Conspiracy Theory

[SF Dolphin Fan]

I'm not looking past the Broncos, no way. But, with the Jets on the horizon I recalled a conversation I had with my friend last year that I'd like to share with you now. My friend happens to be an official at the high school and college level. I was "venting" to him one day that it seemed like the Jets got more "officiating" calls than any team I had ever seen going back to the Vinny Testaverde non-touchdown, the Chambers touchdown that was ruled a non-catch and on and on. I said I thought the officials gave the Jets enough close calls to mean 2 extra wins a year. I fully expected my friend to say something like "that's expected from a Dolphins fan." Instead, he agreed saying that other officials he had talked with mentioned the same thing, but also included the Giants as another benefactor of the NFL officials. He said the NFL would love nothing more than the Jets and Giants having success and that he wouldn't doubt that the NFL would give those teams "the benefit of the doubt" (his words) on close calls. That seemed strange to me that others, especially officials, would notice the same thing.

Now I'm not usually a person who would mention officiating, but the bottom line is I think it's gone way down the last few years and I'm surprised that the NFL isn't doing more to improve the quality of officiating. It means so much to the players and to the fans.

 

[popularwar]

Well, until last year that a stadium kept the same crew all year. I doubt you'd have just about every official "Giving New York the benefit of the doubt," before that.

 

[Jeezum Crow]

Didn't the Giants lose a playoff game against the 49'ers on a call that the league admitted was clearly bad?

Why would the league want the NY teams to do well? They're making money and relatively successful as is... if there was going to be a conspirancy wouldn't it make sense for them to help the teams from struggling markets....ahh, I'm spending too much time on this bologna.

 

[kastofsna120]

Didn't the Giants lose a playoff game against the 49'ers on a call that the league admitted was clearly bad?

Why would the league want the NY teams to do well? They're making money and relatively successful as is... if there was going to be a conspirancy wouldn't it make sense for them to help the teams from struggling markets....ahh, I'm spending too much time on this bologna.

you spent too much time already. as have i :cry:

 

[wazzy]

NY has a big market so maybe that is why they would give them the calls,

 

[djfresh47]

I think that's garbage, as someone who has officiated high school football games. There are bad calls in every game, but that's the "human element" to the game. No official is perfect, and if an official messes up on one play, the fan forgets the 100 other plays that they officiated perfectly. I don't believe the NFL officials are full-time employees, if the league wants better officiating, I would have the officials working year long.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

I don't believe the NFL officials are full-time employees, if the league wants better officiating, I would have the officials working year long.

I agree. I think making officials full-time employess would help to solve the problem. Instant replay has helped a bit. I still think there is too much "interpretation" on pass interference calls and so you see a lack of consistency there. That's probably my biggest gripe with officiating. Admittedly, it's a tough game to officiate and your previous statement is true that the officials get most of the calls right.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Didn't the Giants lose a playoff game against the 49'ers on a call that the league admitted was clearly bad?

Why would the league want the NY teams to do well? They're making money and relatively successful as is... if there was going to be a conspirancy wouldn't it make sense for them to help the teams from struggling markets....ahh, I'm spending too much time on this bologna.

Yes, that was a terrible call against the Giants and that's when you really started hearing about needed changes in officiating -- maybe because it happened to a NY team? I may be off base, but I honestly try to watch the games as fairly as possible and it does seem like the Jets get more calls. Maybe it's bologna, but unfortunately I think it may be true.

 

[texasPHINSfan]

i do not buy into conspiracy theory.

but i do know this: referees are not allowed to appear in games that are in their hometowns or locales, and they are not allowed to officiate in games where the visiting team is from their hometown or locale. this is the NFL's attempt at removing bias. It works pretty well.

There will always be bad calls.... if we didn't have bad calls, we wouldn't be able to aprpeciate the good. in the end it all evens out. I don't think any one team clearly year after year gets by on calls though. If the bad calls helped the team win the SB or get into the playoffs, i could understand.. but regular games? eh.

you win some and you lose some.

 

[MelbournePhin]

the giants get an extra home game this year. total bs

 

[Rich L]

Didn't the Giants lose a playoff game against the 49'ers on a call that the league admitted was clearly bad?

Why would the league want the NY teams to do well? They're making money and relatively successful as is... if there was going to be a conspirancy wouldn't it make sense for them to help the teams from struggling markets....ahh, I'm spending too much time on this bologna.

It could be a matter that the refs dont want to get pelted by either batteries or snowballs!:D

Did you see the one game (I cant recall the exact date) at Giant stadium when ppl were running for cover cuz the lovely New Yorkers were chucking iceballs?!?:shakeno:

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

NY has a big market so maybe that is why they would give them the calls,

Unfortunately, I'm beginning to believe that. If you look at the worst calls over the last five years -- calls that cost a team a game -- I'd bet the Jets had more of those go their way then any other team. I don't think that's a coincidence. Also, because officials are paid much less than players they are easier marks for high stakes gamblers, part of the game no one wants to talk about, but definitely exists.

 

[texasPHINSfan]

It could be a matter that the refs dont want to get pelted by either batteries or snowballs!:D

Did you see the one game (I cant recall the exact date) at Giant stadium when ppl were running for cover cuz the lovely New Yorkers were chucking iceballs?!?:shakeno:

wasn't that us in Gillette stadium?

 

[TokyoFishFan]

yeah yeah yeah...and to add to the conspiracy theory, isn't it interesting that since 9-11 the "Patriots" just so happen to be the team winning superbowls and the Boston Red Sox (Boston Tea Party) win a world series. Nothing like adding a little Patriotism to the country in time of need by fixing sports games.

You can find "conspiracy" anywhere if you look hard enough. :rofl3:

Go Dolphins!!!

P.S. No, I don't believe in the conspiracy, although I'm sure there are believers out there. :sidelol:

 

[Rich L]

wasn't that us in Gillette stadium?

I was refering to a Giants home game,

Im sure someone here probably saw it.

Edit***
My bad, guys...

The game I was referring to was years ago...1995! lol, what was I thinking!

here's some quotes:



An uncontrollable barrage of snowballs from the fans onto the field interrupts this game in the fourth quarter. In a meaningless game for Giants, attendance was relatively low at 50,243. 15 fans arrested, 175 people ejected, Chargers equipment manager was knocked unconcious by an iceball. A snowball throwing fan, Jeffery Lange, appeared prominently in an AP photograph and was later convicted of improper behavior and payed $650 in fines and court fees



The markings became a huge pitfall during the 1995 season finale against San Diego, the infamous "Snowball Game" where an incessant barrage of snowballs nearly caused a forfeit. San Diego equipment manager Sid Brooks was knocked unconscious from an iceball that, according to "green hat" Jeff Kresch, was meant for the back judge.

Kresch, a 47-year-old athletic director and football coach at a New Jersey high school, took his share of punishment that day, too.

"Every time an official would come over, about 50 snowballs would come down. And they liked my green hat. Unfortunately they were successful," Kresch said. "I got hit, absolutely. And they were heavy."

So did Quinn. "I got hit with an iceball from the upper deck on the back of the calf," Quinn said. "It was scary. You're holding a stick with a bull's-eye on it, it just makes for an inviting target for people."





But the bottom line is... there will always be bad calls and fans that hate them.