The NFL and NBA thread

[victor meldrew]

Just wondering if the Steelers will have a coach clear out (Haley), some of the play calling was pretty poor. 4th & inches for a first down and you throw the ball to the running back five yards behind the line?

Jags to beat the Pats as Uncle Tom denies Master Bill again?

[LaughingBoy]

Originally Posted by Motorboater

Jesus! Now Laughing Boy is saying the Panthers have been getting generous ref calls???

C'MON MAN!

I suspect that maybe you haven't heard this slang term... Jobbed, in this case means "got fucked."

"High brow aside, the little that I watched in the Panthers/Saints game, I saw Carolina get jobbed by the refs several times. Game changing calls that the refs got wrong."

Carolina probably should have won that game, and would have, IMO, had not the refs uh...done what they do now. An evenly called game goes to the Panthers in this case. Again, In My Opinion....

[LaughingBoy]

Originally Posted by Brian249x

The fix is not in, but the refs are often too old and poorly sighted to keep up, even when not screened off from seeing a foul. From the viewpoint of this lifelong 49er fan, the Seahawks have been getting very favorable calls from the refs for years, especially when playing in Seattle. The refs do seem to favor the better teams, but it may just seem that way because the poorer players on weak teams commit more silly fouls, or are not as good at concealing their holding.

The Vikings just reminded me of how much sports immortality is dependent on plain dum luck.

I'm not too proud to say that sometimes my team gets gifts from the refs. There is a such a thing as "Make up calls" Divisional games are always tough.

I realize that I sound like a Conspiracy Theorist when I say stuff like: the fix is in. But EVERY game I watch, as sure as the sun rises, has the refs fingerprints all over it. As soon as one team looks as if they have the upper hand, the very next call will be against that team.

The NFL likes close games.

I was only watching the Vikings game with one eye, but that's what it looked like happened again. The Vikings had the game well in hand, the refs let the Saints back into it, and without last second unlikely heroics the Vikes would have got jobbed. Just because the refs like a close game.

I admit bias. And I admit that people see what they want to see and I'm no exception. But, watch for it next week, whenever one team seems to have momentum, the refs will take the winds out of their sails and let the other team back into it.

[tygrkhat40]

I don't think that NFL officiating is "fixed." The problem with the officiating in the playoffs is the fact that officials operate in fixed crews for the entire preseason and regular season. In the playoffs, the highest graded officials over the course of the season are chosen to work the playoffs. So instead of crews who are used to one another and know how their crewmates call a game, you've got guys who haven't worked together and are getting used to each other.

Another problem is the unseen, 9th official: the Replay official. In the Vikings-Saints game, there was a call where defensive pass interference could have been called. With slow-motion replay, it was shown that the Viking defender did get there early. But in real time, he arrived at the same time as the ball. Troy Aikman said the officials are instructed to make the call in real time. Yet when they make the call in real time that a pass is completed, the replay official intervenes and makes a judgment call of something that happened in a fraction of a second to overturn the on-field officials.

The Bills have hired Brian Daboll as their new Offensive Coordinator. Daboll comes from Alabama where he helped prepare freshman QB Tua Tagovailoa for the National Championship game. Daboll was previously OC fro the Browns, Dolphins and Chiefs. He also spent time on Bill Bellichick's staff as Tight Ends coach. Daboll is a native of Welland, ON, but was raised in West Seneca, NY by his grandparents and attended St. Francis High School.

[Arturo2nd]

Originally Posted by LaughingBoy

I'm not too proud to say that sometimes my team gets gifts from the refs. There is a such a thing as "Make up calls" Divisional games are always tough.

I realize that I sound like a Conspiracy Theorist when I say stuff like: the fix is in. But EVERY game I watch, as sure as the sun rises, has the refs fingerprints all over it. As soon as one team looks as if they have the upper hand, the very next call will be against that team.

The NFL likes close games.

I was only watching the Vikings game with one eye, but that's what it looked like happened again. The Vikings had the game well in hand, the refs let the Saints back into it, and without last second unlikely heroics the Vikes would have got jobbed. Just because the refs like a close game.

I admit bias. And I admit that people see what they want to see and I'm no exception. But, watch for it next week, whenever one team seems to have momentum, the refs will take the winds out of their sails and let the other team back into it.

1.) The game happens incredibly quickly in real time.

2.) Camera angles usually differ from officials' sight lines.

3.) At least half the time when I think the refs have blown a call, the replay shows they got it right. In the other cases the call is reversed, most often, or inconclusive evidence. Rarely do I see injustice on a call subject to replay review. I have seen push offs and holds not visible to the refs occasionally. I have also seen the 49ers get gifts from the refs, e.g., recovering a "fumble" when the receiver was clearly down with possession of the ball.

4.) In watching the slow motion replays closely, it quickly becomes obvious that the refs could call multiple fouls on both teams on virtually every play. Clearly, there is some sort of art to officiating NFL games.

5.) The NFL draws its current group of officials from people with certain personality traits which include high levels of integrity and who do not need the money. Unfortunately, some officials are retained when they can no longer physically keep up.

6.) The national TV audience is switched to another game if a game is a blowout and others are being played. Only the cities of the contesting teams are made to suffer. Hence, the refs have no incentive to keep things close. Plus, it is not unusual for really strong teams to make up deficits of 21 points and more.

7.) The NFL has some weird rules on the books that defy common sense. Some of these rules vary from those at the high school and college level.

If you want to see officials blatantly inserting themselves into the game, keeping scores close, "make up calls," ignoring obvious violations, giving certain players special treatment, and routinely making a mockery of their profession, try watching NBA games.

[ultimatewarlord]

An incredible sunday nights viewing. That Vikings win is one for the ages. On a personal level I'm delighted that Sean Peyton won't be going any further this season. Glad the guys in the sky sports studio had a dig at him.

Also on a personal level, of course I want the Pats to win again but I'd also love to see former London Monarchs center Doug Marrone coach at a super bowl.
It's a fantastic thought that you'll see Keenum, Foles and Bortles leading their teams out next sunday. The only comparison really maybe Doug Williams and Jeff Hostetler.
Have to agree with Victor on the Steelers. Last year Tomlin got hammered by Steeler vfans for his tactics and I think that it was only some outstanding catches that will spare him from a real battering this week.
On a note about officiating. I'm not going down that route. I'm tired of the constant complaints in footbal and I'm not interested in it here either.

[LaughingBoy]

Bri...

You made multiple points but this one speaks most loudly to me...

"
4.) In watching the slow motion replays closely, it quickly becomes obvious that the refs could call multiple fouls on both teams on virtually every play. Clearly, there is some sort of art to officiating NFL games."

As long as it's called equally, I don't really care how tight or loose it's called. But you're absolutely right. There's an art to it. Which bugs me. I like science. I like things being "right". There's quite a bit of time, effort and money riding on these games. The game does move fast, but I want it to be right.

The games last weekend had several games where one team jumped out to a big lead. Predictably, according to me, the refs erred on the side of punishing the team in the lead.

I'm powerless to do anything about it. So, like Warlord, I'm probably going to try and not commit much energy to it.

Still aggravates me, though...

[Arturo2nd]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

Just wondering if the Steelers will have a coach clear out (Haley), some of the play calling was pretty poor. 4th & inches for a first down and you throw the ball to the running back five yards behind the line?

Jags to beat the Pats as Uncle Tom denies Master Bill again?

Kind of hard to blame the OC when you get down 21-0 to the best defense in the conference. His offense gained 545 yards, went for it 6 times on fourth down and got the first 4 times, and scored 42 points. The 2 turnovers hurt, but what ever happened to the Steelers defense? Even back in the days they sucked the Steelers would hurt you physically.

[maildude]

LeBron James on Dr. Martin Luther King: "He had a vision."

Thank you, LeBron.

[Motorboater]

I took "jobbed" as in receiving a head job. As in, the Panthers received a metaphorical head job from the refs. As in, the Panthers received favourable calls from the refs.

I guess I was wrong.