Officiating

[MapleLeaf]

I agree, but what im talking about is plays that they actually review and still the call goes the other way. That is what im referring too.

Incorrect calls on reviews should go to the reffing committee to review after the game so they can work on improving their interpretation of the play.

For us fans to gripe about something that went wrong in a singular play is problematic.

We want great refs, smooth flow to the game, no undue influence by the men in stripes, but we want it all to happen with 2-300 lb men running around like heat seeking missiles looking for the ball all within 8 seconds for a typical play.

The conditions of the job are in order to be successful at your job you need to be within so many feet of the ball, that the missiles are loaded at, and your decision will always be tested by the customers through a method you have no access to unless you walk off the field and stop the flow of the game.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Most of it is just incompetence.

I don't believe there is a conspiracy, but I do believe that individual refs are biased for or against some teams.

Also, I think many of them like making themselves part of the game by calling more penalties in critical situations.

Incompetence is often a symptom of the human condition. Some days you are on and others days you are off.

Just like every little single task we all do in our lives personal or at work we make errors. We only benefit from not having MNF shining cameras on what we do.

Is there room for improvement? Sure! Is there a disturbing trend that would require someone to be removed from their post? I'm not so sure of that.

From all the refs I have ever known personally, and I don't know a single NFL ref, but I do know two CFL refs and one college one. None have ever bragged or exhibited personalities that told me it was all about them.

Most seem to be facilitators and understand their role in the game. But all I have seen on TV or met in person are human.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

Officiating has been bad this year but they throw so much silly stuff at them I can see why.

 

[MapleLeaf]

I just hate watching a great game only to see it ruined when the refs want to remind everyone their apart of the game as well

I hate watching or going to coach a sports event where due to negative fan reaction no one volunteers or signs up to be a ref and the games and forfeit and not held.

Refs are part of the game. Humans are part of the game. We have to be more accommodating if we want to get what we all desire.

What I see on this board is everyone wants to experience NFL football. Sometimes we have to drop the flag of football our way just to have the game of football.

After experiencing the referees not being part of the NFL season I expected a lot more accommodation so we could enjoy the game we know and love. Warts and all.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Refs call it one-sided and are biased. I don't think its a conspiracy but I think some teams get away with it BLATANTLY over others for some reason.

Denver gets away with a lot of calls. We on the other hand get a lot of ticky tack calls that should not even be called.

Take the penalty that was called for Demarcus Ware and the Broncos. If he was in a Dallas uniform that would have never been called. It was an illegal hands to the face but after further review it was just a simple tap on his facemask and barely at that. We saw D. Ware get mauled and no foul at all. We saw D. Ware called for offsides and after further review he was no offsides. Thats because he was in a Dallas uniform.


Another prime example was that fumble. The refs got it right the first time but somehow it was overturned. That in a way, affected the game. That certainly was a big call that favored Denver. Frankly, San Diego got screwed and the fumble call should have stayed.

In the game against the Giants was another prime example of bad calls against us. There was a very bad spot on the ball that would have let the Giants continue with their drive. But on the other hand on our first drive they gave Bryant a very bad spot that stopped our drive. There wasn't even a replay to make sure that it wasn't a issue for some reason. Then talk about a bad call on the fumble. There were also penalties that were called on us on the other side of the play. Are we the only team that gets called for that? Then you have those ticky tack holding plays that we get called for and calls are never called on the other team when there is an obvious hold.

I can go on. I have all my Dallas games copied and thus see that there is a bias. Some of the calls are so bad that you have to WONDER about these refs. They see it happening but no call. Like Bryant getting held in the facemask or getting mauled down field. It amazes me that we are 6-1.

 

[speedkilz88]

Most of it is just incompetence.

I don't believe there is a conspiracy, but I do believe that individual refs are biased for or against some teams.

Also, I think many of them like making themselves part of the game by calling more penalties in critical situations.

Did you see the call in the Chargers/Broncos game? Many claim it was a fumble, but I didn't see any movement of the ball until the elbow/forearm were down. I didn't have a horse in that race. Curious how you saw it

And as far as the review. The nfl office helps the refs under the hood via earpiece.

 

[AsthmaField]

I know you watch enough football to know you see it in about every game. It just gets magnified when it's a cowboys game because we love our team.

Yes I see it sometimes in other games, but every game would be a real stretch. I do see missed calls in just about every game.

The main thing is, I don't think it is the officials doing it on purpose to Dallas... it is just human error.

What irks me about the INT's though is that the refs are told to let the play run to completion. If it isn't an INT then the play is simply called back. However, if it is an INT and the ref has blown the whistle, then the play is dead right there, even if the ball is actually intercepted.

Twice now, the officials blew the whistle where they should have let the play run to completion, and it cost Dallas both times.

 

[perrykemp]

Cost us a possible TD by McClain in the Tenn. game. Another fumble return for a sure TD against the Saints (I think), and a fumble last week against the Giants. That's a lot for one season... much less not quite one half of a season.

Maybe some missed turnover calls will eventually fall our way?

Every year
every fan forum
for every NFL team

has a multitude of posts just like yours complaining that THEIR team is part of some NFL conspiracy theory against their team. They also point to numerous specific examples just like you did.

I for one subscribe to the theory the NFL officiating itself ain't all that great OR maybe it's just we've never had some many cameras / camera angles to see it all.

Either way, I feel like the officiating suckiness is pretty well evenly spread across the NFL.

 

[AsthmaField]

Every year
every fan forum
for every NFL team

has a multitude of posts just like yours complaining that THEIR team is part of some NFL conspiracy theory against their team. They also point to numerous specific examples just like you did.

I for one subscribe to the theory the NFL officiating itself ain't all that great OR maybe it's just we've never had some many cameras / camera angles to see it all.

Either way, I feel like the officiating suckiness is pretty well evenly spread across the NFL.

Did you read my post immediately above yours?

 

[perrykemp]

Did you read my post immediately above yours?

I have now and I must apologize for choosing your earlier message as the one I decided to post my somewhat general thoughts on the subject on.

I am sometimes guilty of not reading a whole thread before replying.

 

[AsthmaField]

I have now and I must apologize for choosing your earlier message as the one I decided to post my somewhat general thoughts on the subject on.

I am sometimes guilty of not reading a whole thread before replying.

I do it too. We're all guilty of it sometimes.

 

[burmafrd]

The NFL is I believe the only large professional league that does not have full time professional officials. Why is that?

 

[xwalker]

Incompetence is often a symptom of the human condition. Some days you are on and others days you are off.

Just like every little single task we all do in our lives personal or at work we make errors. We only benefit from not having MNF shining cameras on what we do.

Is there room for improvement? Sure! Is there a disturbing trend that would require someone to be removed from their post? I'm not so sure of that.

From all the refs I have ever known personally, and I don't know a single NFL ref, but I do know two CFL refs and one college one. None have ever bragged or exhibited personalities that told me it was all about them.

Most seem to be facilitators and understand their role in the game. But all I have seen on TV or met in person are human.

There was a TV report where they followed some NFL refs around. It seemed obvious that there was a lot more "human condition" involved than we would like to see. I remember one guy saying something like "I didn't call that because they were losing big anyway". IMO, the status of the game shouldn't affect the calls by the refs, but this guy was acknowledging that it does.

I realize that it's not an easy job, but it doesn't seem nearly as difficult as being an NBA ref.

There are a few general concepts that seems to be a problem.
1. Error on the side of not blowing the play dead too soon. (How hard is this?).
2. Error towards less borderline type penalties at the end of the game in critical situations (not more).
3. Don't be afraid to get it right on replay review. Nobody cares if you were wrong initially as long as you get it right with the replay review.

 

[MapleLeaf]

There was a TV report where they followed some NFL refs around. It seemed obvious that there was a lot more "human condition" involved than we would like to see. I remember one guy saying something like "I didn't call that because they were losing big anyway". IMO, the status of the game shouldn't affect the calls by the refs, but this guy was acknowledging that it does.

I realize that it's not an easy job, but it doesn't seem nearly as difficult as being an NBA ref.

There are a few general concepts that seems to be a problem.
1. Error on the side of not blowing the play dead too soon. (How hard is this?).
2. Error towards less borderline type penalties at the end of the game in critical situations (not more).
3. Don't be afraid to get it right on replay review. Nobody cares if you were wrong initially as long as you get it right with the replay review.

I can't begin to explain why the ref would not call the penalty. Maybe because the game was so lopsided he noticed this with the players ont he field and just wanted to help the game end earlier. Can't say for sure.

On blowing the play dead too soon. Is it just a matter of them being so eager to blow contact plays dead to stop play and avoid injury that its a reflexive reaction they have to all plays.

If the game is in a critical situation I can only surmise the players feel it, the fans feels it and clearly the refs must feel it also. Everyone's adrenaline is pumping and some errors are probably made inside this pressure cooker.

The review part is still perplexing to me. I personally don't get it, but I wish there was an open discussion on individual reviews so the transparency would help the league and the refs get to better results. It won't stop errors, but I would hope that the review is the best chance for calls to go the right way.

Each year the plays accumulated gives the competition committee fodder to decide which plays they are going to add to the review board. I would hope the almost fumbles by St. Louis and other plays similar would be consider by the refs and the league.

With all the investment in technology they do have a responsibility to get it right.

 

[utrunner07]

instant replay has worsened the quality of officiating. discuss.

 

[MapleLeaf]

instant replay has worsened the quality of officiating. discuss.

Instant replay has made it abundantly clear that referees are humans.

 

[DogFace]

This year hasn't been that bad for us. Last year there were some absurd calls against us. Guess it's possible it all evens out.

Over a lifetime. Possibly ?

I disagree that replay has made it worse. At least it gives the appearance of some form of accountability.

 

[speedkilz88]

This year hasn't been that bad for us. Last year there were some absurd calls against us. Guess it's possible it all evens out.

Over a lifetime. Possibly ?

I disagree that replay has made it worse. At least it gives the appearance of some form of accountability.

If we would have lost more games you wouldn't say that. The Cowboys have overcome the bad calls in these last 6 games.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Not going to say there is a league conspiracy against us, but dam we have been robbed of at least 3 defensive TDs this year...............................the Giants game was the worst, Booger's crew was literally rooting for the Giants.


Only game this year where we didn't get screwed by the refs was the St. Louis game...........probably because nobody (the league, the refs, the fans), nobody gives a dam about the freaking Rams.

Ed Houculi is another ref that screws us over...........as soon as I see that he is the ref doing our game, I tell my girl that we are going to be playing two teams tonight.

As another posters said, its a minor miracle that we are 6-1 the way we get screwed on calls virtually every freaking week. And Ware has already gotten more calls in 7 games with Denver than he did the last 3 seasons with Dallas. I was just laughing when Ware's face mask was barely touched and the flag came out when he would get basically hog tied in the backfield 2 feet from the ref and no call here in Dallas..........................too funny.

 

[DogFace]

If we would have lost more games you wouldn't say that. The Cowboys have overcome the bad calls in these last 6 games.

No. You're not correct. I'm consistent. There were several threads lady year when the same type of calls went against us both ways.

Don't project your lack of objectivity on others.