Would you still be a Cowboys fan if league was rigged?

[Blast From The Past]

I suppose I should be rooting for a clean game, but part of me wishes the NFL would stop pretending. Just like the WWF would tell fans in the 80s that pro wrestling wasn't fake. But once they stopped pretending that it wasn't pure entertainment, then the product became even better. I like my villains front and center! The NFL should do the same thing!

I quit watching it when it was found out the nature of the wrestling business. But you are right it took off after many fans found out and has flourished ever since on a whole other level making money hands over fist. My nephew is a die hard fan of wrestling and I say nothing wrong with that as long as he knows the truth.

 

[Blast From The Past]

Yes. Most games are close because they call it to make it that way. It did not used to be this way.

Fans don't care about integrity anymore. And they have plausible deniability. Plus, fans do not want to believe this, so they buy into the idea that it's not.

Look at you, an intelligent guy. And you're refusing to see what is right in front of you. Why? Because you don't want to see it.

When calls are made that keeps games close here or there, of course that happens. But, when it starts happening game after game after game, you gotta be in denial not to think something is happening.

Thing is, they messed up badly in the NO/MINNY debacle. There is simply no way to deny that the penalty was ignored. Not missed, ignored. There is simply no excuse to not call PI on a player who crash test dummy's into the intended while the ball is in the air. The defender admitted he was shocked himself at the no call, and that he committed the penalty on purpose because if they guy catches it, the game is over anyway. Terrible terrible no call, and it was intentional. Because there is no way it wasn't.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006 at Ford Field in Detroit. This one I felt was not on the up and up. Busses last career game in his hometown of Detroit given honorary key to the city. Yea, wasn't a fair competition. Seattle got jobbed big time. The No/Minny game was super blatant, clear as day. All head scratchers.

 

[Redsfan_83]

In what world do you live in that it makes it right to penalize or choose to not penalize a player based on what they say on social media or to reporters?

the world of the NFL and every other pro sports league out there...Amateur or Pro, and if you have played/coached in both you know I am right. Doesn't make it right of course, but it happens

 

[MistyAnn]

I-am-happier-with-no-calls.
The-PI-in-last-years-Superbowl-ruined-it.
I-didn't-want-the-Eagles-to-win-but-I-did-want-to-see-one-of-those-teams-bury-the-game-off-their-own-steam-and-not-an-auto-1st-down.

I-don't-even-like-when-the-bad-calls-go-our-way.You-can't-judge-how-good-you-are-when-you-get-a-few-free-sets-of-downs-in-games-here-and-there.

There-is-far-too-much-passing-in-today's-game.

If-I-lived-in-Arlington,I-would-be-down-to-the-Stadium-for-every-game-even-if-it-was-a-little-bit-rigged.

 

[bandfan]

If rigging games was ever a proven fact you wouldn't have to worry about still being a fan or not because the league would almost immediately cease to exist.

 

[BoysForLife]

"I can't fathom the thought of there being biased referees, so I have to create threads and be ever so over-the-top melodramatic in my anti-rigged mode just to soothe my stubborn headed conscience."

As if you're any different in the things you are passionate about.

How many times after every loss do you post some "analysis" completely absolving Dak of any and all blame, and insult anyone and everyone who disagrees with you?

A lot of it depends on what perspective you come from. Greg has a different perspective than you on this one. Sometimes I disagree with Greg, on this one I happen to agree with him. Either way, I suggest you argue the case on its merits, if you are able.

 

[BoysForLife]

No one on this board, absolutely no one, would've even entertained "rigged" nonsense when the Cowboys won 3 SBs in 4 years in the 90s. No one.

Funny how 28 years of next to nothing, a handful of wild card wins, changes perspectives. "It's rigged! The NFL is out to get the Cowboys!"

Grow up. The Cowboys owners decided they could be "football guys" in the mid-90s. They won a SB with Jimmy's leftovers. Since then, they've failed.

The only conspiracy is the Jones family playing fantasy football front office, convincing themselves (and some fans) that they know what they're doing.

 

[ghst187]

I don’t believe the league is WWE-Style rigged, I do believe it is tainted because every single thing in the entire country is corrupted when there’s money to be made. I also cant buy that the refs are so consistently bad at their jobs. We know without doubt it has, and may still, happen in the NBA…

 

[Cowboys5217]

There’s been so much talk over the officiating this year . But my bigger question is why would you be a fan of the NFL if thought it was rigged or fake ?

Questionable and poor officiating has always been part of the game . In real time it’s often difficult to see very angle . I have a brother in law who did officiating at amateur level and said they simply don’t always see these happening in real time .

The only answer is reviewing every play which surely no one really wants . It’s already dumbing down having to review every TD and catch. Does the game really have to be perfection.

Regardless the sport whether it’s a ball or strike , a personal foul or holding and interference there is a judgement in play based on how they see or don’t see it.

But to suggest without any other evidence that multiple slow-mo camera footage officials aren’t privy to in real time . Over the years we’ve never had any whistle blower , a disgruntled former official or employee , not one bit of evidence of any official or crews of any personal or organized collusion to rig or throw games .

All we have is camera footage after the fact. And of course very frustrated fans who are beside themselves with calls which appear so obvious on camera .

I’m sorry but until further evidence that footage after the fact I’m going to call it more sour grapes which I’m not saying isn’t justified but calling it rigged is baseless . And if they truly believe the league is rigged then why so much vested interest in a fake sport ?

It has gotten much harder because I know that the league does not give Dallas the same fair treatment other teams get. Sunk-cost Fallacy is all that keeps me going. I just have to hope that the league decides to take it's thumb off the scale when it comes to officiating Cowboys games. I realize now that I am essentially hoping they let Ricky Steamboat win the title from Ric Flair.

 

[TheCritic]

I quit watching it when it was found out the nature of the wrestling business. But you are right it took off after many fans found out and has flourished ever since on a whole other level making money hands over fist. My nephew is a die hard fan of wrestling and I say nothing wrong with that as long as he knows the truth.

I remember when Vince McMahon launched the XFL back in the early 2000s. I was so hoping for scripted football full of villains and male soap opera. I couldn't believe he settled for a poorman's version of the USFL. BOOOOOORRRING!!

 

[J_Allen]

Only four teams have been the beneficiary of more penalty yards on their opponents than the Cowboys, but fans see what they want to see. This isn't by accident folks.

It's a lot easier than accepting this front office hasn't been unable to get over the hump, and they have jobs for life. Let's find a scapegoat, the easiest one in the book.

Why doesn't Parsons ever get holding calls?

 

[Bobhaze]

To make sure I understand you correctly are you saying our opponents, in game against us, have amassed more penalty yards than all but 4 other teams?

If I'm seeing your stat correctly then yes, this would put a serious dent is the "were getting screwed every week" narrative.

I hope we can put that narrative to bed. I agree with you, it's a convenient scapegoat for some but I think it's an inaccurate one. Thanks for posting this.

Here are just the raw facts regarding penalties and the Cowboys.

• The Cowboys have been flagged 108 times for 910 yards. (2nd most in the NFL)
• Cowboys’ opponents have been flagged 94 times for 860 yards. (5th most yards for an opponent in the NFL)
• The difference between Cowboys penalties and their opponents is 12 penalties over 15 games.(Cowboys avg 1.25 more penalties per game)
• The difference in penalty yardage of Cowboys vs our opponents is 50 yards. That averages 3.33 yards per game difference in penalty yardage between Cowboys and opponents.

Website that contains great info on NFL penalties in 2023: https://www.nflpenalties.com/

 

[BoysForLife]

Here are just the raw facts regarding penalties and the Cowboys.

• The Cowboys have been flagged 108 times for 910 yards. (2nd most in the NFL)
• Cowboys’ opponents have been flagged 94 times for 860 yards. (5th most yards for an opponent in the NFL)
• The difference between Cowboys penalties and their opponents is 12 penalties over 15 games.(Cowboys avg 1.25 more penalties per game)
• The difference in penalty yardage of Cowboys vs our opponents is 50 yards. That averages 3.33 yards per game difference in penalty yardage between Cowboys and opponents.

Website that contains great info on NFL penalties in 2023: https://www.nflpenalties.com/

Good stuff thanks @Bobhaze

For whatever reason it seems a lot of laundry flies both ways in our games. Interesting info but not one sided for or against us

 

[Starstruck22]

There’s been so much talk over the officiating this year . But my bigger question is why would you be a fan of the NFL if thought it was rigged or fake ?

Questionable and poor officiating has always been part of the game . In real time it’s often difficult to see very angle . I have a brother in law who did officiating at amateur level and said they simply don’t always see these happening in real time .

The only answer is reviewing every play which surely no one really wants . It’s already dumbing down having to review every TD and catch. Does the game really have to be perfection.

Regardless the sport whether it’s a ball or strike , a personal foul or holding and interference there is a judgement in play based on how they see or don’t see it.

But to suggest without any other evidence that multiple slow-mo camera footage officials aren’t privy to in real time . Over the years we’ve never had any whistle blower , a disgruntled former official or employee , not one bit of evidence of any official or crews of any personal or organized collusion to rig or throw games .

All we have is camera footage after the fact. And of course very frustrated fans who are beside themselves with calls which appear so obvious on camera .

I’m sorry but until further evidence that footage after the fact I’m going to call it more sour grapes which I’m not saying isn’t justified but calling it rigged is baseless . And if they truly believe the league is rigged then why so much vested interest in a fake sport ?

Do we watch wrestling? Of course not. It would all be BS which is its involving Parsons being screwed.

 

[Starstruck22]

Good stuff thanks @Bobhaze

For whatever reason it seems a lot of laundry flies both ways in our games. Interesting info but not one sided for or against us

Laundry not flying for Parsons for 45 quarters of play. Explain that Batman.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

There’s been so much talk over the officiating this year . But my bigger question is why would you be a fan of the NFL if thought it was rigged or fake ?

Questionable and poor officiating has always been part of the game . In real time it’s often difficult to see very angle . I have a brother in law who did officiating at amateur level and said they simply don’t always see these happening in real time .

The only answer is reviewing every play which surely no one really wants . It’s already dumbing down having to review every TD and catch. Does the game really have to be perfection.

Regardless the sport whether it’s a ball or strike , a personal foul or holding and interference there is a judgement in play based on how they see or don’t see it.

But to suggest without any other evidence that multiple slow-mo camera footage officials aren’t privy to in real time . Over the years we’ve never had any whistle blower , a disgruntled former official or employee , not one bit of evidence of any official or crews of any personal or organized collusion to rig or throw games .

All we have is camera footage after the fact. And of course very frustrated fans who are beside themselves with calls which appear so obvious on camera .

I’m sorry but until further evidence that footage after the fact I’m going to call it more sour grapes which I’m not saying isn’t justified but calling it rigged is baseless . And if they truly believe the league is rigged then why so much vested interest in a fake sport ?

Excellent post. To answer your question, if I thought that the league was faked, then, no, I would no longer root for the Cowboys or any other NFL team. It would be the same reason why I don't watch WWF wrestling, but I'm good with watching Olympic wrestling. The former is fake, and the latter is real. I would never waste my time watching some sport that was rigged. I don't know what the point would be to do so. Even if they rigged it in favor of the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl, I would still know that it's all made up and therefore has no meaning. I would switch to watching NCAA football instead (assuming that's not also rigged), or maybe I would watch hockey or both. But, yeah, my days of watching the Cowboys would be over. If the league corrected the problem, and got their act together, then maybe I MIGHT start watching again.

 

[Starstruck22]

I quit watching it when it was found out the nature of the wrestling business. But you are right it took off after many fans found out and has flourished ever since on a whole other level making money hands over fist. My nephew is a die hard fan of wrestling and I say nothing wrong with that as long as he knows the truth.

What’s with the what if….it is rigged, Parsons is being screwed and Goddell is a crook

 

[Lodeus]

It's not just the Cowboys.

 

[Brooksey]

Here are just the raw facts regarding penalties and the Cowboys.

• The Cowboys have been flagged 108 times for 910 yards. (2nd most in the NFL)
• Cowboys’ opponents have been flagged 94 times for 860 yards. (5th most yards for an opponent in the NFL)
• The difference between Cowboys penalties and their opponents is 12 penalties over 15 games.(Cowboys avg 1.25 more penalties per game)
• The difference in penalty yardage of Cowboys vs our opponents is 50 yards. That averages 3.33 yards per game difference in penalty yardage between Cowboys and opponents.

Website that contains great info on NFL penalties in 2023: https://www.nflpenalties.com/

What about the non-calls?

 

[BoysForLife]

Laundry not flying for Parsons for 45 quarters of play. Explain that Batman.

Not flying for almost the same length of time for Zack Martin either.

Explain that, Robin.