The “refs are out to get us” evidence is actually thin

Bobhaze said:

Every year, during every Cowboys game, the cries of “These refs are out to get us”, or “Goodell has this crew paid off to get us” go out. But it does beg the question, Is this really true? What evidence do we have that we are getting hosed by the guys in stripes?

Looking at the number of total penalties called during the season is one way to look at the big picture of how often the Cowboys are being flagged during games compared to the rest of the league. Here’s a link to a pretty good free site to examine penalties called: https://www.nflpenalties.com/phase.php?year=2018

Here’s how the Cowboys stacked up last year when it came to penalties called against us:

• The Cowboys were 21st in the NFL last year in total number of penalties called against us. In other words, 20 of the 32 teams in the NFL had more penalties called than we did.
• We were ranked 10th in the league in offensive holding calls against us, which is in the top third. But here’s some perspective: We were called 25 times for offensive holding. Our opponents were called 25 times last year for offensive holding. Can’t say we were unequally called.
• In a year when defensive holding was seemingly called constantly, the Cowboys were ranked 24th in number of defensive holding calls.

So looking at 2019 in the penalties called department, it looks like we weren’t penalized as much as most teams.
one thing I will say is the quality of refereeing in the NFL has dropped in my opinion. But I don’t think any one team has been the beneficiary of the refs bad calls. This is a problem the NFL needs to address. It’s not a fairness issue as much as a quality issue.

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foofighters said:

I don't think the refs are out to get us specifically. I also don't like to be one who discusses conspiracy theories either but it times it sure does look like they are trying to control the outcome of games. With all teams not just the Cowboys. Also, I am tired of that yellow flag. I see it too much during games and I see the refs under the hood too much as well. That needs to change. Call obvious penalties but let both teams play.

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foofighters said:

I don't think the refs are out to get us specifically. I also don't like to be one who discusses conspiracy theories either but it times it sure does look like they are trying to control the outcome of games. With all teams not just the Cowboys. Also, I am tired of that yellow flag. I see it too much during games and I see the refs under the hood too much as well. That needs to change. Call obvious penalties but let both teams play.

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Chocolate Lab said:

Of course it's silly. The idea that the league would purposely hold down its most popular team makes zero sense.

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glimmerman said:

What’s sad about it is that it happens in most games. Across the league.

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sean10mm said:

Garrett ran a sloppy, undisciplined ship, and that has an effect on penalties.

The Cowboys have played dumb for his entire tenure. Wade let the rot set in after Parcells left, and Garrett turned it up to 11.

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Cowboy Lover said:

Oh...and you also make a great point about "controlling" the games in general...not just the Cowboys.

Of course we watch tehCowboys more frequently typically and certainly with more attention and investment. Happens to many teams, I would say.

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Bobhaze said:

Every year, during every Cowboys game, the cries of “These refs are out to get us”, or “Goodell has this crew paid off to get us” go out. But it does beg the question, Is this really true? What evidence do we have that we are getting hosed by the guys in stripes?

Looking at the number of total penalties called during the season is one way to look at the big picture of how often the Cowboys are being flagged during games compared to the rest of the league. Here’s a link to a pretty good free site to examine penalties called: https://www.nflpenalties.com/phase.php?year=2018

Here’s how the Cowboys stacked up last year when it came to penalties called against us:

• The Cowboys were 21st in the NFL last year in total number of penalties called against us. In other words, 20 of the 32 teams in the NFL had more penalties called than we did.
• We were ranked 10th in the league in offensive holding calls against us, which is in the top third. But here’s some perspective: We were called 25 times for offensive holding. Our opponents were called 25 times last year for offensive holding. Can’t say we were unequally called.
• In a year when defensive holding was seemingly called constantly, the Cowboys were ranked 24th in number of defensive holding calls.

So looking at 2019 in the penalties called department, it looks like we weren’t penalized as much as most teams.
one thing I will say is the quality of refereeing in the NFL has dropped in my opinion. But I don’t think any one team has been the beneficiary of the refs bad calls. This is a problem the NFL needs to address. It’s not a fairness issue as much as a quality issue.

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MarcusRock said:

The Butler penalty is a prime example of Garrett as I've pointed out in this thread. Because he and the coaches weren't aware of what was going on, first in sending Butler out there to begin with, they didn't call a timeout to reset and not have a penalty called. But no. Blame the "biased" officials. Had a team gotten away with what Butler did, people would be screaming for the "obscure" rule to be called then. Lol.

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Hennessy_King said:

I mean the fact that this call is typically never made, there was no actual huddle, and teams typically get a verbal warning first. It was a screw job by the refs. And yes the coaches sucked as well. I mean if a guy tried to get me fired from my $40 million a year job I would try to mess him up any way I could.

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MarcusRock said:

It wasn't about a huddle. See Page 5 of this thread. Then laugh at Kaiser.

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Swanny said:

I don't think the refs are out to get the Cowboys. But I do think Goodell is it Goodell treats Jerry Jones different than the rest.

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Hennessy_King said:

Lol. Regardless this call is actually barely ever made and teams do typically get verbal warnings first. That game was the worst officiated game I've ever watched. Watched that game with all my boys only 1 other was a cowboys fan. After the game all of them apologized and said we got screwed.

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CalPolyTechnique said:

I’d say the Cardinals vs. Steelers Super Bowl was one of the worst officiated games I’ve seen.

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Soth said:

Calls against us do not show the whole picture. You have to look at the calls against the other teams too. For example, if our opponents are penalized an average 10 times per game, but only one time against us on average, that would show bias (or we are very unlucky). I don't know what those numbers are and maybe they show the league is fair but using calls against us is not a good analysis.

What if we are about average on calls against us but our opponents are called for penalties zero times the entire season? Your analysis would show that there is no bias but there would clearly be something wrong with the officiating if opponents are not called for a single penalty all season.

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Bobhaze said:

Here’s a sample of what you are talking about- last year, the Cowboys had 25 offensive holding calls against us. Our opponents also had 25 holding calls against them. Overall last year we had 109 penalty calls go against us. Our opponents had 102.

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Hennessy_King said:

It's about timing and if the calls are actual real. Tyron got so many bogus holdings last year. Look, if on replay its a legit call I'm not salty. But when its a garbage call it pisses me off. I don't even like when ticky tack stuff gets called against the other team. I'm a fan of good football

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foofighters said:

I don't think the refs are out to get us specifically. I also don't like to be one who discusses conspiracy theories either but it times it sure does look like they are trying to control the outcome of games. With all teams not just the Cowboys. Also, I am tired of that yellow flag. I see it too much during games and I see the refs under the hood too much as well. That needs to change. Call obvious penalties but let both teams play.

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