has been horrible:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/27530...paign=editorial

well, the rules of football are so inconsistent, what do you expect? when is a catch a catch? when is a catch completed? when can the ball hit the ground and when can't it during a catch? helmet to helmet is legal on a running back across the line of scrimmage but not in the backfield. helmet to helmet is not legal on a receiver until he has the ball and has made a football move. what is a football move? isn't catching the ball a football move? or do you have to be running for it to be a football move? if you so much as touch a QB above the shoulders it will be a 15 yard penalty. the ball is considered in the field of play at all times unless it touches or the player touches outside of a boundary line, except for the endzone, then just by breaking the plane it is a score regardless if it touches down or not. of course, on a punt can break the plane of the endzone and as long as the ball does not touch ground and a player does not touch ground in the endzone he can jump from the field and throw it back to the 1 yard line and it is downed there. I could go on forever about why. ever look at the size of the nfl rule book?

Oh, I get that as well (and he mentions that the rules need to be extraordinarily simplified in the article and agree totally), but having part-time refs in a sports league as big as the NFL is utterly ridiculous. Lots of fixing needed.

Don't forget the human element thrown in there, which creates a lot of inconsistencies! Interpretation and perception vary between the referee teams. Some teams flag a lot, while there are others that rarely flag.

I have heard that the NFL is considering, and may have already decided to make refs full time (at least some of them) so that they can become better at what they do.

That logic hasn't worked for the Cleveland Browns.

http://www.footballdb.com/stats/penalties.html

Ed, I meant officiating teams

Touché

Overly complicated rules (as Happy pointed out) along with inconsistent application has created a mess. While instant reply can help, I think if they need to stare at the reply for 5 minutes and slowing down the play means the call on the field should stand. Unless it was a clear blown call, this micro review is ridiculous.

I think they should throw out all the rules, give the players swords, shields, spears and chariots (perhaps the occasional lion) and see what happens. They wouldn't have to worry about concussions anymore ....

The replay system can be a useful tool, but it has become almost a growing organism. Far too many reviews occur which slows tempo, kills rhythm, and drags the game on longer than necessary. The replay system worked better (in my opinion) when all requests for reviews came from the coaches. Get rid of the automatic reviews and let the coach decide if he wants to gamble a time out for the chance to have a call reversed.

the only fair thing to do is review every play and every called penalty

They could go mega-tech and set up the footballs, field and uniforms with pressure sensors, RFID, GPS, etc. That would eliminate the need for referees altogether.

No pressure sensors as the pressure changes depending on which team has the ball and the size of the QB's grip.

Actually, I wasn't even thinking about the pressure of the ball (please don't bring that debate up again! ). I was referring to pressure sensors in the uniforms to sense unnecessary roughness and late hits.

Some team (s) will try to adjust the sensor to their advantage or extra piped in fan noise would just set it off.

Should be an interesting weekend.

I take the Vikings over the Eagles, and the Pats over the Jags in a close game.

I sure hope you are right TB. I just want one more Super Bowl appearance for my team before I die.

Vikings - Jags in a return to the "Defense wins championships" mantra.

I'm with you TMatt ^^^^^ but with the Vikes winning the SB.

well, hard for the Jags to overcome a late game surge by both the Patriots and the referees...I have searched and have been unable to locate any NFL game, regular season or playoff, showing only one penalty called against a team, with the exception of yesterday. Amazing, simply amazing...

Was there a non call that you saw Happy?

Could be that that was what the ref was congratulating Brady about after the game.

What?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/local/ref-congratulates-tom-brady-patriots-haters-irate/ar-AAv1pdH

I thought you were up to date all things Brady?

now if you wish to talk conspiracy theories

why was Aaron Hernandez playing

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/wcvb-tweets-...ernandez/199333

I did hear about that. I just had no clue what you were trying to say.

Clearly, the refs were in the Pats pocket. That explains the Jags getting a bit conservative when the heat was on and committing stupid penalties.

Ed, I think you are more obsessed with the Patriots than I am.

That is not entirely true the Jags committed stupid penalties as they were not good enough to win and they needed an excuse to lose.(and figured that the refs can help them in this endeavor)

I did not even watch the game just the lamestreem media whining about it as if it was something that the POTUS has done or said (note could be any past or present POTUSes to avoid any political connotation)

quite a few, even commented on by the guys calling the game, holding by O line, pass interference, holding downfield, pick...

I can point to just as many non-calls against the Jags. Not to mention, how bad is it that they can take a shot at Gronk's head and knock him out of the game and it only costs them 15 yards.

https://bustedcoverage.com/2018/01/21/pa...hip-game-video/

Maybe the Pats are a better coached team.

except the Jags did have a number of critical ones called against them, such as multiple pass interference. in any game you can point to a number of non-calls, but to only call 1 the entire game against a team? Yeah, fishy to say the least (and if it was the other way, I'd state the same thing).

I agree that the shot to the head was bad, and the current NFL penalty calls for 15 yards, so not sure the argument here, the officials did what they were supposed to do. I don't believe the NFL has an ejection clause for this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_Coach_of_the_Year_Award

Perhaps in 2010, 07 and 03

I think the penalty on Gronk was sufficient-I don't think it was intentional. The ref can eject players for egregious penalties.

I don't think the calls against the Jags were bad calls.

Happy-

Sometime, try googling +Pete Morielli + Eagles. You'll find several instances (including on this year) of lopsided penalty calling.

2011 AFC Championship. Pats vs. Ravens. NE called for 1 penalty in win over Baltimore.

There were some obvious missed calls...holding, pass interference, so on. But the Jags had multiple opportunities to win and didn't. They got a lead and then played scared. Afraid of messing up. The best pass defense in the league and they blitz only on a handful of plays? Give up a 3rd and 18? That's not the officials, though obvious non-calls are a difficult obstacle for anyone to overcome.

2011 AFC Championship. Pats vs. Ravens. NE called for 1 penalty in win over Baltimore.

Kind of proves Happy's point?

If we want to go down that road, the non holding and non in the grasp call on the same play on the Giants in the 2008 Super Bowl qualifies.

Burkemi-was the 2011 game you reference the game that the Ravens receiver dropped a sure touchdown pass?

I knew the Jaguars were going to lose when they kneeled to end the 1st half with 50 seconds to go and two timeouts. Their own demonstration of lack of faith in their QB was painfully obvious at that point. Especially considering the Patriots had just scored to get within 4. The Patriots looked like the team that had been there before in the 2nd half and the Jaguars showed their inexperience.

I watched most of the game (and i really, really don't follow the NFL anymore).....i don't care for the Pats and was rooting for the Jags....the only team i care even a little bit about is the Steelers......as for the penalties, the one penalty that jumps out as being a huge play was the interference call that led to a TD for the Pats before halftime....but it was blatantly pass interference IMO...the guy didn't need to interfere, but he did.

If we want to go down that road, the non holding and non in the grasp call on the same play on the Giants in the 2008 Super Bowl qualifies.

I do believe that the number of penalties and penalty yards were approx. even give or take one.

Not exactly a missed penalty, but on the Myles Jack strip/fumble, the refs called him down by contact when he clearly wasn't. He had a clear path to the endzone. The Jags ended up punting on that drive. 90% of the time, refs don't call down by contact if it's close, because they can always overturn on reply, but they can't award the touchdown if they blow the whistle. That was a major blown call.

I was referring to the 2008 Super Bowl

Great point TMatt. I hadn't realized that until I heard it on the radio this morning. The whistle was blown too quickly and he had a clear shot to the end zone.

it was like watching a WWE match

Eagles players should bring folding chairs to the Superbowl

So what everyone on here is implying is that the NFL, which has invested in every effort possible to create parity in the league (salary cap, free agency, etc), and which has taken every opportunity to overblow any possible rules violations of the Patriots (Deflategate), is really in the tank FOR the Patriots and has the referees helping the Patriots make it to yet another Super Bowl. Really? I mean, REALLY?

overblow? not even close...let me know when you lose your coaching staff for a year, then we can talk about overblown...

no ... some of us are waiting for spring training and think the NFL is over-rated at best

I agree, that was definitely overblown too.

There little way to give "parody" back to the Patriots after colluding with Kraft on the Jimmy G trade. That still does not make any sense.

Not at all. I think every game has missed calls. If they break in your teams favor, you don't see the issue; when they go against your team, you cry conspiracy. NE always going deep into the playoffs means they play more important games where both teams are really good and one or two "blown" calls can decide the difference. The Myles Jack call was huge. That doesn't mean Jacksonville didn't play too conservatively down the stretch and basically allow Tom Brady to do what he does best.

Overblow-pun intended??

I agree that the Saints penalty was way out of line.

I expect Belichick von Raschke to take the padding off of the top turnbuckle

But player safety was the reasoning

Kind of ironic given they didn't care about concussions until the last couple years.

I am sure that they would have if they have know... that the lack of effort would minimize the bottom line.

I assume you mean that if they knew they would pay a truckload of money into a concussion settlement that they would have paid attention to it sooner?

you got it

Two developments undoubtedly have driven the awareness of concussion dangers. First, there is the recent research linking sports-related concussions with long-term brain damage, with ALS, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, Parkinson's disease, or severe cognitive impairment. Second, and related to the first, is the players' class-action suit, which resulted in a costly settlement for the NFL. Teams that don't take the concussion protocols seriously can be heavily sanctioned. It's serious enough that there has to be a neutral neurological physician in attendance at league games to administer the protocols.

and yet, there are still teams that skirt the issue and face sanctions each year...one of the Saint's opponents didn't follow protocol earlier this season and the team is under investigation. makes no sense to me...

Oh my gosh! You know, I just realized - Bortles also shook Brady’s hand after the game, and Bortles threw some incomplete passes. I bet Bortles was in on the fix too.

Why was Bortles responsible for not calling obvious penalties/improper stoppage of play?

It was the refs that made Coach Marone turtle up at the end of the first half and continue during the second half.

officiating is both ruining and delaying the game, inconsistent calls, too many conferences after flags thrown, too many booth reviews, too many challenges by coaches, inability to determine what is or isn't a catch (no one even has a clear understanding of what a "football move" is), ground can't cause a fumble unless it was on a catch but never on a run, and on and on...

then you see things such as the past weekend where there is a huge disparity in penalties called in a critical game, with glaring inconsistencies...replay clearly shows uncalled penalties against both teams. and the NFL wonders why they lose more followers every year.

I agree with Happys comments about the officiating. There will always be some human error, but there are a lot of ticky tack calls, neverending reviews, etc that can slow the game down.

That said, those that blame the refs for the Jags losing, in my opinion, are just making excuses.

This. My fellow UGA fans have had a solid two weeks of crying about penalties. If UGA makes just one or two plays differently in that game, nothing the refs did would have mattered. Same thing with Jacksonville. Preventing Danny Amendola from making one or two catches would have turned that game, but instead it was like Jacksonville couldn't even see him.

So what do Pats fans say is the cause of the discrepancy in the number of penalties in almost all of their games? Cleaner play?
Or that there is the possibility of ref favoritism?

I am sure there were holding penalties not called-happens all the time. I didn't see an obvious non call on the Pats. As for the Jags, the ref did blow it on the Jack fumble recovery-whistling it dead too soon. The PI on Bouyea (sp?) could have gone either way. PI and "is it a catch" are probably the most inconsistent calls made.

Again-the Jags had the lead and the momentum until they tightened up and were too afraid to keep playing aggressively. They became very predictable and got away from what worked for most of the first half. It blows my mind how some teams do not play 60 minutes. Take the Pats/Steelers game a few weeks ago. The game was delayed 4-5 minutes as the refs reviewed the Jessie James catch/no catch. Did the Steelers take that time to come up with a plan if it was overturned? No-Rothlisberger said he was praying on the sideline during that time. Then what happens? The Steelers have no clue what to do coming out of that call being overturned. Confusion-the OC makes one call-Big Ben decides to do something else. Most of them think Ben is going to spike it and he barfs all over himself.

:crickets:

after Jacksonville went up early I said to myself, 'self, they better keep their foot on the gas"

they didn't, they should have

Laughable. Crashing down sooner than you thought? An unprecedented 17 year run is pretty strong. Obviously it will end at some point.

Hopefully within the week, LOLOLOL.

Probably not as quickly as your bitcoin investment...

I was a fan of the Patriots for 30 years before they won their first Super Bowl. Now they've won a total of 5 in 16 years and aiming for a 6th in year 17. I think when it does come crashing down, I'll be able to survive another 30 years just on the memories of how good these past 17 years have been.

When I coached wrestling, I always told my kids "you have 3 people to beat: 1) your opponent (obviously); 2) yourself (we can mentally beat ourselves) and 3) the official (sometimes they make bad calls. Deal with it. Never blame the ref for a bad call. Life is not always fair. You need to win with enough margin to overcome bad calls.)"

Well they depth in people that can catch the ball. The just need a quality back up for Brady, fill a few holes in defense and stop playing the Giants in SB. if they can do the first two they have a good chance to keep it up. As for the last it most likely will be another 17 until the can see the Giants again in a SB.

out of the 17 I liked 2008 and 2012

English, please

:goes to app store for edaudit translator app:

Actually, been out of BC for a month or so now after tripling my investment, but still holding other cryptos that I've doubled my investment on, so I'm good, but I always appreciate your snarkiness there Chief.

Just good? Don't short sell/sale(?) yourself there, buddy.