Proof that Zebras are the Worst.

[Tano]

Uh huh

I wasn't that nasty - sheesh

 

[Memento]

Well I, for one, welcome our new A.I.-referee overlords. Baseball, football, basketball, and hockey all have way too many human officials that bear grudges and make mistakes (except Wes McCauley, he and everyone like him can stay. I'm fine with refs playing to the crowd to add drama, and yet not making themselves the main attraction. McCauley does that, and for the vast majority, he makes the right call. That, I can live with.)

 

[Snaz]

The Bengals game felt scripted,
That Colts/Rams game felt scripted.

The NFL feels more scripted than not these days. Some of these teams each week,

Not that they script every game, but something feels up. Now i could be wrong, but just feels that way this year, more than any other.
Except the 2001 Superbowl, that seriously felt scripted.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The one thing I hate about the NFL is how the games are officiated. I just can not except the fact that this is the best the NFL can do. In the past I have said with all the technology we could have a computer or robots calling the games. People have responded in the past to that with, but then you are losing the human element. Which I respond to by saying the human element has not been good enough. The only problem that I see with this is if the games were called flawlessly there would be holding called on every single play.

The league could implement some of it. But they choose not to. It’s suspicious imo. We’ve seen bad ball placement kill a drive and turn the tide of a close game. Maybe they couldn’t go 100% AI, but there are things they can do. NFL game balls already have computer chips in them for statistical purposes. Yet we still see bad ball placement. Why?

They are accurate within six inches but we’ve seen balls placement off by a half a yard or more at times.

Oh, another thing that drives me nuts is when they throw a flag, and the dumb ass announcer says they are going to call that every time.

Yeah, they don’t always call it.

Don't know if you guys watched the 49er game, but this team will absolutely win the SB this season based on officiating alone. They were holding on literally every play. Late hits on almost every play, even late hits with guys on the ground (which I thought for sure the league wouldn't look the other way on). I've already pointed out how dirty this team is, yet they somehow had less than 1/2 the penalties called against the Cards.

Every key play the Cardinals mustered (especially after they closed the gap to 5 points) was called back on questionable penalties. They ended up with more than DOUBLE the penalties called against the 49ers. I get they were at home, but it was unbelievable how biased the calls were.

On an unrelated note, we'd better hope Murray is back as QB when they play us, this Dobbs guy ain't bad. And Purdy is another Kurt Warner story. Unreal.

I can only hope for injuries so the refs can't sway them into a ring.

All it takes is a few bad calls to steer an outcome. Sometimes just one. That PI on Tomlinson-Hodges for example. It was clearly a bad call. They have challenges and booth reviews. Why can’t they have the people in New York’ who view the games communicate when a call is wrong? Especially for some of the absurdly bad calls?

I agree with bad officiating not meaning games are fixed. They make mistakes. They're human. It happens. But I believe they don't work as hard as they can at getting it right because they know they are protected. No accountability.

Make interviews after a game mandatory for them like the players and coaches. Make them answer why they made a particular call or didn't make one. I'll bet they will try a lot harder to get it right.

The league could, but they won’t. I wonder why?

The bottom line is that we as fans actually have all the control. If we were strong enough to stand together and stop attending or watching games on TV until the NFL addresses this matter something might actually get done. Let's face it we all know this will never happen and it will just continue to be business as usually. So be ready to be pissed off and yelling at the TV every time you watch an NFL game that you care about. It's a shame but it will never change unless it just gets worst.

That’s why they can/could do it if they wanted to. They know that if the fans can’t prove it they won’t leave. Even if someone outed the league, most fans won’t believe it. People believe what they want to. We see that in politics all of the time these days.

 

[oldnotdead]

Those who don't want to believe it won't. They will make excuses for the inexcusable. They don't want to believe the NFL could be as corrupt as all the other professional sports before it. Who knows some might believe that wrestling isn't a soap opera masquerading as a sporting event and is 100% scripted. They will say it's a coincidence that the penalties align with the betting lines. They will ignore the massive advertising by gaming companies during games. It's just a strange coincidence that this tidal wave of bad calls every week coincides with the inclusion of institutionalized gambling by the NFL. Oh wait fantasy football isn't gambling? Hell they even had to reduce the penalties for the numerous players caught gambling, why? Because they threatened a massive class action suit. Gambling is officially sanctioned by the NFL. The gaming revenue is probably bigger than the TV revenue streams, just more discrete passed off as legitimate advertising revenue perhaps? The lawsuit would have exposed that revenue to the light of day and OMG their precious legal cartel status would be jeopardized. Horror or horrors!!

You don't think McVay pissed off a lot of people by kicking a FG to cover the line at the end of the game? You don't think the calls going against the Rams the following week weren't sending a message to McVay? If so I've got some lovely lakeshore property on the Salton Sea I want to sell.

It sickens me that the sport I grew up loving has been corrupted.

 

[dieterbrock]

I love a good conspiracy theory, but I need there to be some plausibility.
The intentional fixing of games to me just doesnt hold up.
-The NFL supporting it? Not a chance. there isnt a snowball's chance in hell that a Jerry Jones would be complicit in the charade, where's his SB trophy from the last 25 years? Dick head Snyder would have ratted out the whole gig when he was forced out. etc etc
-TV Execs? Ratings? Silly stuff. Anyone who has ever been around the production of a sporting event would know how hectic the behind the scenes is, lighting, angles, commercial breaks etc, the idea that an exec would also then be concerned with managing the game outcome is just absurd. Not to mention, the ratings? The rating system is so archaic, they dont even truly know how many folks are watching games, to think the ratings will have an impact by the Rams having a touchdown called back is comical.
-Gambling? That ship has sailed. With legalized betting the NFL receives a windfall from the betting sites. And again, anyone who knows how gambling works knows that the outcome of any game is irrelevant to "the house". The house makes its money on all the silly bets, the parlays, the teasers and thanks to real time betting, they make a fortune on the quarter/half bets. Game outcomes and spreads rarely hurt the house because it cancels itself out
Alas, the refs will make a ton of correct calls every game, its the bad calls that stand out. And it stands out more than ever because of the additional camera angles, high def tv etc.
So I'd love to engage on a theory, but its got to make a little bit of sense, dont get me started on whistleblowers. To think of the amount of people "in the know" that would have to stay quiet.... Yikes

 

[Tano]

I love a good conspiracy theory, but I need there to be some plausibility.
The intentional fixing of games to me just doesnt hold up.
-The NFL supporting it? Not a chance. there isnt a snowball's chance in hell that a Jerry Jones would be complicit in the charade, where's his SB trophy from the last 25 years? Dick head Snyder would have ratted out the whole gig when he was forced out. etc etc
-TV Execs? Ratings? Silly stuff. Anyone who has ever been around the production of a sporting event would know how hectic the behind the scenes is, lighting, angles, commercial breaks etc, the idea that an exec would also then be concerned with managing the game outcome is just absurd. Not to mention, the ratings? The rating system is so archaic, they dont even truly know how many folks are watching games, to think the ratings will have an impact by the Rams having a touchdown called back is comical.
-Gambling? That ship has sailed. With legalized betting the NFL receives a windfall from the betting sites. And again, anyone who knows how gambling works knows that the outcome of any game is irrelevant to "the house". The house makes its money on all the silly bets, the parlays, the teasers and thanks to real time betting, they make a fortune on the quarter/half bets. Game outcomes and spreads rarely hurt the house because it cancels itself out
Alas, the refs will make a ton of correct calls every game, its the bad calls that stand out. And it stands out more than ever because of the additional camera angles, high def tv etc.
So I'd love to engage on a theory, but its got to make a little bit of sense, dont get me started on whistleblowers. To think of the amount of people "in the know" that would have to stay quiet.... Yikes

You make a point but something smells fishy to me.

I was speaking with a friend at work about this and his opinion is that there might be an unwritten rule out there where refs are encouraged to make games more interesting if the calls could go either way.

I just don't know anymore.

 

[nighttrain]

if games were rigged no way it would not get out.
too many moving parts
train

 

[Allen2McVay]

if games were rigged no way it would not get out.
too many moving parts
train

If you are going to use common sense and sound reason, like that “Nut Case” @dieterbrock, then I don’t know what we are going to do with you.

 

[Memento]

Punishment for the Ref I made the thread about.

He's been suspended for a short time. And I must've missed a lot, because the zebra was bumped into twice while not moving as the linebacker dropped back into coverage. The second time, he ripped the kid's helmet off and then ejected him.

The thing I find ironic is that there is a guy on the comments named - and I shit you not - Jason Brown, and I wondered for a moment if it's our Jason Brown (he mentioned he played high school-football in the mid-90s, and our Jason Brown was drafted in 2005, so he probably isn't. Didn't find out his position because I don't want to comment, but I definitely cracked a smile at the irony.) so it's definitely an interesting thought. Even if it's not, I got a chuckle out of it because he was mentioning how the ref was clearly in the wrong.

 

[FaulkSF]

In an earlier post I asked why the umpire was out of position. In a snap resulting in a pass the umpire should not move backward (instinctual), but forwards (huh?). Mechanics ask the umpire to move forward as soon as a pass play is diagnosed (tackle takes a step back).

But why? So they don’t get ran over by a shallow crosser. First HS game I umpired I got ran over. A corner and receiver both ran right into me cause I didn’t immediately climb the pocket after the tackle stepped backward. I didn’t get mad at the players, but myself. Both kids checked on me I was fine, just lost my balance (not the fact that I’m 140lbs soaking wet).

For this reason alone the official is 100% at fault. At no point do you want to get that kind of back pedal depth as an umpire. Only exception is in the NFL as the umpire is positioned behind the OL instead of the DL.

 

[RamsFan4Life]

If I had my way, the human refs would be secondary to a massive Hawkeye system that would use AI/wire framing along with ball sensors to make most calls and EVERY CALL would automatically reviewed in real time so elevating shitty refs to the next level is less of an issue

I just wish the nfl hadn’t figured that allowing holding by the offense line on every play to increase scoring was a good plan

 

[Mackeyser]

Let’s figure out the words because words matter

It’s NOT fixed or rigged. That implies a level of control not in evidence. I agree that games aren’t fixed or rigged

They can be “guided”

There are MULTIPLE videos about how the Lions have been historically screwed by the refs. We’ve seen it countless times that it only takes a few or even one call to change the outcome of a game.

I’ve repeatedly stated that you can see this based on the narratives that are built up.

Let’s say that whoever “they” is (it’s not germane for this example) want Cincinnati to win a game as there’s a slate of games coming up and the ratings will be gonzo if Cincy comes in hot. So maybe they’re considering “guiding” the game toward them winning and like Rodgers, he blows out an Achilles on the first series. They’re not gonna call umpteen fouls against the opposing team with a backup QB. It’s too obvious.

That’s why they cultivate multiple narratives to account for that. I don’t think they really care who wins per se, but they want to maximize revenues. So certain teams are always given a chance… which is why the Cowboys always coming up short is always hilarious… because as much help as they’ve been given over the years, they still choke…LOL

Unlike Baseball, the NFL is slow walking tech, but they can’t stop it because the viewers demand it in their broadcast and the more tech we see in the broadcast, the easier it is for even the casual fan to detect those “homecooking” calls and those “guided” calls…

I actually think the days of manipulating games is coming to an end because with all the AI tools coming, the ability to crack any decision algorithm that the NFL might try to use to manipulate games using tech would backfire massively.

Add to that that the XFL/USFL actually let you SEE what is happening in the review booth and the NFL will lose its last analog human tool to “guide” games

I’d stop watching if I saw evidence of fixing. There’s umpteen examples of “guiding” like that Steelers game, but that’s not guaranteed and it just means teams have to beat two opponents that day and as more tech is deployed, there will be fewer and fewer avenues to manipulate the outcomes.

They’ll just have to celebrate the randomness and be ok with a Super Bowl of two not terribly popular teams. We’ve seen that in baseball for sure. No one is ever gonna convince me that the Astros are a nationally supported team and neither are team like the Braves or the Brewers or the Giants, but they get to and sometimes win it all (the league only discovered the Astros cheating after they won)

 

[Tano]

Let’s figure out the words because words matter

It’s NOT fixed or rigged. That implies a level of control not in evidence. I agree that games aren’t fixed or rigged

They can be “guided”

There are MULTIPLE videos about how the Lions have been historically screwed by the refs. We’ve seen it countless times that it only takes a few or even one call to change the outcome of a game.

I’ve repeatedly stated that you can see this based on the narratives that are built up.

Let’s say that whoever “they” is (it’s not germane for this example) want Cincinnati to win a game as there’s a slate of games coming up and the ratings will be gonzo if Cincy comes in hot. So maybe they’re considering “guiding” the game toward them winning and like Rodgers, he blows out an Achilles on the first series. They’re not gonna call umpteen fouls against the opposing team with a backup QB. It’s too obvious.

That’s why they cultivate multiple narratives to account for that. I don’t think they really care who wins per se, but they want to maximize revenues. So certain teams are always given a chance… which is why the Cowboys always coming up short is always hilarious… because as much help as they’ve been given over the years, they still choke…LOL

Unlike Baseball, the NFL is slow walking tech, but they can’t stop it because the viewers demand it in their broadcast and the more tech we see in the broadcast, the easier it is for even the casual fan to detect those “homecooking” calls and those “guided” calls…

I actually think the days of manipulating games is coming to an end because with all the AI tools coming, the ability to crack any decision algorithm that the NFL might try to use to manipulate games using tech would backfire massively.

Add to that that the XFL/USFL actually let you SEE what is happening in the review booth and the NFL will lose its last analog human tool to “guide” games

I’d stop watching if I saw evidence of fixing. There’s umpteen examples of “guiding” like that Steelers game, but that’s not guaranteed and it just means teams have to beat two opponents that day and as more tech is deployed, there will be fewer and fewer avenues to manipulate the outcomes.

They’ll just have to celebrate the randomness and be ok with a Super Bowl of two not terribly popular teams. We’ve seen that in baseball for sure. No one is ever gonna convince me that the Astros are a nationally supported team and neither are team like the Braves or the Brewers or the Giants, but they get to and sometimes win it all (the league only discovered the Astros cheating after they won)

This is exactly what I have been trying to say. I guess I never worded it correctly.

Thanks Mack for clearly saying what I have been incapable of saying.

Guide is exactly what I have been trying to say.

 

[Ramstien]

No matter how you say it, the bottom line is the NFL has to do a better job. It is just strange to me that I don't see as much if any of this crap while watching college football.

 

[Classic Rams]

Here's some more proof. Didn't even see how nothing this penalty was since broadcast never gives us replays or comments in our favor about shit like this.

View: https://x.com/BiggameCB/status/1708948031897248035?s=20

Wow I thought it may have been ticky tack and never saw that isolated on replay. Will rewatch since I saw it at the top of my screen shots from the fumble replay.

 

[Faceplant]

Sorry, but you'd have to be a window licker to think the NFL gives a flying fornication about fair play. Even last night's game had so many strange/missed calls that I was literally chuckling about how bad it has gotten.

I feel like the older I get, the more I see the obvious flaws that I never considered in my innocent youth, haha. Sad.


Moral of the story: Don't get old...

 

[oldnotdead]

Look at the major sponsors of the NFL. Sports gaming companies. Millions of $$$$$$ every year. That is what the NFL gets. The sponsors simply want to make the games conform to their spreads. The casinos via their internal gaming commissions control their gaming with an iron fist. So don't believe for a second that these gaming sponsors aren't getting something tangible in return over and above simply paying for advertising. All they have to do is tell the NFL to do what it can to make the games conform to the spreads. They don't care how just that it's done.

There was a game I don't remember the teams but a pass along the side lines was going for an obvious TD but an official called the play dead because he claimed the receiver was out of bounds at some point. Replay showed the official right next to the receiver as he ran by but only threw the flag when it was clear he was going to score. The replay showed he never came anywhere near stepping out of bounds. Since he stopped the play before the score all they could do was start at where the out of bounds spot was alleged to have occurred. That was intentional because he waited to see if a defender would tackle the receiver but the flag was thrown and the whistle blown to stop the play. Because there was no score the only recourse was to simply award the first down. Pure corruption there is no way that wasn't intentional. It took points off the board to maintain the spread just like voiding Tutu's TD did.

We will simply have to disagree on this because in my opinion in the history of the NFL these officials have never been so incompetent.....so maybe they have been told what to do to control the scoring. Why do you think suddenly there are so many massive blowout games? Because coaches know they are not going to allow the officials to dictate their wins and losses when it's the coaches that get fired not the officials. So blow them out and take the officials out of the equation.

 

[ReekofRams]

Is there maybe a few referees that call games with a bias? Probably; especially more so in school level sports.
But we should be careful to not put a blanket type blame when the majority do try to call games fairly. And yes everyone will miss a call here and there.

 

[Ramstien]

Someone needs to make public these officials' phone #s and addresses. So, we can torment them like they do us every week.