NFL Officiating

[stampedehero]

Your opinion about their work deserves comments.  The NE-Buffalo game illustrates my point.

[xxDarby]

Your opinion about their work deserves comments.  The NE-Buffalo game illustrates my point.

The officiating was terrible this game. Goodell needs to replace them or send them to remedial classes. Crappy officiating is ruining this game.

[gabrielgrissom]

The officiating was terrible this game. Goodell needs to replace them or send them to remedial classes. Crappy officiating is ruining this game.

Hes not going to. The league will not do anything about it... I really wish they would take belichecks rule in reviewing everything... its getting to the point to where its almost three teams on the field... I could go on and on about our games but it goes on in literally every single game this season... and overall this has been a terrible nfl season... they made the comment on last nights game before the bills lost... there was only 8 teams over .500. That is only a 4th of the league i mean that terrible competition.

[Purple Punishment]

Hes not going to. The league will not do anything about it... I really wish they would take belichecks rule in reviewing everything... its getting to the point to where its almost three teams on the field... I could go on and on about our games but it goes on in literally every single game this season... and overall this has been a terrible nfl season... they made the comment on last nights game before the bills lost... there was only 8 teams over .500. That is only a 4th of the league i mean that terrible competition.

Parity has finally risen?

The refs are horrible this season. We got shafted multiple times on Sunday against the Rams

[TheRavenouseD2008]

hmm  do we want to start running background checks on these refs

[52520Andrew]

They seem to have gotten worse lately, maybe they should have the refs do this for a full time job to try and help.

[GrimCoconut]

I don't know what's up with officiating but they better fix it before they lose fans or some crazy fan goes wild and hurts a referee. I almost wonder whether this is intentional botching by the referees since some of these calls are so obvious Helen Keller sees them.

[TheRavenouseD2008]

I don't know what's up with officiating but they better fix it before they lose fans or some crazy fan goes wild and hurts a referee. I almost wonder whether this is intentional botching by the referees since some of these calls are so obvious Helen Keller sees them.

Helen Keller come on Even Matt Murdock is shaking his head 

[balfan23]

I am of the mind that replay is actually hurting the on-field officiating. I have the sense that these guys are making calls and waiting for replay to bail them out. 

 

Another factor is that the rules keep getting more complex and cloudy. Instead of ruling on what seems obvious to the eye, the technicalities are so deep on some of this stuff, they over think it instead of just going with what they see.

 

God only knows what it is that the league is telling them behind closed doors. I am convinced that they are encouraged to make calls that keep the offense on the field. I don't think it is my imagination, but it seems like the majority of illegal contact/defensive holding calls come on 3rd (and sometimes a mile) when the play was dead and a punt was needed. These are killers - especially if your defense isn't top notch as it is. 

 

Finally - and this is the one that I think effects us the most - is that refs get in their minds that a given team is dirty, undisciplined or challenged and can't defend without committing penalties. They have that in mind when they take the field and that team is put under a microscope, while other teams that don't have that reputation ... they simply don't pay that kind of attention to. A "quality" defender makes some contact and they're just playing tough defense. A struggling defender does the same and it is a desperate act that must be flagged. I also think they don't like Harbaugh ... too demonstrative on the sidelines and too much questioning of their handling of games. 

 

Granted on this last point, we're playing in to their hands when we allow the frustration on the way they are calling our games to allow them to just say screw it and go on and commit obvious, egregious penalties. We really need to cut the crap, but it appears Harbaugh is powerless to stop it. He's talked about it until he's blue and the face and it just doesn't seem to matter.  

[PurpleCity5]

This was terrible officiating.

[The Mom Gene]

Officiating IS awful....

 

John said it yesterday.  They coach how the league and the officials tell them it will be called.  When they make boneheaded plays they admit it.  However, when you are calling a game tight, and you're leaving blatant calls on the field, and your laundry in your pocket, then that's an entirely different thing. 

 

Like the facemask call Sunday.  Everybody saw it. The coaches, the players, and the fans... and those of us that watched it on TV... and when he brings it to their attention, they ignore him, like he's not even standing there.

 

I have to agree with Balfan at some point with the whole "letting replay" hash it out.  We'll make the call and then watch the tape; and sort it all out in the end.

 

Everybody actually makes reference to the "scab refs" we had...  well these guys are actually worst in lots of respects.  And it's not even just on our field.  It's on the field league-wide.

[GrimCoconut]

I am of the mind that replay is actually hurting the on-field officiating. I have the sense that these guys are making calls and waiting for replay to bail them out.

Another factor is that the rules keep getting more complex and cloudy. Instead of ruling on what seems obvious to the eye, the technicalities are so deep on some of this stuff, they over think it instead of just going with what they see.

God only knows what it is that the league is telling them behind closed doors. I am convinced that they are encouraged to make calls that keep the offense on the field. I don't think it is my imagination, but it seems like the majority of illegal contact/defensive holding calls come on 3rd (and sometimes a mile) when the play was dead and a punt was needed. These are killers - especially if your defense isn't top notch as it is.

Finally - and this is the one that I think effects us the most - is that refs get in their minds that a given team is dirty, undisciplined or challenged and can't defend without committing penalties. They have that in mind when they take the field and that team is put under a microscope, while other teams that don't have that reputation ... they simply don't pay that kind of attention to. A "quality" defender makes some contact and they're just playing tough defense. A struggling defender does the same and it is a desperate act that must be flagged. I also think they don't like Harbaugh ... too demonstrative on the sidelines and too much questioning of their handling of games.

Granted on this last point, we're playing in to their hands when we allow the frustration on the way they are calling our games to allow them to just say screw it and go on and commit obvious, egregious penalties. We really need to cut the crap, but it appears Harbaugh is powerless to stop it. He's talked about it until he's blue and the face and it just doesn't seem to matter.

the refs are definitely biased. That's a big part of the problem. I've seen Revis commit DPI multiple times but not get called likely because he's Revis. That's only one example but it's clear these refs do hood a bias.I couldn't agree more.

[JEEPercreepermd]

Officiating IS awful....

John said it yesterday. They coach how the league and the officials tell them it will be called. When they make boneheaded plays they admit it. However, when you are calling a game tight, and you're leaving blatant calls on the field, and your laundry in your pocket, then that's an entirely different thing.

Like the facemask call Sunday. Everybody saw it. The coaches, the players, and the fans... and those of us that watched it on TV... and when he brings it to their attention, they ignore him, like he's not even standing there.

I have to agree with Balfan at some point with the whole "letting replay" hash it out. We'll make the call and then watch the tape; and sort it all out in the end.

Everybody actually makes reference to the "scab refs" we had... well these guys are actually worst in lots of respects. And it's not even just on our field. It's on the field league-wide.

They need to completely re-structure the Officiating System.

First of all. IMO on replays, they need to divert back to the officiating office where there is a crew who's only job is to

make replay calls. This takes the heat off of the on field official from the start.

It works fine that way in the NHL and MLB.

Second, they need to have full time referees...and YOUNGER referees. Half of these old men simply can't keep up with the pace of the game anymore.

Turn on an NHL game, and see how many Officials in their late 50's and 60's are out there. Not many.

Third the rules need to be black and white, not up to the interpretation of the rule by an individual.

They need to scrutinize what exactly pass interference is, what exactly a defenseless receiver is, and what exactly constitutes roughing the passer..and call it that way every single time.

ALSO. Certain penalties SHOULD be allowed to be challenged. The whole idea of the challenge system is to ensure that the calls are right on the field, so why not be able to use two challenges on flags thrown or not thrown by the officials, since they often are an even bigger deciding factor in the game.

FOR EXAMPLE

John Harbaugh should have been able to throw a flag in the Jacksonville game to challenge that the ball had not been snapped before time ran out.

Edited November 24, 2015 by JEEPercreepermd

[Cville-Raven]

League wide the refs are in horrible form this season

Edited November 24, 2015 by Cville-Raven

[JO_75]

Hes not going to. The league will not do anything about it... I really wish they would take belichecks rule in reviewing everything... its getting to the point to where its almost three teams on the field... I could go on and on about our games but it goes on in literally every single game this season... and overall this has been a terrible nfl season... they made the comment on last nights game before the bills lost... there was only 8 teams over .500. That is only a 4th of the league i mean that terrible competition.

 

Before I get to the officials, on your point about the records. I counted 15 teams, that's almost half the league that is under .500 heading into week 12. 8 teams are at exactly .500 and the remaining 9 teams are above .500 and have winning records. 

 

I'll say things like these refs must have so and so on their fantasy teams, they must be playing them on Draft Kings/Fan Duel. Sometimes with the way the calls are, it's something that in the back of your mind you have to at least think about that being the case considering how big Fantasy Football is now a days. If they have Aaron Rodgers, why not throw a bogus flag to keep Rodgers on the field so he can get you more points, makes sense right?

 

I know the NFL would never have Open Tryouts in all 32 cities that have NFL teams looking for new officials but they have to consider something. In general it's been so bad, hell open tryouts to find new officials doesn't seem like a bad idea. Teams have tryouts for players, why not have tryouts for new officials? They need to simplify the rule book, that's the major problem. The rules are so complicated(every week we are discussing Catch vs No Catch) that I even think the officials don't know how to call a flag anymore.

[gabrielgrissom]

Before I get to the officials, on your point about the records. I counted 15 teams, that's almost half the league that is under .500 heading into week 12. 8 teams are at exactly .500 and the remaining 9 teams are above .500 and have winning records. 

 

I'll say things like these refs must have so and so on their fantasy teams, they must be playing them on Draft Kings/Fan Duel. Sometimes with the way the calls are, it's something that in the back of your mind you have to at least think about that being the case considering how big Fantasy Football is now a days. If they have Aaron Rodgers, why not throw a bogus flag to keep Rodgers on the field so he can get you more points, makes sense right?

 

I know the NFL would never have Open Tryouts in all 32 cities that have NFL teams looking for new officials but they have to consider something. In general it's been so bad, hell open tryouts to find new officials doesn't seem like a bad idea. Teams have tryouts for players, why not have tryouts for new officials? They need to simplify the rule book, that's the major problem. The rules are so complicated(every week we are discussing Catch vs No Catch) that I even think the officials don't know how to call a flag anymore.

I agree on the part of the officials on having their favorites and I know for a fact and hopefully everyone does that the league loves their moneymakers and will do anything to protect them. I believe officials today have become too friendly with certain players and teams, and its starting to take a toll on the quality of the game. Now onto the part of the officiating last night, I know all about the phantom whistle and all that but what really pissed me off was when it was late in the third or something like that and shady took the ball to the end zone... The judge watching the end zone line is 3 feet away from the play... Your only responsibility is to watch the knee elbow and ball... YOUR ONLY JOB... But no.. He asks for help from the sideline judge that is running to the play at a terrible angle.. So just what if the touchdown had not reached the goal line and was not a conclusive replay... That's potentially a 7 point difference in a defensive tight hard fought ball game... Like I just don't understand how this league can sit back and let it function like this. And its like this literally every single game I have watched this season and I'm not even exaggerating.

[JO_75]

Why does the NFL think admitting the officials are making bad calls and a simple "Sorry" to teams would make things better? Titans interim Head Coach Mike Mularkey said the NFL admitted to the Titans that the bogus holding call that allowed the Raiders to win was a "poorly officiated play". 

 

Then there was that horrible roughing the passer call on a clean hit sack on Palmer during the Cardinals-49ers game, it just keeps getting worse every week. 

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/11/30/mike-mularkey-says-nfl-admitted-blown-call-against-the-titans/

[rmcjacket23]

Well, well, well...

 

It appears the Baltimore Ravens were on the right end of at least one "no call" by the officials that significantly altered a football game last night (possibly two, depending on camera angles)...

 

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/12/1/9825602/ravens-browns-ending-block-kick-six-refs-blown-call

 

I'm not holding my breath for Ravens fans to demand for officials to be fired or for the outcome of the game to be changed (which several people advocated in the past), but I just wanted to make sure that people were aware that the perceived "NFL screwjob against the Ravens" wasn't in effect last night and we, too, are known for being on the beneficiary side of poor officiating.

 

It would be nice if we as fans actually OWNED what we say and how we feel, and apply it universally across the board, regardless of whether the call is beneficial to our team or detrimental to our team.

 

I mean I get the outrage when the officials make key mistakes (like the Jags game) that are perceived to dramatically alter the outcome of a game, but I noticed the outrage or even attention paid to the same mistakes when we are on the beneficiary side of the call doesn't seem to be as frequent. 

 

What's the explanation for that? 

[Purple_City39]

This was an unnecessary thread.  As a whole, all fanbases are going to see the penalties, or no calls, that hurt there team and remember them far more than the ones that benefit them.  Patriots fans think the league is out to get them and even feel they were screwed by refs on Sunday night while every other fanbase feels the Pats are catered to.  This isn't a necessary topic

[usmccharles]

Honestly I'd rather them get it right even if it means a loss but the human aspect of the game will always be there so there will always be a mistake somewhere. But good post

[ravensdfan]

Well, well, well...

 

It appears the Baltimore Ravens were on the right end of at least one "no call" by the officials that significantly altered a football game last night (possibly two, depending on camera angles)...

 

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/12/1/9825602/ravens-browns-ending-block-kick-six-refs-blown-call

 

I'm not holding my breath for Ravens fans to demand for officials to be fired or for the outcome of the game to be changed (which several people advocated in the past), but I just wanted to make sure that people were aware that the perceived "NFL screwjob against the Ravens" wasn't in effect last night and we, too, are known for being on the beneficiary side of poor officiating.

 

It would be nice if we as fans actually OWNED what we say and how we feel, and apply it universally across the board, regardless of whether the call is beneficial to our team or detrimental to our team.

 

I mean I get the outrage when the officials make key mistakes (like the Jags game) that are perceived to dramatically alter the outcome of a game, but I noticed the outrage or even attention paid to the same mistakes when we are on the beneficiary side of the call doesn't seem to be as frequent. 

 

What's the explanation for that? 

Well they also missed the late helmet hit on Schaub, several PI calls (both ways), the 2 Browns players that hit Schaub AFTER he was on the ground from a slide - plus stole the Jax win from us . Guess I'd call it a wash now.

 

TBH this crew just was not as flag happy as others have been for all games this season. I prefer that type of game even though there will be calls that are missed. Let them play as long as no one is laying dirty hits.

Edited December 1, 2015 by ravensdfan

[rmcjacket23]

This was an unnecessary thread.  As a whole, all fanbases are going to see the penalties, or no calls, that hurt there team and remember them far more than the ones that benefit them.  Patriots fans think the league is out to get them and even feel they were screwed by refs on Sunday night while every other fanbase feels the Pats are catered to.  This isn't a necessary topic

Why isn't it necessary? Because it partially hold fans accountable for something they don't want to be held accountable for?

 

You are right... all fans see penalties against their teams and say that the league is out to get them. But not all fans are demanding for losses of jobs by officials, overturned decisions of football games, etc. This fanbase has done this in recent memory. It was a very, very, very popular opinion by many, many, many fans.

 

And yet, when we are on the beneficial side of a very similar call, I can't even find a single poster who even references it? Really?

 

I mean that's a pretty wide gap there... going from termination of jobs and overturning outcomes of games to completely ignoring the fact that it happened. 

 

I mean at least an acknowledgment that the officials had a significant hand in that game becoming a victory for the Ravens should be the minimum I'd expect from the fanbase.

[Florida Ravens Fan]

This was an unnecessary thread.  As a whole, all fanbases are going to see the penalties, or no calls, that hurt there team and remember them far more than the ones that benefit them.  Patriots fans think the league is out to get them and even feel they were screwed by refs on Sunday night while every other fanbase feels the Pats are catered to.  This isn't a necessary topic

Thank you. He is always worried about fans owning up to things for some reason. Dumb thread.

[balfan23]

Wow ... well I think that one hand over the black line being missed is hardly cause for a meltdown. If you go by that imaginary line that gets drawn, I swear it looks like a guy has his hand over it every other snap. 

 

Now ... when I saw this post and saw there was a link, I thought it was going to be in reference to the player that got absolutely leveled on a block in the back during the return. That's what I saw in real time and I'm thinking ... oh crap, this might come back. 

 

It is like the refs get caught up in the frenzy of the moment and become spectators instead of officials ... or they just decide that anything goes when a crazy play like that takes place. 

[rmcjacket23]

Well they also missed the late helmet hit on Schaub, several PI calls (both ways), the 2 Browns players that hit Schaub AFTER he was on the ground from a slide - plus stole the Jax win from us . Guess I'd call it a wash now.

So its just "eye for an eye" now? That's the place our fanbase wants to go?

 

Do we really want to be the fanbase that goes "call for call" across the board and tries to justify how we somehow deserved a call to go in our favor?

 

Don't you think the Browns can point to multiple calls or non-calls last night that went against them as well?

[rmcjacket23]

Wow ... well I think that one hand over the black line being missed is hardly cause for a meltdown. If you go by that imaginary line that gets drawn, I swear it looks like a guy has his hand over it every other snap. 

 

Now ... when I saw this post and saw there was a link, I thought it was going to be in reference to the player that got absolutely leveled on a block in the back during the return. That's what I saw in real time and I'm thinking ... oh crap, this might come back. 

 

It is like the refs get caught up in the frenzy of the moment and become spectators instead of officials ... or they just decide that anything goes when a crazy play like that takes place. 

Right, so not much different than when they didn't notice that the Jags weren't set to run the play before the FG that this fanbase believes single handedly cost them the game.

 

I was really hoping somebody would bring this up. Many people here considered that to be a COLOSSAL mistake and was a fireable offense, yet I don't see how that's any more egregious of a missed call than not noticing a player lined up off-sides.

[ravensdfan]

So its just "eye for an eye" now? That's the place our fanbase wants to go?

 

Do we really want to be the fanbase that goes "call for call" across the board and tries to justify how we somehow deserved a call to go in our favor?

 

Don't you think the Browns can point to multiple calls or non-calls last night that went against them as well?

Well aren't you saying it should be the reverse? That we should go out and forfeit wins if they miss a call against us but suck it up when they steal a win from us? I didn't hear any Jax fans coming out and offering to give up that win, or claiming their team didn't deserve it. Didn't hear any Pats fans complaining last week when the Bills got screwed. Refs ARE the human element in a game. Ideally, they should be in the background as much as possible, not right in the thick of things.

 

You missed the edit:

TBH this crew just was not as flag happy as others have been for all games this season. I prefer that type of game even though there will be calls that are missed. Let them play as long as no one is laying dirty hits.

 

In other words, this is how the game should be played. Sure there will be missed calls, but flagrant late hits, dirty hits, and blatant things would get called. Not every little thing.

Edited December 1, 2015 by ravensdfan

[rmcjacket23]

Well aren't you saying it should be the reverse? That we should go out and forfeit wins if they miss a call against us but suck it up when they steal a win from us?

 

You missed the edit:

TBH this crew just was not as flag happy as others have been for all games this season. I prefer that type of game even though there will be calls that are missed. Let them play as long as no one is laying dirty hits.

 

In other words, this is how the game should be played. Sure there will be missed calls, but flagrant late hits, dirty hits, and blatant things would get called. Not every little thing.

Nope, I'm saying when we demand a victory be reversed from a bad call, we should at the same demand voluntarily hand back a victory when the bad call benefits us. Surely you would agree that would be the "right thing to do" and would display integrity would it not?

 

You last paragraph nailed it right on the head... and its my entire point. Not everything should get called. But what make a fanbase look really, really, really, really bad is when we overreact to something like the officials not calling a procedural penalty on the Jags that cost our team a game, and then almost simultaneously not even acknowledge that a procedural penalty no call benefited us in a substantial way.

 

Neither call was blatant or obvious, despite the fact that the fanbase a week ago thought the call was so obvious, despite not even knowing that the Jags had made an error until somebody else pointed it out to them. And that was literally the end of the world. But this isn't?

 

I had no issue with the officiating last night whatsoever. I thought it was well officiated on both sides. But the overreaction that comes from fans demanding job terminations, outcome changes, etc. from calls that are very similar from both a procedural and impact standpoint shouldn't go unnoticed.

[Tru11]

GL trying to convince people to give up their double standards.

 

you will need it lol

[rmcjacket23]

GL trying to convince people to give up their double standards.

 

you will need it lol

O don't worry, I'm not looking for people to give it up.

 

I'm looking for acknowledgment that it exists in a BIG way.

 

Baby steps.