Do the refs really favor Packers/Steelers & scrutinize Cowboys?

[Verdict]

If you don’t believe there is an anti Cowboys bias on officiating, you must also believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

 

[CWR]

No, what is stupid is assuming I haven't considered the possibility since this has been around for as long as it has and discounted it.

What is stupid is not considering motive and purpose behind any such actions and the benefit derived from that.

Others can believe what they want as that makes them feel better and in support that the only way their team can lose is if the refs cheat them out of it. I stated what I believe and at no time did I call them stupid for what they believe and I do not appreciate that from you.

You can believe bias exist without thinking your team is perfect and only ever loses because of it. Complete exaggeration.

 

[CATCH17]

And if they call that facemask on Anthony Brown late in the game, do we win at NE?

If they call the game evenly through out is the game close?

The officiating was completely lopsided. You want to know what would happen had they gotten another call?

 

[xwalker]

Was about to comment on MB3, but I see his rule change at the bottom of the last link. A lot of rules have been changed because of Cowboys

Good observation.

I had created this post in Word and then used it to create the CZ thread.
- I had Barber at the end and didn't copy my comments on him to the CZ post.

Marion Barber:
The Rule: Stiff-Arm the facemask. This move was legal until Barber became known for using it.

 

[Mannix]

Refs may or may not be biased, but they are definitely inconsistent and downright incompetent at times lol

No...they are biased. And most of them now are at the age that they grew up HATING the Cowboys if they were not a fan. You think that hate goes away? No way!!!

 

[john van brocklin]

There might really be some truth to the Packers being favored by the refs and/or the Cowboys being more scrutinized by the refs.

In another thread I speculated that McCarthy/Philbin are teaching the infamous holding technique associated with the Packers.

My question was "Are the refs calling holding on Cowboys players for using the same technique that was not penalized when Packers players used it?"

The fact that multiple NFL rules are directly attributed to specific Cowboys players supports this concept:

Mike Irvin:
The Rule: Pushing-off by receivers by allowed until Irvin became know for it.

Mike Irvin:
The Rule: Taunting. Irvin’s trash-talking spurred the NFL to ban taunting during a game.

Emmitt Smith:
The Rule: In 1997, the NFL passed a rule that prohibits a player from removing their helmet while on the field.

Deion Sanders
The Rule: A prorated portion of a player’s signing bonus would be used to count against the team’s salary cap.

Roy Williams
The Rule: In 2005, the NFL owners passed a ban on the horse-collar tackle 27-5.
Repeat offenders, like Williams, would suffer disciplinary action from the league.

Erik Williams:
The Rule: Hands to the Face (Neck): Erik Williams.

Mel Renfro:
The Rule: Tipped pass by offensive player.
Prior to this rule in 1978, a pass tipped by an offensive player could only be incomplete or intercepted.
If a ball was knocked in the air, only a defender was allowed to legally catch it.

Links:
https://whodatdish.com/2014/04/09/considerable-rule-changes-players/4/

https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports...ges-inspired-by-cowboys-players/287-426219509

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...-romo-deion-sanders-marion-barber-mel-renfro/

Yes

 

[Mannix]

My enthusiasm is tempered, because I know with 99.99999999% certainty that the league will NOT let us win in the playoffs...and you know that I am right!!!

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

No one likes the refs because they can change the outcome of a game with an obvious and egregious call.

The taking your helmet off shows a clear anti-Cowboy frame of thought. Think about it, every player has to wear his helmet all the way to the sideline, because too many people knew who Emmitt Smith was. Those helmets are hot and it's not like they don't show players standing on the sidelines anyway. So the rule makes no sense.

 

[G2]

I don't have any evidence of that, but there's plenty to suggest that the entire officiating system is broken.

 

[CATCH17]

No one likes the refs because they can change the outcome of a game with an obvious and egregious call.

The taking your helmet off shows a clear anti-Cowboy frame of thought. Think about it, every player has to wear his helmet all the way to the sideline, because too many people knew who Emmitt Smith was. Those helmets are hot and it's not like they don't show players standing on the sidelines anyway. So the rule makes no sense.

Unless you’re Levontae David against Dallas. Then you can just take it off and spike it on the ground and it’s all good.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Unless you’re Levontae David against Dallas. Then you can just take it off and spike it on the ground and it’s all good.

Yeah, that's happened twice already this year against us. Obvious no calls.

 

[MarcusRock]

If they call the game evenly through out is the game close?

The officiating was completely lopsided. You want to know what would happen had they gotten another call?

That's not answering the question.

When people show that other teams are penalized more or have a lopsided game go the Cowboys' way, the "theorists" always say that it's not the number but when the calls are made, as in late and game-affecting. Well, there was a late and game-affecting call that went our way and preserved our win. So what is more plausible? That refs suck and miss calls all over the place or that they're targeting the po' wittle Cowboys who are so great that they need to be reigned in?

 

[Rack]

That's not answering the question.

When people show that other teams are penalized more or have a lopsided game go the Cowboys' way, the "theorists" always say that it's not the number but when the calls are made, as in late and game-affecting. Well, there was a late and game-affecting call that went our way and preserved our win. So what is more plausible? That refs suck and miss calls all over the place or that they're targeting the po' wittle Cowboys who are so great that they need to be reigned in?

I don't believe there's a "conspiracy" that goes all the way to Goodel, but there IS a bias.

Refs are humans and therefore prone to mistakes and corruption. Apparently most NFL refs are from an area where the cowboys are hated. It makes sense they'd make some calls/non-calls that hurt the cowboys, even if they're doing it subconsciously.

 

[MarcusRock]

I don't believe there's a "conspiracy" that goes all the way to Goodel, but there IS a bias.

Refs are humans and therefore prone to mistakes and corruption. Apparently most NFL refs are from an area where the cowboys are hated. It makes sense they'd make some calls/non-calls that hurt the cowboys, even if they're doing it subconsciously.

Lol. Why wouldn't it "make sense" that they take their jobs seriously and do it the best they can? Isn't that what most people with high-visibility jobs do, since you're bringing the human psyche into this and all?

 

[Rack]

Lol. Why wouldn't it "make sense" that they take their jobs seriously and do it the best they can? Isn't that what most people with high-visibility jobs do, since you're bringing the human psyche into this and all?

You think humans stop being humans based on their job?

Must be a nice bubble you live in.

 

[MarcusRock]

You think humans stop being humans based on their job?

Must be a nice bubble you live in.

You mentioned something you believe is human nature and so did I. Being in a high-visibility job is a motivator for most humans to do their best so they aren't a topic of discussion. Yours isn't more valid than mine. If so, produce proof. Oh right, theorists don't do that. It would require science so I understand to doubly not expect anything.

 

[Mannix]

I don't think that it is a conspiracy per se.

If individual refs favor or scrutinize specific teams because they believe that is what their employer prefers, it's still not a conspiracy.

IMO, it's only a conspiracy if the NFL demands that they do it.

The Cowboys draw viewers regardless of that happens.
- Controversy draws more interest.
- It is the foundation of the media. All media, not just sports media.
- Studies have concluded that the ratio or negative to positive new stories is in the range of 90% to 10%.

It would be great to see a map of where NFL refs live and where they lived during childhood years when they likely became fans of a specific NFL team.

It is well known that there is a high percentage of NFL refs from the North & specifically the North East.

That seems odd considering that it is also well known that the highest percentage of college refs are from the South.

It is logical to think that the top source of new refs for the NFL would come from the pool of college refs.

----------If individual refs favor or scrutinize specific teams because they believe that is what their employer prefers, it's still not a conspiracy.

Bingo....that is exactly what is going on. They know that they can screw Dallas and there will be ZERO repercussions.

 

[Mannix]

Dez CATCH playoff game, Our first drive. Went down the field and scored with a TD pass to the fullback. Romo throws pass, count one thousand one one thousand two....Mathews takes him out late. Way late. And right at the knees. No flag. I looked at my son and said ...well, this ones over.

There was also a 3rd down throw to Cobb resulting in a first down that CLEARLY hit the ground....never even saw a replay muck less a review.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

You mentioned something you believe is human nature and so did I. Being in a high-visibility job is a motivator for most humans to do their best so they aren't a topic of discussion. Yours isn't more valid than mine. If so, produce proof. Oh right, theorists don't do that. It would require science so I understand to doubly not expect anything.

Horrible people don't give a dang what public scrutiny has to say. That's what makes them horrible. There are leadrers of whole entire countries that are horrible.

So good people care. Horrible people don't. But if an employee likes his job then he'll do his best to keep that job. And NFL referees have a pretty nice job. So I do think that most of them are trying to do their best.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

You think humans stop being humans based on their job?

Must be a nice bubble you live in.

Right, and you’ve gone the extra step and assumed the refs are all biased against the Cowboys.

Loool, can’t make this stuff up.