NFL Officiating TROLL

KaGee

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I was wondering last night after wifey (definitely not a football fan) asked "how do those guys (the officials) keep up?" Keep in mind that most of the officials are well over 40, trying to officiate a game of 20-something prime athletes.<br /><br />Is it time for the NFL to review it's officiating program? Is the game getting beyond the physical abilities of those currently chosen to officiate it? Or, is video re-play technology simply not fair to the guys in stripes?
 

dogsdad

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

I don't see a problem with the officials' physical abilities, but I think the NFL should do more about the poor calls. That offensive pass interference call in the endzone against the Seahawks early in the game might have changed the outcome. I thought it was a very questionable call.
 

SpinnerBait_Nut

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

What about the touch down that wasn't. The ball came nowhere close to the plane of the goal line.<br />I did not care who won, but they missed that one for sure.
 

Tyme2fish

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

The refs should've gotten the MVP award for "playing" on the Steelers team.
 

aspeck

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

dogsdad, it was the right call, even though it was a chippy call. You can't put your hand on a defensive player and extend it out (push him away). If it had not been right in front of the official, it probably would have been left go, but he had no choice but to call it.<br /><br />The officiating went back and forth between the 2 teams, with the Steelers getting the favorable calls, but the Seahawks getting quite a few favorable "non-calls" - like the push in the back (clip) of big Ben after he through the interception and was trying to make the tackle. If that had been called, Seattle would have started their touchdown drive from the 50 instead of Pittsburgh's 17.<br /><br />I do think KaGee is onto something. There is no way I would be able to keep up with those guys for 60 minutes! Maybe there needs to be more incentive to have younger, "full time" officials. Ones that practice all during the season.
 

Pony

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

Your guys must watch an entirely different game than i do.<br /><br />1) The pass interference call I wouldnt say it was questionable so much as it was picky. Wether you like it or not he pushed off. The defender CLEARLY took a backstep as a result. It was PLAINLY interference. It wouldn't have been called except for the fact that it was 2ft in front of the backjudge. So yeah......make the argument that it was weak if you want, but you simply cant make an argument that it wasnt interference or that Seattle got robbed......they werent.<br /><br />2) The touchdown. IF it wasn't originally called a touchdown then it probably would have stood that way. Do you guys understand what constitutes as a touchdown???? Doesnt seem like anyone here really does. ANY part of the ball regardless of how small has the break the plane. The plane starts EXACTLY where the whit line begins. If any part of the ball crosses that (not the entire line......but if you were to extend lets say a piece of paper upwards so that the green field is on one side, the white line on the other. If the ball touches that its a Touchdown) Going by the rules, the Steelers looked to have scored. It was called that way, and there wasnt wnough evidence to overturn that.<br /><br />I didnt specifically root for either team. I like the Steelers, but I also usually am an NFC guy........so bias played no part.<br /><br />If anyone thinks the game was won or lost on those plays..........then I say maybe you should look at the 75yrd TD run (Missed tackles/poor defense) and the long throws to Ward......thats where it was won and lost......)
 

Pony

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

Originally posted by Tyme2fish:<br /> The refs should've gotten the MVP award for "playing" on the Steelers team.
that is ignorant :)
 

rosco_59

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

P.O.N.Y. I can not agree with you more. Them two plays were the ones that really determined the end. the touch was a touch down and the player did push off of the defensive player.
 

aspeck

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

P.O.N.Y., sounds like you and I watched the same game!
 

JB

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

I think the off. interference call was correct, but that the touchdown was very very close. I would have called it a non-touchdown.<br /><br />I saw several missed interference and holding events. . . about even between the teams.<br /><br />Another good game where one or two "ifs" would have changed the outcome and momentum switched sides pretty regularly..<br /><br />I really didn't care who won, but I still think the Seahawks are the better team.
 

txswinner

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

The officiating was right up there with the half-time show. If there was a push off, do you ignore the defensive back contact as well. Hmmmmmm, way picky, do not think it would be a controversy today if no call.
 

KaGee

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

Originally posted by P.O.N.Y.:<br /> Your guys must watch an entirely different game than i do.<br /><br />1) The pass interference call I wouldnt say it was questionable so much as it was picky.
A case of inconsistancy at best in making that call. 90% of the time the receiver gets away with that one, leading one to cry foul when it is called. Either make the call or strike the rule. <br /><br />In the replay from behind the ref, he went for his flag immediately, but missed it and had to go back for it. The replay from the other side did not show that. It made it look like the ref got "con'd" into making the call.<br />
<br />2) The touchdown. The plane starts EXACTLY where the white line begins. If any part of the ball crosses that (not the entire line......but if you were to extend lets say a piece of paper upwards so that the green field is on one side, the white line on the other. If the ball touches that its a Touchdown) Going by the rules, the Steelers looked to have scored.
Exactly. On my HDTV, watching the game in DIGITAL HIGH DEFINITION... the ball crosses just as the quarterback was hit.<br />
<br />If anyone thinks the game was won or lost on those plays..........then I say maybe you should look at the 75yrd TD run (Missed tackles/poor defense) and the long throws to Ward......thats where it was won and lost......)
Spot on! Not to mention the missed field goals and the gross clock mis-management at the end of the first half and at the end of the game.<br /><br />So far ASPECK is the only one to comment on my original thoughts.
 

TilliamWe

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

Originally posted by JB:<br /> I think the off. interference call was correct, but that the touchdown was very very close. I would have called it a non-touchdown.<br /><br /><br />I really didn't care who won, but I still think the Seahawks are the better team.
JB, I agree completely on your first point, and your second point. As I saw the play, the ref started towards the pile with only one arm raised, thus indicating he was going to mark the ball. Then he signalled touchdown. He shouldn't have signalled TD if he was unsure. Let Pittsburgh challenge, and make the eye in the sky rule it a TD. Or better yet, line up on 4th down and punch it in. The rest who think that call had a big outcome are mistaken, it was a difference of 4 points max. The Steelers won by 11.<br /><br />JB on your third point, you are completely wrong. Last nights' game was the proof. To ignore that proof, well, that makes you... nevermind. You won't admit it anyway. :D
 

TilliamWe

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

Exactly. On my HDTV, watching the game in DIGITAL HIGH DEFINITION... the ball crosses just as the quarterback was hit.<br />
Thank you! I wanted to hear from a Hi Def owner. I couldn't tell one way or another. And obviously the replay guy couldn't either, so he HAD to let the call stand.<br /><br />But I totally think the NFL needs FULL time officials. And I want them to be confident in making calls. I hate that the guys are hesitant, thinking "oh well, the replay guy will get it."
 

SpinnerBait_Nut

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

TilliamWe, you seen that also.<br />Looked like to me he was going to mark it down, short of the goal line.
 

aspeck

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

Now KaGee, you also ask if the video replay is fair to the zebras. I think that for now it is the best system they have come up with, and most of the time they get the calls right, in the end. However, I think they need to make the calls quicker, and the replay official in the booth should be looking at EACH play, not just the challenged ones. If they see something wrong, let them stop it for a further look, but it should only take a minute make a determination. If it can't be made in that length of time, then it was too close to call and the call on the field stands. This way it could be made in the time the play ends and the next play starts. I think that would help the flow of the game and the officials.<br /><br />Now, if you want to get picky, how about Hasselbeck's fumble that wasn't. He went down on his own - he was touched, but that had nothing to do with his going down. However, the ruling was that because he was touched in the process of going down (Not while he was down) then the ground could not create a fumble. That was an interpretation of the rules call. It was probably the correct call (I say probably because I do not have the rule book in front of me for the exact ruling), but one that could be argued as much as the offensive pass interference call.
 

KaGee

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

True Art... the non-fumble.<br /><br />My biggest beef with ref's in general is one making a call who is not in position to make one. Flags from across the field do not make sense to me.<br /><br />I agree, make Officials full time employees like umpires in Baseball.
 

FSHKPR

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

Now, if you want to get picky, how about Hasselbeck's fumble that wasn't. He went down on his own - he was touched, but that had nothing to do with his going down. However, the ruling was that because he was touched in the process of going down (Not while he was down) then the ground could not create a fumble. That was an interpretation of the rules call. It was probably the correct call (I say probably because I do not have the rule book in front of me for the exact ruling), but one that could be argued as much as the offensive pass interference call.
i argued about that all day at work today nobody seemed to get it. thanks aspeck i am glad i was not the only one. i think the biggest problem was holmgren was probably thinking about next years coaching job again. :D
 

aspeck

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Re: NFL Officiating TROLL

Yep, Fshkpr, if I was a Seattle fan I would be more upset with Holmgren and Hasselbeck's use of the clock at the end of both halves than I would be with the officials. They were moving both times, but failed to use the sidelines and wasted time on running plays. That could have cost them a couple of scores. Who knows how different the game would have been?
 
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