Think the NFL had a "talk' with the officials?

CouchCoach

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I saw three plays on our secondary that would have been flagged against the Raiders but nothing happened.

Was that the infamous "they're going to let them play" order from on high because it wasn't just the fans complaining about that game, the media was on it as well and the league office hates it when that happens.

That was some fun secondary work for both sides last night, neither one was giving an inch and playing it as tight as I've seen this season. If Michael Thomas had played, it would have been all out war in the secondary.

Those players earned their game checks last night for sure and the Cowboys DB's tackling Hill was no party, he thinks he's a fullback.

It was nice to see a game without so much yellow in it. Nobody likes yellow, it's no one's favorite color.
 

jazzcat22

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There were calls that should have been penalties on NO that were ignored. Two pick plays on offense. As well they had some DPI's and defensive holding calls as well, not called.

And yes a few DPI's on us that was called last week, not called this week. So a few good non calls.
Bucky Joe and Troy went out of their way to say how well the game was called. I guess it was, but they put an emphasis about it.
I did not notice anything that really went our way, as to being questionable, other the what I will post below.

That crack back block was a gift, however per the rules he did hit him from behind. Ticky tack, yes, but no worse than some of the roughing the passer calls.
We got one our way, but it was within the guidelines to call it. So I will take it.

Also many will say that could have turned the game. But there was no guarantee the Saints would have went on and scored either.
 
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I saw three plays on our secondary that would have been flagged against the Raiders but nothing happened.

Was that the infamous "they're going to let them play" order from on high because it wasn't just the fans complaining about that game, the media was on it as well and the league office hates it when that happens.

That was some fun secondary work for both sides last night, neither one was giving an inch and playing it as tight as I've seen this season. If Michael Thomas had played, it would have been all out war in the secondary.

Those players earned their game checks last night for sure and the Cowboys DB's tackling Hill was no party, he thinks he's a fullback.

It was nice to see a game without so much yellow in it. Nobody likes yellow, it's no one's favorite color.

Possibly, I think the officials are given different marching orders from game to game. Some games they are told to "give the benefit of a doubt" to a Raiders team trying to stay in playoff contention against a Cowboys team that was in danger of running away with the NFC East and making late season games irrelevant. They "give the benefit of a doubt" to an OL protecting Brady or Rogers. They "give the benefit of a doubt" for multiple reasons in my opinion. The Saints didn't merit any help from the league for this game and the Cowboys had been F d over enough in recent weeks, NFC East games are now relevent,,, time to let up.
 

Scottishcowboy

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There's no conspiracy, it's just terrible decisions being made week after week but human nature makes us focus on the ones against us. The Raiders game probably cost us the W and we all go mental - and rightly so but it happens. It in theory balances out - but shouldn't have to.

I'd be mad if I was a Saints fan with that blindside block or whatever the heck they called as it killed the drive.

The problem is 2-fold in my mind. You need to practise to get good at something.........running / weight lifting / cooking / typing at speed, you name it, the list goes on...... ANYTHING and the officials are part-time. Get them doing this professionally for a living and immersed in practise.

The 2nd thing is accountability. We've seen it will CW losing his spot for penalties, players getting cut for off the field errors - they are held accountable. Officials seem to get away with truly terrible decisions again and again as there is no accountability to get better/ get it right. Strangely another link to the Saints that that non PI call in the divisional game a few years ago was one of the worst decisions I've ever seen (way, way, way worse than the Dez catch) but I bet the official wasn't kicked out. If it was 1642, he'd have been dragged to the town square and burned at the stake for such an error.

For a business that makes billions, I cannot believe the amateur status on something that could be improved with a tiny fraction of outlay.

Anyway rant over - ACCOUNTABILITY!
 

tyke1doe

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As a baseball umpire, though on hiatus, if there are consistently bad calls that raise concerns among the coaches, they will be brought to our association. The leaders of the umpire association will inform the umpires and go over the rules to reiterate them and to address any particular questions. They'll never say you must call a play a certain way. No association would do that.
But they will say use your best judgment when applying the rules.

I think the NFL refs were informed about the calls, but I doubt any directive was given to them about their calls. I do, however, think it was in the back of the ref's minds.

Also, down the stretch, refs tend not to want to be a part of the game so they "let the players play" a little more, especially in the playoff.
 

kskboys

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I saw three plays on our secondary that would have been flagged against the Raiders but nothing happened.

Was that the infamous "they're going to let them play" order from on high because it wasn't just the fans complaining about that game, the media was on it as well and the league office hates it when that happens.

That was some fun secondary work for both sides last night, neither one was giving an inch and playing it as tight as I've seen this season. If Michael Thomas had played, it would have been all out war in the secondary.

Those players earned their game checks last night for sure and the Cowboys DB's tackling Hill was no party, he thinks he's a fullback.

It was nice to see a game without so much yellow in it. Nobody likes yellow, it's no one's favorite color.
Wouldn't shock me at all.

The obvious manipulations of games through the refs is appalling. Manalive, you have to forcefully ignore it to not notice it. I know, I know, no one wants to believe that our beloved NFL would do such a thing. But it's just so blatant.
 

he-is-bonafide

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It does illustrate how razor thin the difference between winning by 10 and losing in OT is in the NFL. All it takes is a couple drives extended on 3rd down or a chunk play on DPI to affect the outcome. It is of consequence how those things go.
 

JD_KaPow

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I saw three plays on our secondary that would have been flagged against the Raiders but nothing happened.

Was that the infamous "they're going to let them play" order from on high because it wasn't just the fans complaining about that game, the media was on it as well and the league office hates it when that happens.

That was some fun secondary work for both sides last night, neither one was giving an inch and playing it as tight as I've seen this season. If Michael Thomas had played, it would have been all out war in the secondary.

Those players earned their game checks last night for sure and the Cowboys DB's tackling Hill was no party, he thinks he's a fullback.

It was nice to see a game without so much yellow in it. Nobody likes yellow, it's no one's favorite color.
Just a different crew.
 

JayFord

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thanksgiving was one of the worst reffed games ive ever seen

who throws 28 flags?
 

SteveTheCowboy

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Maybe it was just a regular game? A couple small goofs but I thought the refs did a good job. By order? I dunno.

I did see a ref almost pull a flag.....like he thought about it more. We don;t usually get that kind of officiating.
 

Syron

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As much as I like blaming the refs, I view this entirely as a league issue. I see three glaring problems. The first is the size of the rule book. That one is pretty obvious. There is no on the job training, nor any off season practice for them. It's a tough job.

The second is that the league is constantly tweaking their rules. What defines a "catch" seems to change every few years. Defensive pass interference, roughing the passer, etc etc. Every year their have slight changes or areas they emphasizes in the off-season.

The final issue issue is really the biggest, and this is where employing them full time comes in. Far too many of these rules are entirely subjective. Holding calls can literally be called on any play. Seems these are often called because the defender throws up his arms. Roughing the passer is often subjective. Dak got tackled low yesterday in the 4th quarter on a play that would have been a Roughing call earlier in the year. DPI seems to vary greatly between each crew. And of course what is considered a catch...the addition of a football move...is entirely subjective. The refs should be brought together in the off-season, and run simulated games to define each of these rules. Essentially, the league could eliminate some of the subjective nature of the calls by approving DPI, catches, etc, and then allowing the refs to create a uniform standard. Something they can then hold each team of refs accountable for throughout the year.

While the refs have been horrible all year, I just wanted to point it out that there is a bigger picture issue here that won't go away simply by replacing the refs.
 

kskboys

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It does illustrate how razor thin the difference between winning by 10 and losing in OT is in the NFL. All it takes is a couple drives extended on 3rd down or a chunk play on DPI to affect the outcome. It is of consequence how those things go.
Which is why they need to do "SOMETHING" about the PI penalty. Lord knows, I have no idea what to do. However, it quite simply affects the game way too much, and it's all too often way too subjective. See the Benny Barnes PI call in super bowl.
 

kskboys

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As much as I like blaming the refs, I view this entirely as a league issue. I see three glaring problems. The first is the size of the rule book. That one is pretty obvious. There is no on the job training, nor any off season practice for them. It's a tough job.

The second is that the league is constantly tweaking their rules. What defines a "catch" seems to change every few years. Defensive pass interference, roughing the passer, etc etc. Every year their have slight changes or areas they emphasizes in the off-season.

The final issue issue is really the biggest, and this is where employing them full time comes in. Far too many of these rules are entirely subjective. Holding calls can literally be called on any play. Seems these are often called because the defender throws up his arms. Roughing the passer is often subjective. Dak got tackled low yesterday in the 4th quarter on a play that would have been a Roughing call earlier in the year. DPI seems to vary greatly between each crew. And of course what is considered a catch...the addition of a football move...is entirely subjective. The refs should be brought together in the off-season, and run simulated games to define each of these rules. Essentially, the league could eliminate some of the subjective nature of the calls by approving DPI, catches, etc, and then allowing the refs to create a uniform standard. Something they can then hold each team of refs accountable for throughout the year.

While the refs have been horrible all year, I just wanted to point it out that there is a bigger picture issue here that won't go away simply by replacing the refs.
I thought the college refs did a much better job a few years back when they brought them in. Calls were much more honest.
 

aikemirv

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2 worst calls or non-calls in the game were the crack back against NO and the no call on the Dak int. Both turned into giving the other team the ball so that was pretty even.
 
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