Speculation has been that the NFL thrust Eastin, who on Thursday will become the first female to officiate an NFL preseason game, into the spotlight during a tense labor negotiation with the NFL Referees Association.
That's not exactly true.
Eastin, a 42-year-old referee crew chief in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, answered an email sent by the league to potential replacements. Yes, she is aware that, like the replacement officials in 2001, she may never work another NFL game. But Eastin has always dreamed of working at least one, ever since growing up watching the game with her dad.
"For me, it is a bit of a different situation," Eastin said during a conference call on Tuesday. "It was an opportunity for me to get in and to show that I am capable. The NFL has been on the verge, and there has been a lot of talk about them wanting to bring in a female. Quite frankly, I thought this was the perfect opportunity, whether it is a trial or they see and think, 'Wow, this can work.' For me, I did give it some consideration, but I felt that it was something that I needed to do."
