever officiate an NFL game though. That honor belongs to Shannon Eastin, who was on the field working when replacement officials were brought in by the league during a referee lockout in 2012. Thomas, however, would be the first female to be hired as a regular official by the NFL. Thomas has previously said that the biggest difference she sees in the NFL compared to NCAA games is how fast the players move at the professional level. "The speed, yes, is there," Thomas said. "These are just phenomenal athletes on both sides of the ball. The game has a tendency to slow down the [more] snaps you get and repetition. So, hopefully, the more snaps I get, things will start slowing down a little bit." Thomas is no doubt at the point where she's ready to take the next step, or the NFL would likely not have hired her. It's refreshing to see the league make the right decision without waiting for public outcry to prompt them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vikings4ever 496 Posted April 3, 2015 I would say there's no way she could be worse than the current crop, but no matter how sh*tty refs are, they can always be worse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thornton Melon 544 Posted April 3, 2015 It's refreshing to see the league make the right decision without waiting for public outcry to prompt them. How do they know it's the right decision? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DankNuggs 305 Posted April 3, 2015 women seem particularly adept at point out failings and wrongdoings... I'd expect her to flourish in her new role 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Strike 3,980 Posted April 3, 2015 Fock, men can't even do the job right. Now they're gonna give it to women? What next, train some seeing eye dogs? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edjr 5,567 Posted April 3, 2015 Fock, men can't even do the job right. Now they're gonna give it to women? What next, train some seeing eye dogs? Asian women then dogs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nzoner 936 Posted April 3, 2015 Asian women That's a penalry frag for reg whipping. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,317 Posted April 3, 2015 Makes no sense imo. There are no female players so why female refs? To me the officiating should somewhat reflect who is being officiated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edjr 5,567 Posted April 3, 2015 Makes no sense imo. There are no female players so why female refs? To me the officiating should somewhat reflect who is being officiated. I feel the same was as the NBA, they have no place Ask Chris Paul Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TD Ryan2 314 Posted April 3, 2015 The NFL has hired its first full-time female official, well - this otta' inflate some balls! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RLLD 3,455 Posted April 3, 2015 women seem particularly adept at point out failings and wrongdoings... I'd expect her to flourish in her new role x10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BunnysBastatrds 1,921 Posted April 3, 2015 I wonder if she'll still have to wear white pants on those heavy days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nzoner 936 Posted April 3, 2015 well - this otta' inflate some balls! Could she wear uniforms like this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sho Nuff 719 Posted April 3, 2015 Makes no sense imo. There are no female players so why female refs? To me the officiating should somewhat reflect who is being officiated. Why? What does sharing the trait of having a have to do with ability to be a competent ref? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tanatastic 2,061 Posted April 3, 2015 Cant wait to see the response when she makes her first bad call or gets knocked around by a player accidentally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerryskids 5,209 Posted April 3, 2015 women seem particularly adept at point out failings and wrongdoings... I'd expect her to flourish in her new role Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryHill9323 65 Posted April 3, 2015 Makes no sense imo. There are no female players so why female refs? To me the officiating should somewhat reflect who is being officiated. War On Women! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frank 2,147 Posted April 3, 2015 Title is misleading. NFL has no full-time officials. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
parrot 789 Posted April 3, 2015 women seem particularly adept at point out failings and wrongdoings... I'd expect her to flourish in her new role Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745 Posted April 3, 2015 Well the important question is... Would you fock her? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frank 2,147 Posted April 3, 2015 Well the important question is... Would you fock her? You might get called for blocking below the waist. Or some other penalty that would be funnier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vuduchile 1,941 Posted April 3, 2015 You might get called for blocking below the waist. Or some other penalty that would be funnier. What's gonna happen the first time she experiences 8 men in the box? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IGotWorms 3,317 Posted April 3, 2015 Why? What does sharing the trait of having a ###### have to do with ability to be a competent ref? Nothing really. I'm not saying women can't be competent refs. I'm all for female refs in women's basketball and all that. Just seems odd to me that you don't have a single woman in the league yet you've got female officials Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vuduchile 1,941 Posted April 3, 2015 100 bucks says Belicheat and the Pats find a way to exploit this to their advantage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BiPolarBear 476 Posted April 3, 2015 "That's a 15 yard penalty on Pittsburgh for ugly throw-back uniforms. Still first down." 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sho Nuff 719 Posted April 3, 2015 Nothing really. I'm not saying women can't be competent refs. I'm all for female refs in women's basketball and all that. Just seems odd to me that you don't have a single woman in the league yet you've got female officials Don't have a lot of judges in the league either...but they have them as refs. I don't think not having someone of the gender in the league means much. Plenty of those refs probably never played a down of football in their lives. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thornton Melon 544 Posted April 3, 2015 What's gonna happen the first time she experiences 8 men in the box? Might not be the first time... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RLLD 3,455 Posted April 3, 2015 100 bucks says Belicheat and the Pats find a way to exploit this to their advantage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drobeski 3,061 Posted April 4, 2015 this will help the paganos and haubaughs of the league deal with their feelings after losing to the pats, maybe she'll share tampons with them. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Djgb13 2,338 Posted April 4, 2015 Honestly I could care less what gender the person is as long as they can do their job well. I used to think that if you wanted to coach or ref in a certain sport then you should have at least played that sport. Otherwise you wouldn't be as competent but I've seen people who have not played the sport be a better coach than someone who has. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerryskids 5,209 Posted April 4, 2015 For the "day" job of officiating plays, as long as she is sufficiently physically fit for her position, I don't see why a woman couldn't do it. My concern is more in the scrums, particularly fumble piles. Concern is probably a strong word; interested to see if it is an issue. In our TKD we have women center judge mens' rings. My wife (5'1", 117, 30D) is way better at judging forms than I am, from experience. And as good as anyone judging sparring rings. But she isn't comfortable judging the high rank 18-29 yr old mens' sparring ring. Whole lotta testosterone flying around in that ring with large, strong, fast men. This new ref is probably larger than my wife. Then again, NFL athletes are bigger/stronger as well. And perhaps less disciplined, at least when tempers flare. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RLLD 3,455 Posted April 6, 2015 Honestly I could care less what gender the person is as long as they can do their job well. I used to think that if you wanted to coach or ref in a certain sport then you should have at least played that sport. Otherwise you wouldn't be as competent but I've seen people who have not played the sport be a better coach than someone who has. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cbfalcon 824 Posted April 8, 2015 So every 4th week, she'll get the Bears game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites