Four Ravens fined for abuse of officials

[EPL0c0]

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) - Bart Scott and three other players on the Baltimore Ravens were fined by the NFL on Friday for arguing with game officials and complaining about calls in Monday's game against the New England Patriots.

....

"Clearly, both sides needed to conduct themselves better. We all have culpability, mine included, and I should have made sure they understood they needed to curb their passions after the game in any comments they made about the officiating."

if it had been Patriots players complaining, the league would have fired the officials

 

[theogt]

Ray Anderson was on NFLN earlier and he said the biggest violation was that they did it publicly. They can challenge the calls, accuse them of cheating, etc, just don't do it in public.

Scott's fine also included his on-field actions with the official's flag.

Rolle was not fined for the exchange with the official. He was fined for his public criticism afterward.

Eh...public outrage might be the only catalyst for change.

I just think it looks bad to fine players and coaches for criticizing calls. It's almost reached the point where announcers are afraid to criticize calls.

It really just sort of plays into the "fascist" view of the NFL and Goodell where he's all-powerful and apparently immune from public criticism.

 

[theogt]

Somehow, I doubt your boss would welcome you self-criticizing him on national tv.

No, but this is very much different. I don't get a TV camera stuck in my face every single day like players do. Every statement I make isn't a potential blurb on ESPN. So, of course, my employer has a reasonable expectation that I'm not going to be on TV criticizing their decision.

With players and coaches, I don't think the league has a reasonable expectation that they're not going to criticize calls.

The league thinks it should be immune to public criticism. I just think that's odd.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Eh...public outrage might be the only catalyst for change.

I just think it looks bad to fine players and coaches for criticizing calls. It's almost reached the point where announcers are afraid to criticize calls.

It really just sort of plays into the "fascist" view of the NFL and Goodell where he's all-powerful and apparently immune from public criticism.

It's easy to say that when you haven't been on the receiving end of coach, player, and fan abuse ALA basketball.

Trust me when I tell you, it really is in the league's best interest to keep it in house.

 

[Idgit]

No, but this is very much different. I don't get a TV camera stuck in my face every single day like players do. Every statement I make isn't a potential blurb on ESPN. So, of course, my employer has a reasonable expectation that I'm not going to be on TV criticizing their decision.

With players and coaches, I don't think the league has a reasonable expectation that they're not going to criticize calls.

The league thinks it should be immune to public criticism. I just think that's odd.

The issue isn't the proximity of camera's to employees, it's the effect of airing your differences with your employer over national tv. Reasonable expection re: the nearness of a video camera hasn't got anything to do with it.

 

[theogt]

The issue isn't the proximity of camera's to employees, it's the effect of airing your differences with your employer over national tv. Reasonable expection re: the nearness of a video camera hasn't got anything to do with it.

Sure it does.

 

[Wolfpack]

NASCAR. Look what happend to a great racing series when the owners of the league got too carried away with control, the media and the "brand".

NFL is going there in a bad way. Pete would be horrified.

 

[Rack]

Does anyone else think it's odd that an organization fines its members for criticizing it?

Yeah something is wrong with that.

It's easy to say that when you haven't been on the receiving end of coach, player, and fan abuse ALA basketball.

Trust me when I tell you, it really is in the league's best interest to keep it in house.

Couldn't DISagree more.

Keeping "in house" won't ever fix the problem. The NFL is heading towards NBA levels when it comes to officiating, and we see what "Keeping it in house" has done for that league.



Did that POS ref get fined or suspended?

 

[WoodysGirl]

Yeah something is wrong with that.




Couldn't DISagree more.

Keeping "in house" won't ever fix the problem. The NFL is heading towards NBA levels when it comes to officiating, and we see what "Keeping it in house" has done for that league.



Did that POS ref get fined or suspended?

Like I said, if you haven't been on the receiving end of it, then you couldn't possibly understand why the league would want the criticisms made public.

The problem is simply that officiating is a supremely subjective thing decided by humans...making it subject to errors. Making it known to the public won't help make any changes. What changes could the league possibly make to better officiate a game?

I'm pretty sure he wasn't suspended or fined. More than likely, his form of punishment, if there is any, will be in lack of postseason games.

His conduct was in appropriate, but if the league finds that he made no game changing errors, he may very well just be warned...something formal in his file or something. Which, if he hadn't been involved in any prior incidents or had a bunch of questionable calls, then that's prolly it.

 

[dogberry]

When the league responds to a team's question about officiating, is that message public?

The players actually work for the Ravens. If I worked for GE and criticized the US Chamber of Commerce, would my firing or fining be appropriate? Are organized sports the only place where one can be fined for criticism of someone not an employer?

And to be repetitive, has the league fined Wilfork?

 

[WoodysGirl]

When the league responds to a team's question about officiating, is that message public?

The players actually work for the Ravens. If I worked for GE and criticized the US Chamber of Commerce, would my firing or fining be appropriate? Are organized sports the only place where one can be fined for criticism of someone not an employer?

And to be repetitive, has the league fined Wilfork?

Based on what I observed, it's only made public if a coach mentions it. Or if it was such a big hullabaloo as the Ravens-Pats game.

Forgive my ignorance, fined Wilfork for what, again?

 

[dogberry]

There was much talk about a low hit on the Ravens' QB and hits to his head by other NE players.

Since he hasn't be fined, I would like a video explanation. I appreciated the NFL VP who has the weekly program. With two QBs going out of last night's game due to low hits, that game is a good place start for describing legal and illegal low hit.

 

[Zaxor]

quote the league: never more...

brilliant

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

Not exactly. Most profit-oriented organizations welcome self-criticism. It improves the product.

:laugh2: Upper management!

 

[Rack]

Like I said, if you haven't been on the receiving end of it,

Yes... cuz we all know you've been an NFL referee before.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Yes... cuz we all know you've been an NFL referee before.

I'm a b-ball official. So I prolly know a bit more about what an official has to deal than someone who hasn't.

 

[dogberry]

Do football referees take more guff and do less about it than soccer, baseball, basketball, or hockey refs?

 

[tyke1doe]

No, but this is very much different. I don't get a TV camera stuck in my face every single day like players do. Every statement I make isn't a potential blurb on ESPN. So, of course, my employer has a reasonable expectation that I'm not going to be on TV criticizing their decision.

With players and coaches, I don't think the league has a reasonable expectation that they're not going to criticize calls.

The league thinks it should be immune to public criticism. I just think that's odd.

Well, let's take the cameras out of the equation.

Let's say you're in the office and in front of all the employees you call your boss a cheat and favoring X employee over the other because he wants to see X employee move into management.

Are you telling me that your boss won't fire you for undermining his authority in front of the whole office?

If you say, "no, he wouldn't" then please tell me where you work so I can apply.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Do football referees take more guff and do less about it than soccer, baseball, basketball, or hockey refs?

It's all relative. Officials, in general, are going to take alot of crap. It's the one job where the only people you have on your side are the other officials working with you.

And when you say "do less about it," what do you mean? Is it because what goes on with are officials are not all that publicized?

 

[theogt]

Well, let's take the cameras out of the equation.

Let's say you're in the office and in front of all the employees you call your boss a cheat and favoring X employee over the other because he wants to see X employee move into management.

Are you telling me that your boss won't fire you for undermining his authority in front of the whole office?

If you say, "no, he wouldn't" then please tell me where you work so I can apply.

They weren't fined because they called the ref a cheat or because he said the ref favored another team.

You don't have to go that far to be fined. Simply saying they made the wrong call can result in a fine.