Who the NFL is really in bed with.

[jacktheripper85]

I don’t buy the theory that the NFL is “in bed with Vegas.” I think the bigger issue is the NFL’s relationship with the networks.


Watch what happens when a team gets up by two scores. Suddenly, the flags seem to start flying against the team with the lead, drives get extended, and before you know it, we have a one-score game again.


Why does that matter? Parity equals ratings. Close games keep people watching. Blowouts make people change the channel. More viewers staying until the final whistle means more valuable advertising, stronger ratings, and more money for everyone involved.


The NFL and its television partners have billions of dollars tied to keeping viewers engaged. I’m not saying every flag is predetermined or that there’s some script sitting in an officiating room. But I do believe the way NFL games are officiated increasingly favors keeping games competitive.


Follow the money. The product is a lot more valuable when it’s 27–24 with two minutes left than when it’s 34–10 at halftime.

 

[Tano]

I don’t buy the theory that the NFL is “in bed with Vegas.” I think the bigger issue is the NFL’s relationship with the networks.


Watch what happens when a team gets up by two scores. Suddenly, the flags seem to start flying against the team with the lead, drives get extended, and before you know it, we have a one-score game again.


Why does that matter? Parity equals ratings. Close games keep people watching. Blowouts make people change the channel. More viewers staying until the final whistle means more valuable advertising, stronger ratings, and more money for everyone involved.


The NFL and its television partners have billions of dollars tied to keeping viewers engaged. I’m not saying every flag is predetermined or that there’s some script sitting in an officiating room. But I do believe the way NFL games are officiated increasingly favors keeping games competitive.


Follow the money. The product is a lot more valuable when it’s 27–24 with two minutes left than when it’s 34–10 at halftime.

What I said in my post saying the Refs are told to keep the game as close as possible if at all possible.

Some games are impossible.

The Rams Giants was one of those games where the Refs knew they couldn't keep it close without being completely suspicious.

 

[Flatlyner]

Last night was more then trying to keep in close. Our defense and offense in the 2nd half let them back into the game. The refs were told to have the home team win. Its very clear with the 5 penalties on the last drive, all while holding was blatantly occurring on nearly every play.

 

[thirteen28]

Last night was more then trying to keep in close. Our defense and offense in the 2nd half let them back into the game. The refs were told to have the home team win. Its very clear with the 5 penalties on the last drive, all while holding was blatantly occurring on nearly every play.

There was a stat I saw this morning by that this was the most penalties against one team inside two minutes in any game since 2000.

Fucking disgraceful performance by those soulless cocksuckers.

 

[Cjcinec]

NFL is n bed with $$$$$$$. Crazy ass foreign games, Games on streaming platforms, Advertising gambling sites, a ton of commercials. The game we grew up with has changed. They are making a ton of money but the average fan can’t afford to attend a game. Definitely not the same game it once was. But that’s just me personally.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Been saying this for awhile. It’s the TV networks not Vegas.

The modern NFL is entertainment.

The average fan(which is the target audience these days) will change the channel if it’s a blowout. Even some diehards will tune out.

Some of these games are being “massaged” by all the grey area calls on the field to keep them exciting. Keep the drama alive so to speak.

Not fixed or straight up rigged. Manipulated.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Remember all the Super Bowl blowouts back in the day….You don’t see too many of those anymore. Same with playoff games in general.

 

[thirteen28]

NFL is n bed with $$$$$$$. Crazy ass foreign games, Games on streaming platforms, Advertising gambling sites, a ton of commercials. The game we grew up with has changed. They are making a ton of money but the average fan can’t afford to attend a game. Definitely not the same game it once was. But that’s just me personally.

It’s not just you. To see games now you need multiple streaming services. The NFL, for the sake of $$$, is making their product less and less accessible, just like boxing did. With that and the other stuff you mentioned, it will sooner or later catch up to them.

I’m still interested in the Rams, but I can’t honestly say I’m as interested in the league as a whole anymore.

 

[XXXIVwin]

This is the only "conspiracy theory" that doesn't make me want to roll my eyes and dismiss it out of hand.

For a variety of reasons, I think these theories of the "NFL at large" favoring "certain teams" is kind of silly. Too much downside with too little upside.

But parity, unpredictability, and close games? Yes, I'd agree THAT is where the money is.

I still would argue that the NFL is making billions without direct manipulation, corruption, and the criminal payment of officials. I highly doubt there is a coordinated plan.

But given the huge influence of gambling, it is becoming more plausible that one or two bad actors could make some money via criminal means.

One other caveat: let's also remember that Week 3 was a crazy outlier in terms of close games. Weeks 1 and 2 had a more usual distribution of blowouts, double-digit wins, and nail biters.

 

[snackdaddy]

I think Puka was right. While there probably isn't a huge conspiracy, the refs ego becomes a part of it. Players get all the attention. Refs don't if they call the game correctly. They want to inject themselves into the conversation. Bad calls like the ones last night should have repercussions. There should be accountability. There should be proper compensation for fairly called games. And penalties for poorly called games. "You did a good job. So you will be getting a bonus for that game". Or "You did a poor job. No bonus". Or "You really screwed that one up. We're deducting 10 percent from your next check".

 

[RamsTheirWife]

I don't watch every game impossible however the Saints have been fucked so far over 2/3 games. I ain't a Saints fan.

OUR Rams were fucked Sunday night. Asshole Face got his "revenge" game. Albeit regular season week 3 instead of NFC Championship game. That SB still fucked me up from time to time. (No Gurley, etc). The authentication the luster. Cluster fuck now. The endless gambling apps ads. Sorry for the rant.

 

[muggmeister]

Average cost for a family of 4 is over $1,600 across the league. I hate all the different streaming fees and the price of the Sunday ticket but it's still a deal compared to attending one damn game in person. The NFL is in bed with anybody and everybody who will make everyone richer while raping the people who pay to watch. The fucking commissioner will be a billionaire by the next time his contract up, think about that shit for a minute, the NFL will make him a billionaire, that's fucking power people.

 

[PARAM]

I still would argue that the NFL is making billions without direct manipulation, corruption, and the criminal payment of officials. I highly doubt there is a coordinated plan

That take, though reasonable, totally neglects the level of greed involved. Just like some folks, the NFL appears to have a theory there's never enough profit. They cram their product down the world's throat.....Australia, England, Germany, Spain, Brazil, etc. What does a 30 sec SB ad cost these days?

 

[RamsSince1969]

Remember all the Super Bowl blowouts back in the day….You don’t see too many of those anymore. Same with playoff games in general.

Unreal non-call

 

[Twopointtry]

I'm tired of the whining about the calls. I think it is classless. Did we complain about the officiating or think it was a conspiracy when the Rams were on the other side and benefitted from blown calls? In the Cowboys and Ravens game, the Ravens got hosed by what looked to me to be a very obvious offensive pass interference call and it was called defensive PI, putting Dallas near the GL late in the game. That call was much worse than the Rams game. The Ravens didn't allow Dallas to score a TD and won the game with a FG. What is the point of complaining that the NFL has a pro-Cowboys bias? Just play the next snap. Make your own luck.

It is the NFL. Stuff like this happens. Get over it. Quit acting like babies. We aren't Saints fans still talking about the NFC title game. Fans might not be happy, but I think it'd be better to have a "We're on to the Eagles" mentality and try to have amnesia about whatever happened.

Control what you can control. Keep playing and executing even if breaks don't go your way. Don't make excuses that cover up mistakes the team made that could have won the game despite any other factors. To be a champion, you have to have a winning attitude. Always complaining about refs isn't what real winners do. Part of McVay's job is to set the right example and help his team move on from a disappointment like this and move on to the next game. Dwelling on the past, even if it comes from the fans and the media, I don't think it helps the team maintain a good atmosphere and mentality. It is just a distraction. If I were McVay, I wouldn't even talk about it anymore. Sometimes, you have to be like a psychologist or counselor, and Jedi mind-trick your own players.

 

[PARAM]

I think it is classless.
Quit acting like babies.
Fans might not be happy, but I think it'd be better to have a "We're on to the Eagles" mentality and try to have amnesia about whatever happened control what you can control.
Keep playing and executing even if breaks don't go your way.

Aren't you grouping fans and players in the same boat? What do fans have "control" of? Fans don't play. They will "move on" to the Eagles when they're goddam good and ready.

I think it's a bit condescending to accuse fans of being classless because they're complaining about a call that completely changed the outcome of the fucking game. And it was two days ago, not 2018.

Honestly, who the fuck are you to call other fans classless and babies? Stick to your amateur talent evaluations and let the fans with passion be passionate.

 

[Liberator]

i don’t think it’s a conspiracy

I just think vinovitch and his crew are terrible at their jobs and let the crowd intimidate them on sunday night

 

[Twopointtry]

Stick to your amateur talent evaluations and let the fans with passion be passionate.

I don't think that supporting your team requires a fan to engage in conspiracy theories and accuse the refs of being biased, incompetent or dirty.

Today is Tuesday. Fans had their 24-hour period to vent. Time to turn the page. There is a reason I didn't post the comment right after the game. I get it, people are mad about the end of the game. Fine, blow off steam. We shouldn't stay there. It is too much. Pull back and let cooler heads prevail.

 

[dieterbrock]

I think too much credit is given to "Higher Authority", I believe in Occam's razor, that is the sheer incompetence of the refs. Some of it isnt their fault, the game is just too fast in addition to the multitude of outcomes that can occur during a single play. But a lot is their fault. I do believe that Puka has a point, like in baseball where the umpires like to be known with audacious K calls and throwing out players/managers at the drop of the hat, these refs/umpires on national tv like to be seen. And just my .02, but I think a lot of times they are determining a penalty prior to a play, like watching a tight matchup and thinking "next time I'm throwing a flag".
The gambling angle is silly IMO

 

[PARAM]

I don't think that supporting your team requires a fan to engage in conspiracy theories and accuse the refs of being biased, incompetent or dirty.

Today is Tuesday. Fans had their 24-hour period to vent. Time to turn the page. There is a reason I didn't post the comment right after the game. I get it, people are mad about the end of the game. Fine, blow off steam. We shouldn't stay there. It is too much. Pull back and let cooler heads prevail.

I said nothing about "conspiracy theories". Complaining about an atrocious call? Absofuckinglootly. You don't think accusing refs of being incompetent is fair? How much football do you watch? There are totally incompetent officials in the NFL. Today IS Tuesday and if fans want to still complain about that atrocious call, let them. It beats the fuck out of discussing shipping Simpson off before he takes an NFL snap or how great the 2035 QB class will be!!!! Like I said, stick to your amateur evaluations and let passionate fans be passionate. You'll still be the smartest guy in the room!