The NFL can put a gag order on coaches and players. It can issue autocratic memos instructing them to ignore the officiating blunders around them. It can levy fines. But unless the league blindfolds everyone who watches its games, it can’t do what it desperately wants to — conceal the farce that the use of replacement officials has become.
The NFL keeps trying to tell us that the replacement officials will get better the more exposure they have to the NFL game. Week 3, which featured more procedural drama than a “CSI:” series, was proof that the replacement officials are just getting exposed the longer they’re officiating NFL games.
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Ddidn't I read this same article yesterday under Dan Gingersnap's byline?
This shows the contempt that Robert Kraft and the other owners have for the fans. The NY Times reported that the league and the owners would be able to settle with the referees for about $100,000 per owner, but the owners have refused to compromise. Kraft and the other owners know that most fans will continue to support them by watching the games so they have no incentive to compromise.
Jonathon Kraft was asked why his father wasn't intervening in this fiasco like he did when they went to the mats with the players. His explanation was that the players work for the owners and the refs work for the NFL. It's up to the league office to deal with this, without the intervention of the owners. What a bunch of crap. So the league can fine players and coaches who don't work for them? As much as I love football, I hope the refs hold a hard line and continue to show how arrogant the league and these owners have become. Just like the NHL owners shutting down hockey. Pure greed.
And this was written before Monday night's Seahawks-Packers fiasco!
BOYCOTT - Every fan should sit out the first quarter of every game this Sunday. Tailgate in parking lot, stay at the concesion stand, anthing. But don't sit in your seat for the first quarter. Maybe a near empty stadium will get the attention of that idiot Goodell.
The NFL is exactly like NASCAR, everyone knows that the fans are addicted to the sport in a way that goes beyond being a normal fan and that they can do or say whatever they want and fans will show up and pay up, SAPS.
Boycott the NFL until the scabs are gone. This is not football, this is a sad joke. And, no, Jonathon Kraft, we do not owe these clowns "gratitude" for allowing the NFL to "play", as you so mockingly sneered on pregame radio Sunday night. We owe you scorn and ridicule for abusing the people who pay the exorbitant ticket prices that line your pocket, and treating your workers with contempt. This is why I am an ex-season ticket holder. A replacement is something just as good. These "refs" clearly are not, and the NFL knows it. They are just scabs. The billionaire boys club that is the NFL owes the country an apology, and ticket holders a refund. And the players should refuse to play without real refs.
I was in Baltimore for the game against the Ravens. No one can completely understand how much the timing of the entire game is changed by the replacement referees. You don't need Al Michaels to tell you that there are problems. A penalty is called and then the referees are totally clueless as to what the penalty is and how to enforce it. And, they are generally clueless as to what is a penalty.
I understand that the owners are trying to break the union. But they just might break football forever.
I disagree that the refs didn't cost the Pats the game... or the 49ners or the Packers.... The Pats were given false penalties whcih prohibited them from running out the clock and pushed back twice to create a 3rd and long. The Ravens were given at least 2 gifts to help them move down the field for the field goal.
Your argument can play with the Packers... had they scored one more touchdown earlier in the game where their offensive play was less than average... the hail mary would not have been an issue. Had the Packers defense gotten to Wilson on the final play (lots of holding by the way to give him the ability to throw the pass) its a non issue.
Why aren't people talking about the offensive interference on Tate? This was more agregious than the catch - which according to the rules "A joint possession (not catch) goes to the offense. So post the actual rule, before you cast blame and be judge, jury and executioner. The guy who ruled on the field was right... he saw both men holding onto the ball (possession).
So talk about the push off... not the catch... however the catch is alot more exciting isn't it?
Worried about the Pats. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
In about 4 or 5 weeks, Bill and his unmatched ability as a teacher and communicator will have the Patriots ready for another Superbowl run.
The offense will be straightened out, Hernandez will be back, the young defense will have matured and learned to trust one another and the Superbowl will again be a distinct possibility.
No rose colored glasses, just 40 years of coaching experience and 12 years of watching a nonpareil do his best work as every season goes along He is first and foremost a meticulous teacher. He's not Terry Francona and the Pats ain't the Sox. THEY ADMIT THEIR SHORTCOMINGS AND FIX EM, PRONTO
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So...professional sports' fan, you are finally having the importance of your loyalties shoved in your face. And there is no illusion that it is the owners holding the 'bad-finger-up' at your smiling face. Right now, the NFL, the most profitable professional sport is so secure in your 'sucker' loyalty they will go as far as to sacrifice the integrity of the game - long term - because they know, you and your BudLite's will be sitting right there on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday gorging on a feast of this garbage and farce. The NHL finally begins to crawl out of hole it has always been in and becomes somewhat relevant, but that's not enough for the 'owners'...again, 'bad-finger-up' hockey fans. Very shortly, the NBA will be entering stage-right and sure to bring its own brand of stupidity and thug behavior. And why stop there...afterall, even the home town baseball team has become a farce. A circus clown for a manager, the minor league starting lineup...and on, and on, and on... Fear not Professional Sport Fan...you can turn your attention to other irrelevant events...like the presidential election. Hmmmm....you have Farce and Fantasy there as well with the Moron/Mormon who despises his own first name so much, he won't even use it, to go along the 47% of the entire population which makes him nauseous. Oh Well...what's a sports fan to do...I guess the competition on the Cooking channel can still be considered on the up-and-up.
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Waiting for the Class Action Suit on behalf of all season ticket holders of every team in the NFL:
NFL is short for " No For Long"
Same with Fan Loyalty if this silliness continues!!!
(And the unasked question, who is willing to cover the spread next week?)
There's another issue here: the muzzling of everybody. The coaches can't complain? The players can't complain? Isn't this supposed to be a free country with freedom of speech. The NFL is more like legalized slavery, and suppressing opinions that might bring disrepute on the team owners seems like a modern verson of medieval lords and vassels.
What should happen is that the coaches and the players should start bad-mouthing the officials. As the league suspends coach after coach, and player after player, the mindlessness and arrogance of the owners will be exposed for all to see.