Goodell Begins "Bonus" Program to Motivate Replacement Officials

NFL fans upset about the quality of officiating by replacement referees following the incredibly controversial touchdown call on the final play of tonight's MNF game, which erroneously gave the Seattle Seahawks a victory over the Green Bay Packers, can breathe a sigh of relief.

Because commissioner Roger Goodell has already announced the league's plan to improve replacement officiating while a deal with the regular referees continues to be worked out.

"We're very happy with the plan we've come up with to monetarily reward or penalize replacement officials based on their performance during a game. I think that will offer the extra motivation needed for these guys to start calling games better," said the commissioner.

NFL Vice President of Officiating Carl Johnson was available for comment and offered more detail on just how this new system, which the league is calling a pay-for-officiating program, will work.

"It's really quite simple, actually. In addition to their salary, each week officials may be awarded either bonus payments for correct calls or potentially fined for poor calls. Money will come from a community pot initially funded by the officials and be held by Commissioner Goodell. The amount of these payments will vary depending on the game situation and importance of the call."

When asked what happens if more bonuses need to be paid from the pot and not enough fine money is being put in, Johnson was quick to reply.

"That's not going to happen," he said.

One other thing is abundantly clear and that's the NFL's belief that this pay-for-officiating program is just what the doctor ordered for a league currently suffering from severe public relations issues. Goodell is now hopeful about the future of NFL officiating.

"This whole idea just came to me the other day. These guys all love to gamble. so this program just made sense."