Are you ready for some NFL Football? 2014 Edition.

[Gunther]

Tin foil hats all around. Funny shit.

[Abu3baid]

Tin foil hats all around. Funny shit.

its too bad there is no emo for it

[CarlSpackler]

Tin foil hats all around. Funny shit.

I wear my tin foil hat with pride.

[saevel25]

Oh come on... You need to see money exchanging hands? That's a bit much IMO. It is more than unprofessional, it is misconduct of the first degree and it brings a cloud of doubt over his intentions and the Cowboys as an organization. Coupled with the fact of what happened in the game.. Well, it's easy to put two and two together!

Even if nothing really came of it, just brushing it off like you did is only something a true fan would do for his team.

Not really.It is just unprofessional. Misconduct would actually taking an action that would effect the game. Until someone can actual prove that this party bus effected the actual performance of the refs in the game then it is a conjecture. Or in trial terms, circumstantial.

So what if it brings a cloud of doubt. All it is is hearsay.

Yea the ref made a bad call. A lot of refs make bad calls. It happens. So should we be claiming every bad call equals misconduct or the ref was paid off?

If all the proof you have is a photo of a ref having a good time in Dallas during the playoffs then you got nothing buy conjecture.

I could say the same thing back to you, what your saying just sounds like something a Dallas hater would say

[CarlSpackler]

Not really.It is just unprofessional. Misconduct would actually taking an action that would effect the game. Until someone can actual prove that this party bus effected the actual performance of the refs in the game then it is a conjecture. Or in trial terms, circumstantial.

So what if it brings a cloud of doubt. All it is is hearsay.

Yea the ref made a bad call. A lot of refs make bad calls. It happens. So should we be claiming every bad call equals misconduct or the ref was paid off?

If all the proof you have is a photo of a ref having a good time in Dallas during the playoffs then you got nothing buy conjecture.

I could say the same thing back to you, what your saying just sounds like something a Dallas hater would say

It wasn't just one bad call. It was a series of missed/bad calls. Several major holds were not called against Dallas on plays where Romo would have almost certainly been sacked. In addition to the mysteriously voided PI, Bryant should have been flagged for unsportsmanlike like conduct for charging on the field and yelling instructions at the ref.

Again, I had no horse in this race and care less that Dallas won it. I just HATE seeing junk like this.

[Abu3baid]

Not really.It is just unprofessional. Misconduct would actually taking an action that would effect the game. Until someone can actual prove that this party bus effected the actual performance of the refs in the game then it is a conjecture. Or in trial terms, circumstantial.

So what if it brings a cloud of doubt. All it is is hearsay.

Yea the ref made a bad call. A lot of refs make bad calls. It happens. So should we be claiming every bad call equals misconduct or the ref was paid off?

If all the proof you have is a photo of a ref having a good time in Dallas during the playoffs then you got nothing buy conjecture.

I could say the same thing back to you, what your saying just sounds like something a Dallas hater would say

You would be wrong.. I like Shane have no horse in the race so I don't really care.

The "Head" of the refs was having a good time in a "Dallas" party bus.. this is a lot different than having a good time in "Dallas" during the playoffs.  There is no hearsay here, we have all seen the picture.. it is fact!

Quote:

Originally Posted by saevel25

Yea the ref made a bad call. A lot of refs make bad calls. It happens. So should we be claiming every bad call equals misconduct or the ref was paid off?

I'm not sure who you are arguing this point with, because no one brought it up at all.. If you can't see the difference between what is being said and questioning every refs bad call as misconduct for getting paid off then this isn't going anywhere.

The point I am making is that coupled with the egregious amount of bad calls plus the fact that the head of the organization for the refs was partying on the "Dallas" party bus brings about a shadow of a doubt on what happened during the game.. Again, it could be all for nothing like you say, but hey the ref put him self in that position and so did the Dallas organization who should be smarter about how things might look..

I recommend a full blown out investigation to remove all doubt, and strict guidelines on what is and not allowed in terms of being chummy with the people you are reffing day in and day out.  This is just to ensure there are proper controls in place, and give everyone the assurance we want as fans!

EDIT:  I just wanted to add that it is not like we have never seen this type of thing in pro sports.. Tim Donaghy comes to mind.,

[Gunther]

It wasn't just one bad call. It was a series of missed/bad calls. Several major holds were not called against Dallas on plays where Romo would have almost certainly been sacked. In addition to the mysteriously voided PI, Bryant should have been flagged for unsportsmanlike like conduct for charging on the field and yelling instructions at the ref. Again, I had no horse in this race and care less that Dallas won it. I just HATE seeing junk like this.

Absolutely untrue. Witten's holding call was questionable and there were many missed holding calls on Detroit. It all balances out for every team every year. The incident with the head official happened in training camp, it was highly publicized at the time. If anything, Dal paid a price for that all season with officials trying to ensure that there was no favoritism shown due specifically to that incident. To have someone call that back 18 weeks after it happened is comical. Bottom line: Dallas is clearly the better team. The QB is and was better, special teams no question, and they made the better adjustments at the half. The proper team advanced.

[phan52]

This is the definition of pass interference. Plus, they missed a holding call on the same play when the defender grabbed Pettigrew's jersey when breaking downfield.

And why didn't Dez Bryant get an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for running on the field and confronting the official?

BS calls (or non-calls) that affected the outcome of the game for sure.

[iacas]

My interest in the NFL drops to about zero when the Steelers are eliminated from the playoffs, so I don't really care about Dallas, who wins the Super Bowl, etc.

But… that's pretty ridiculous. Blatant PI. No way to argue it. If you don't think it's PI, you're on crack or something.

[Abu3baid]

My interest in the NFL drops to about zero when the Steelers are eliminated from the playoffs, so I don't really care about Dallas, who wins the Super Bowl, etc. But… that's pretty ridiculous. Blatant PI. No way to argue it. If you don't think it's PI, you're on crack or something.

I have you one up, my interest went to zero when my fantasy team was eliminated :) And that was egregious to say the least!

[Gunther]

My interest in the NFL drops to about zero when the Steelers are eliminated from the playoffs, so I don't really care about Dallas, who wins the Super Bowl, etc. But… that's pretty ridiculous. Blatant PI. No way to argue it. If you don't think it's PI, you're on crack or something.

Haven't seen anyone here deny it was PI; by rule, it appeared to be. The ref who picked it up claimed it was face-guarding, which is legal in the NFL. Having said that, it's a stretch to say that it affected the outcome of the game. Dallas D had figured Stafford out. So, if he didn't turn it over on that possession as he did on 2 ensuing possessions, it was a long shot they get it into the end zone. So, let's say they kick a FG...Dallas wins 24-23. The better team advanced, that can't be disputed.

[CarlSpackler]

Absolutely untrue. Witten's holding call was questionable and there were many missed holding calls on Detroit. It all balances out for every team every year.

The incident with the head official happened in training camp, it was highly publicized at the time. If anything, Dal paid a price for that all season with officials trying to ensure that there was no favoritism shown due specifically to that incident. To have someone call that back 18 weeks after it happened is comical.

Bottom line: Dallas is clearly the better team. The QB is and was better, special teams no question, and they made the better adjustments at the half. The proper team advanced.

You are entitled to your opinion of course, but I often see patterns emerging in officiating, especially in playoff games. It is becoming more and more discussed too. For instance, I'll see one team get flagged for a slight hold, while the other is not. The PI call being picked up in combo with a series of missed blatant holding calls leading to Dallas taking the lead puts a shroud of doubt over the entire game IMO.

[iacas]

Haven't seen anyone here deny it was PI; by rule, it appeared to be. The ref who picked it up claimed it was face-guarding, which is legal in the NFL.

Having said that, it's a stretch to say that it affected the outcome of the game. Dallas D had figured Stafford out. So, if he didn't turn it over on that possession as he did on 2 ensuing possessions, it was a long shot they get it into the end zone. So, let's say they kick a FG...Dallas wins 24-23.

And if they get a TD, Dallas loses?

Games aren't that linear, unless it's the last play of the game or something. Strategies change.

Dallas could have lost a thousand different ways even if that ONE call had called correctly, let alone the other terrible calls.

[Gunther]

You are entitled to your opinion of course, but I often see patterns emerging in officiating, especially in playoff games. It is becoming more and more discussed too. For instance, I'll see one team get flagged for a slight hold, while the other is not. The PI call being picked up in combo with a series of missed blatant holding calls leading to Dallas taking the lead puts a shroud of doubt over the entire game IMO.

I have a good friend who honestly believes every single game is fixed, he truly believes it. Most likely cuz he bets on them a lot and too many have gone against him. I think that is ridiculous but you sound a little like him. ;)

[Gunther]

Dallas could have lost a thousand different ways even if that ONE call had called correctly, let alone the other terrible calls.

Yeah um, no. Dallas dominated the 2nd half, guess you didn't watch.

[CarlSpackler]

I have a good friend who honestly believes every single game is fixed, he truly believes it. Most likely cuz he bets on them a lot and too many have gone against him. I think that is ridiculous but you sound a little like him. ;)

All I know is what I see. It somewhat resembles professional wrestling at times.

[boogielicious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iacas

Dallas could have lost a thousand different ways even if that ONE call had called correctly, let alone the other terrible calls.

Yeah um, no. Dallas dominated the 2nd half, guess you didn't watch.

I did watch.  I would not call it dominated by any stretch.  If the Ref didn't throw a flag, that is one thing.  The game is very fast.  BUT they did throw a flag.  then picked it up.  Very dubious.  Again, I have no dog in this game and really dislike Detroit, but they got hosed on an obvious play that I believe was a game changer.  This makes the refs look really bad and appear to have favoritism or at least be swayed by the crowd's boos.

I also agree with @phan52 .  Chris Christie just lost the vote of every Giants and Eagles fan in the great state of New Jersey!!

[Golfingdad]

For instance, I'll see one team get flagged for a slight hold, while the other is not. The PI call being picked up in combo with a series of missed blatant holding calls leading to Dallas taking the lead puts a shroud of doubt over the entire game IMO.

Why do you jump to the conclusion of impropriety?  Isn't it a lot more likely that it's just a case where it wasn't seen.  There are "slight holds" on nearly every play.  There are blatant holds missed all the time.  It happens.

As far as the PI call is concerned, I don't know the NFL rule.  Is it against the rule to face the player while the pass is coming?  Because if not, I'm not sure I agree that it was a penalty.  (It was certainly a hold earlier on the jersey tugging, but that was obviously missed completely)

All I know is what I see.

And this is true for everybody, including the referees.  Missed calls are frequently missed, not always because the referees deem something not a foul that should have been, but sometimes they simply do not see it.

Consider that there are 22 players on the field and as many as 11 battles going on across the field simultaneously, yet there are only 7 pairs of eyes belonging to men with yellow hankies. Complaining about them missing calls occasionally (off the ball stuff especially, like holding) makes about as much sense as complaining that your team keeps losing even though they only field 8 guys.

The players are doing their best, the refs are doing their best.  I see no reason to ask for more than that.