After the Bryant missed call, Refs are another big concern of mine....

[KillerKat]

The NFL VP of officiating is now saying the Bryant catch should've been incomplete. I saw it as incomplete right after it happened. The refs even reviewed it and still got it wrong. It was fuging obvious as hell. The ball was still moving and by the time he had control he had only 1 foot down then jumped in the air. Incomplete. If I could see it immediately, why couldn't they?

Makes you wonder how many other games the NFL is going to rig during these playoffs. Hopefully they're not against us and they don't make a huge blown call that turns things in favor of the other team. Without that TD, Bengals would've won. Even with their bonehead decisions at the end. 

http://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/937404

[t96]

I don't think they rigged that game and I'm not concerned about ours being rigged. Refs are humans and they aren't perfect at their job. I bet there are refs that would be better but the NFL doesn't hold them accountable so when they make mistakes they just get to keep on rollin' unlike the rest of us who would get fired. I'm no more concerned about the refs this game than I am any other game.

[Darth Biscuit]

We had a whole thread with gifs I posted on this subject and most of us concluded that it shouldn't have been a catch.  I'll reiterate my point that refereeing is hard but when you have replay review there's virtually no reason to continue to get these calls wrong.

Do they not talk to NY now?  I thought they'd been doing that all season and surely they can do it with only one game going on.

[w280sax]

I thought the official review was decided by blandino (the same vp of officiating).  Is that not right?

[KillerKat]

1 minute ago, Darth Biscuit said:

We had a whole thread with gifs I posted on this subject and most of us concluded that it shouldn't have been a catch.  I'll reiterate my point that refereeing is hard but when you have replay review there's virtually no reason to continue to get these calls wrong.

Do they not talk to NY now?  I thought they'd been doing that all season and surely they can do it with only one game going on.

There was even a replay behind Bryant that obviously showed the ball moving when he went to pin the ball behind his leg. It didn't stop moving till he only had 1 foot down. There was just no excuse to miss that call at all.

[JawnyBlaze]

I dunno about rigged, but that game was definitely suspect.  And that was one of the worst blown calls I've seen in a while, especially from a call that was reviewed.

[iamhubby1]

Yup, I'm skeered.  I only hope Cam can come out of this game alive. Cuz you know...refs.

[TheGreatestOfAllTimeCam]

They're a huge concern, unless they screw the Seahawks! Then I don't care

[cookinbrak]

This part of the season, everybody is watching this game. Refs know they gotta get it right.

[lightsout]

Here's my thing with officials. They receive a LOT of training before making it to the NFL. Most have officiated collegiate ball, some just high school, and some come right off the street (though few). They are evaluated on their knowledge of the game, fundamentals, rules, etc. as well as their character. And yet, we still get officials making bad calls. I get that it is a part time job....but why is it? These guys have to travel to the games, take time off their careers, away from family, etc. Why not make it a decent paying job that allows them to focus on their craft full-time? In the offseason have a set amount of offseason training, mandated for all officials, that rehashes the obvious and breaks down the most controversial or difficult calls from the previous season and an explanation of the correct call, in detail.

The NFL has PLENTY of money that they can afford full time officials. And as seriously as any player, coach, and fan takes the game, the officiating (which can drastically effect the game) is HIGHLY important. Now you've given them more incentive to work harder and be better, and you can levy out punishment to fit the big errors. Not a suspension for EVERYTHING, but for instance, the Bryant catch. That altered the game. Let's say the head official's name were Steve and Bob was the one who made the initial ruling of a catch. Steve and Bob get suspended without pay for a game next season. Sure, these guys work in crews, but just like the players....next man up. If you have to, setup a pool of reserve officials that fill those gaps if a ref is sick, injured, suspended, etc. Pay them per game and let that be that. Those who are full-time can't afford to screw up in big things.

Let's say Bob just missed a holding call and one PI call, both occurring RIGHT in front of him where any reasonable person would say that he had to have seen it. Bob gets a write up. You get so many write ups before stiffer consequences follow.

You can set up something LIKE this at least. Hold the officials accountable beyond just "do your job well, and you get to officiate playoff games". Because then you end up with the same crap you got in the regular season, just in smaller doses and with bigger stakes on the line for the teams than a week 3, non-conference matchup.

[PandaPancake]

I'm not quoting the whole post but they don't want to be full time. A part time job that pays six figures plus another job isn't a bad life.

[Zaximus]

The NFL is an entertainment company, certain refs push games certain ways.  I don't understand how anyone could deny it at this point, there is more evidence every year.   Why else are bad refs not held to any consequences?   Why is the rule book harder to figure out every year (and what is a catch)?   There is only one thing that makes sense, they WANT the "what is a catch" question to get more muddled every year so they can have plausible deniability.   For over a decade the NFL has feasted on "storyline" games, and they try to move games toward that end, not always successful, but usually are.  They can legally push games one way or the other as well, since they are an entertainment company just like the WWE.

I only hope maybe the NFL is subscribing to the Panthers vs Patriots revenge storyline for the Super Bowl and the game is clean.  I don't think it's a conspiracy between players, coaches, etc.  I think the players are giving it their all.  But just ONE crooked ref, as we've seen, can dictate the outcome of a game.   That's why we need to just whoop them and not make it close.  

[Don137]

I have been convinced some time ago the NFL and officials favor certain markets over other markets. It's all about money and certain markets will generate more money and viewers than other markets thus officials will give those teams the favorable calls. 

[Harbingers]

I dont see it man, That was a catch. He concentrated never lost control of the ball. Had three feet down after contact. It was one handed all the way through. 

The ball didn't move in relevance to his body. Only thing that saved that as a catch. 

The refs obviously fubbed/gave that one to the Steelers though With that whole thing at the end.