| . | ||
 |
||
|
|
Go
|
New
|
Find
|
Notify
|
Tools
|
Reply
|
|
 Registered: 01-27-2000
Posts: 10038
|
Posted
There seem to be two schools of thought on this question:
1) Call infractions as you see them, regardless of score, game situation, etc. 2) In big games, or late in close games, overlook penalties that aren't egregious or that don't clearly create a decisive advantage for one team over another. I confess that I'm an adherent of the second approach, not because I don't see the inherent hypocrisy of it, nor how difficult it is to consistently apply, but because I HATE seeing games "determined" by the officiating (anticipating the argument that the players, in committing penalties, are determining the outcome themselves but shifting responsibility to the officials.) NHL officials used to be famous for "swallowing the whistle" in OT during Stanley Cup playoffs. You had to out and out mug somebody to get sent to the box. But the players all knew this and adjusted their play accordingly. It was generally called (or not called) the same for both sides. Is it unrealistic to have a similar approach in the NFL? Which approach do you favor, and why? EXTRA CREDIT (25 points) Napoleon Bonaparte and Bill Belichick: Compare and Contrast |
 Location: What in the wide wide world of sports is going on out there?
Registered: 10-04-2004
Posts: 9411
|
Posted
1) Call infractions as you see them, regardless of score, game situation, etc.
This is the thing that bothers me about so many calls. Often the ref has a bad angle / view and calls something because of how a players body moves or how the play progresses or ends. The Def. Hold last night at the end is an example of this. The hold, if any, was on the field-of-play side of the players yet the ref threw the flag from the back of the end-zone. Belichick and Napoleon Belichick does not have buttons on his sleeves. Neither know when to quit. |
 Location: In the gutter
Registered: 04-29-2007
Posts: 289
|
Posted
I vote for approach 2, but it ought to be that way at all times. Honestly, there are too many penalties in the NFL that don't need to be there. One that comes to mind immediately is that stupid lineman-over-the-longsnapper penalty that the Packers had against the Bears (which they didn't even commit!) If you ask me, I'd strip down the penalties in football to egregious pass interference of defensive holding, offsides, false start, personal fouls for actions attempting to injure another player, offensive holding in the blatant cases, tripping, and then the obvious ones like delay of game, too many men, etc.(I'm missing a few important ones but you get the point). There's just too much crap for refs to call, and when they get on a power trip they call everything. Honestly, in the NFL there are teams who have 1 or 2 penalties one week, and then 15 the next. Do people really think that level of play varies that much with guys who are constantly practicing? No: it's the different standards of officiating, or just the refs' mood on a given day. So take it out of their hands; let the players decide. I would much prefer to see the Packer's lose a game because Driver got chucked 15 yards downfield on a late drive than if Woodson got called for some BS PI that put someone one the goal line for a game winning score. I don't like watching officials make calls; I like watching players play. And I think you're right when you say players adjust. I don't think they mind getting beat by the guy across from them, I think they mind being hamstrung by seemingly arbitrary calls from officials. |
 Location: The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Registered: 01-19-2005
Posts: 5522
|
Posted
1/2: Call them consistently, and avoid the ticky-tack ones.
EC: Napoleon, for all his shortcomings, was a snazzy dresser. Crisp, sharp uniform vs. crappy hoody/sweatshirt.   Both deserve exile to a place where the classless belong, like Irving/Arlington.  |
 Location: East Wing of Boris' Mansion
Registered: 12-17-2000
Posts: 7473
|
Posted
^^^^
|
 Location: Denver, CO
Registered: 08-16-2005
Posts: 555
|
Posted
Since my thread was closed...
Games not decided by players anymore? Two things pop out at me: 1) The obvious one: Are refs too much a part of the game? I know they are there to stop one team from breaking the rules and keep a level playing field. But is alright for teams to scheme for penalties, ie: throw deep and hope for PI, and flop in the hope of illegal contact? 2) The not-so-obvious one: Are coaches trying to take the game away from the players. We see this in two areas: calling timeouts before plays, and the prevent defense. We saw two instances where the sidelines clearly screwed up in the TO tactic, 1) Shanahan's TO in the Tennessee game gave the kicker a redo on a missed FG, and made the second try. and 2) Rex Ryan calling OT on a play that won the game, but was replayed due to the TO, causing his team to lose. Then the prevent defense, it takes players out of the position to make plays, and puts them in a position to not screw up. Are coaches out thinking themselves? This just infuriates fans when, like last night, your best pass rusher (Terrel Suggs) is playing coverage instead of rushing the passer. How does that make sense? This is said all the time, but each week this gets more and more clear: Let the players decide the games. |
 Location: 160 miles S.S.W of Lambeau
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 2348
|
Posted
These refs have way too much power... And one bogus call which we have seen way too often this year can totally change the outcome of a game... What are the ramifications of a blown call by the ref? Someone told me that they are succesful outside of football, so basically theres nothing you really can do to them.. And they know it.
|
|
Location: Iron Mtn
Registered: 04-21-2002
Posts: 1502
|
Posted
Approach #1. I hate how the NHL game changes in the playoffs and especially at the end of playoff games, and double especially at the end of game 7 playoff games. It rewards the thugs who are good at holding and hooking and penalizes the skaters who are more skillful.
I also hate it when a receiver pushes off at a crucial part of a game and gets away with it because a ref is afraid to throw the flag with 23 seconds left. Anyway you look at it, approach #2 awards cheaters, IMO. |
 Location: Pitying the fools
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 7690
|
Posted
We complain about the bad calls and then we complain about players "getting away with something" in the next sentence.
I don't see how option 2 could work. I mean, we had posters here complaining about celebration penalties not getting called. If you told refs to overlook some of the picky stuff, there would be just as much complaining by the losing team for what didn't get called. |
 Location: Northern Mi.
Registered: 08-27-2001
Posts: 873
|
Posted
So do all the posts about the refs have to do with Monday nights game? Did the Ravens get screwed? I have been hearing all day on the radio that the Ravens were complaining about the end of the game. All the sports guys on ESPN felt the Ravens should quit trying to blame everyone else for the loss. I was convinced the officials were heavily helping Pittsburg in the superbowl with Seattle. Big name players like TO and Moss get the same favorable treatment Shaq gets in basketball. I agree the big name team get better calls.
|
 Location: Somewhere
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 13373
|
Posted
In your eyes though, the refs are beyond complaint. I hope you don't own any business or are in charge of any people, because I guarantee you, you wouldn't have a pot to piss in because it would be missin'. |
|
Location: Pitying the fools
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 7690
|
Posted
LOL You have no idea. |
 Location: Where the hell is Ahwahtukee
Registered: 07-04-2001
Posts: 2913
|
Posted
Nope - the refs should try for consistency. You either call it close or loose the entire game. Just like the ump behind the plate should be consistent throughout the game. Batters hate it when balls are now strikes in the late innings.
You will never be able to take the human factor out of judgement calls. One option is to expand replay to include some judgement calls, but I think that is prone to more problems. It is what it is.... |
 Location: 400 Miles South West of Lambeau
Registered: 08-18-2000
Posts: 16629
|
Posted
Yup. Officials use to only be able to rely on their judgment, that was all there was. I do give reply some credit for causing the deterioration of Officiating in the NFL. The NBA has always suxed. |
 Location: I welcome death.
Registered: 01-24-2006
Posts: 2557
|
Posted
Officiating should be better than it was late in the game Monday night.
|
 Location: Gods Country
Registered: 05-09-2000
Posts: 10941
|
Posted
IOW you would never make it as a male stripper or postal worker...or both. |
|
Location: Pitying the fools
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 7690
|
Posted
LOL, no I guess not.
NFL Live on ESPN talked about the officiating in the game quite a bit today. Showed some good replays. |
 Location: Colorado Springs CO
Registered: 05-10-2001
Posts: 311
|
Posted
I agree. Otherwise you get the players thinking a little more than they should about how the refs are calling things instead of just concentrating on playing the way they have for most of the game. |
 Location: 1/2 mile from Mean Girls gone Wild
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 2378
|
Posted
I think Mike Peira(sp) needs to be fired. He is in charge of the officials and every game the people he is in charge of screw up one way or another. If he can't get his people to straighten up then get somebody in there that can teach these bozos how to referree.
as far as the whining of the Ravens last night, the Ravens receiver litteraly pulled a defender down on the last play to allow the other receiver to catch it. If the Ravens would have scored on that play, the Pats would have had a bigger gripe about the calls than the Ravens did. And I hate the Pats.... |
 Location: Location, Location...
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 11643
|
Posted
I just have been getting the sense this year that the refs think they are awfully darned important. I just have gotten more of a sense lately that there's this attitude that we should all be in awe of their brilliant perfectionism in 'calling that play back because of that holding call that you probably would have missed without my professional acumen.' Like Tim said the other day, someone needs to remind them that people want to see players play football, no one comes to see a game with all its little nuances brilliantly reffed by a genius who is determined to make sure a rule-perfect game is called.
Bellicheck never came up with a cool palindrome like Napoleon did: "Able was I, ere I saw Elba." |
 Location: Bakersfield, CA via Manitowoc, WI
Registered: 09-24-2000
Posts: 9522
|
Posted
I've been a Packerfan since Sept 2, 1965 at approximately 4:15 p.m. Central time. I'm really angry over the way the NFL is going regarding officiating. I agree with the posts saying these guys think we pay to see them, and comparing the direction of the game's playing to the NBA.
I don't think this will change unless the major media starts beating the drum for change, but since ESPN, etc., are relucatant to rock the boat, I don't expect it.... |
|
Location: Somewhere
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 13373
|
Posted
Why would ESPN rock the boat when they are right in the smack dab of New England? I mean Boston wins the MLB title with some poor umping, the Celts are rolling, and the Cheatriots are unbeaten. |
 Location: Broomfield, Colorado
Registered: 02-03-2000
Posts: 7711
|
Posted
Ditto on consistency. Start the game the same and end the same way.
Like an ump in baseball. Call it a strike if its over the plate or two inches outside. But be consistent about it...from inning 1 to the last out. Same in football. Keep the standards the same from kickoff to the final gun. But I do favor refs that take the "let them play approach". These players are pro and have been playing the game since they were "knee high to a grasshopper". So they all have been in competitive and combative situations for a quite awhile. So I appreciate a good ref that can surgically slice out the bad infraction plays and let the rest flow with the pulse of the game. |
|
Location: Broomfield, Colorado
Registered: 02-03-2000
Posts: 7711
|
Posted
|
