Is the NFL Fixed?

[Prime Time]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...iation-at-odds-with-league-office-over-calls/

NFL Referees Association at odds with league office over calls
Posted by Michael David Smith on October 2, 2014

AP

The NFL Referees Association, which represents the on-field officials, is hitting back at the league after two high-profile calls were described as incorrect by the league office.

According to the Referees Association, both of the two calls in question — an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Hussain Abdullah for sliding to the ground in prayer after a touchdown, and a hit on Philadelphia’s Nick Foles by Washington’s Chris Baker — were graded as correct by the officiating department. Those grades were given despite the league office announcing publicly, in both cases, that the calls were wrong.

“In the last two weeks, two penalties that were called in games that drew national attention were publicly announced to be in error by the League office, however the Officiating Department later graded the calls as correct. This has caused confusion for NFL officials as to what the League does and doesn’t want called,” the Referees Association said in a statement.

The flag on Baker, which precipitated a fracas on the field, was criticized by NFL executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent, who said, “Baker didn’t do anything wrong with that hit.” But the Referees Association says the official who threw that flag was told the next day that he got the call right.

The flag on Abdullah, a Muslim, had the potential to become a major controversy about religious discrimination in the NFL, as Christian players routinely pray in the end zone without getting flagged. The NFL quickly released a statement saying Abdullah should not have been flagged for his end zone prayer, as players are permitted to make religious expressions after scoring touchdowns. But the Referees Association says Abdullah was correctly flagged for sliding onto his knees, not for praying.

“The player was flagged, correctly, for the slide on his knees in the end zone, not for going to the ground in a prayerful gesture,” said former ref Scott Green in the Referees Association’s statement. “On field officials are aware of the prayer provision and respect the right of players of all faiths to express themselves.”

If the league office is telling the officials that they got a call right, while telling players, coaches and the public that the call was wrong, that’s a big problem. The NFL needs to clear this up.

 

[Ramrocket]

I can understand their frustration at the inconsistency but I do find it a little precious and laughable that they are complaining about the 2 calls that they apparently got right!! No mention that there are countless other calls that are blatantly wrong. A bit of 'mea culpa' every now and again from the refs association would go along way to abating the negativity and perhaps generating support in instances like this.

 

[Username]

Football isn't the same, society isn't the same. People don't get the same feeling from seeing someone crushed and laid out on the field that they used to get. It actually makes me cringe everytime someone destroys a defenseless receiver now a days. Sure football is a tough sport, but some of those tackles weren't even humane. Just sling your body right at someone .

Wat.

 

[RhodyRams]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11629768/referees-union-criticizes-nfl-inconsistency-calls

NEW YORK -- The union representing NFL on-the-field officials criticized the league Thursday for inconsistencies in grading calls, including two high-profile penalties from recent games.

In a release, the NFL Referees' Association says the NFL has "caused confusion for NFL officials as to what the league does and doesn't want called."

The union referred to penalties on Washington's Chris Baker for a hit on Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on Sept. 21, and to Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah on Monday night for going to his knees to celebrate an interception return for a touchdown. Abdullah actually had gone to his knees to pray -- an act exempted from celebration penalties.

[+] Enlarge
Denny Medley/USA TODAY SportsChiefs safety Husain Abdullah received a penalty Monday night for going to his knees to pray -- an act exempted from celebration penalties.
The union says both calls were graded as correct even after NFL executives announced that they were incorrect. Baker got a 15-yard penalty and was ejected from the game at Philadelphia. Abdullah also received a 15-yard penalty.

"Consistency in penalty enforcement is extremely important to the players, coaches and fans. Uncertainty as to what the league wants called is not a road you want to go down," said Jim Quirk, executive director of the NFLRA.

Quirk noted that Baker was penalized for a blindside block on Foles as a personal foul. A brawl followed near the Washington sideline, and Eagles tackle Jason Peters was also ejected.

Two days later, Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, said the hit was legal and should not have been penalized. Yet, the NFLRA said, the league's officiating department a day later graded the call as correct.

In the case of Abdullah, a devout Muslim who took off a year from football to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca, the league said Tuesday that the penalty was in error.

The NFL responded with a statement Thursday.

"The officiating supervisors recognize that for an incorrect call on a close judgment play the official may have used appropriate reasoning," league spokesman Michael Signora said. "On such a call, the official is not downgraded."

Signora went on to address each situation. In the case of Foles, he said, "It was not a foul because the quarterback was pursuing the play, the contact was not to the head or neck area, and the play was not over. However, the referee -- watching the play at full speed and without the benefit of a replay review -- judged that the block was late and threw a flag. While not a correct call, we understand why it was made."

As far as Abdullah, Signora said: "A player who goes to the ground as part of religious expression should not be penalized. While he did slide immediately before beginning his prayer, this was not a correct call and the play should not have resulted in a penalty."

Regardless, said former NFLRA president Scott Green, a recently retired referee, there's a communications problem between the NFL and its game officials.

"It seems there is a disconnect between what the officiating department expects from officials and the public statements being made by league executives," Green said. "It certainly creates uncertainty for the guys making split-second decisions on the field."

 

[RhodyRams]

going to say this about the Husain Abdullah penalty. If just went to his knees in prayer, I really dont think the refs would have thrown the flag. But the way he slid onto his knees once he got into the end zone, before he went into his prayer pose, was a penalty the way the rule is worded.

 

[CodeMonkey]

Refs union criticizes inconsistency...

 

[Speeps]

The entire system is a mess.

 

[CodeMonkey]

 

[the zohan]

 

[mr.stlouis]

I am beyond pissed with the horrible officiating this year. Missed calls, no calls, we should be 2-1

 

[Ballhawk]

I guess us fans should form a union so that we can protest the inconsistent way that the refs are calling games? Especially holding?