Super Bowl MVP calls for investigation into NFL referees over calls during Lions-Packers game

SmashMouth · 10-16-2019, 12:44 PM

A Super Bowl MVP called for NFL referees to be “investigated” after Monday night's game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers.

Desmond Howard, who also won a Heisman Trophy during his career and is currently an ESPN college football analyst, tweeted his frustrations with the officiating Monday.

more on FoxNews

stickman · 10-16-2019, 12:54 PM

I don't think they are being bribed. They are either incompetent or following league instruction.

saintfan · 10-16-2019, 03:55 PM

They're doing precisely and exactly what Roger is dictating. These refs don't just suck at what they do. They aren't seeing ghosts. They aren't missing calls two feet from their faces. They're not idiots. They're football refs at the highest level because they're good.

Roger doesn't want Detroit to mess it up for Rogers, one of his golden boys. So, refs, when the time comes, do what you can to assure the outcome prescribed from on high.

simple simple.

CHA_CHING · 10-16-2019, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by stickman

I don't think they are being bribed. They are either incompetent or following league instruction.

Yeah, same here. I think they are just incompetent. I don't believe it's some carefully orchestrated conspiracy. That is giving Roger Goodell WAY too much credit when the guy can't go a single month without some controversy making his league look laughable. Besides, there would be some disgruntled ref by now blow a whistle. Goodell can't even handle teams moving to new cities well. I highly doubt the guy is smart enough to pull off rigging.

A Packers offensive lineman said he told the refs before one of those plays that they were missing calls on hands to the face. Next thing you know, the flags are flying.

The NFL needs full time refs. These old guys aren't even getting paid well enough to officiate the games, hence why they went on strike a few years ago. All the rule changes have obviously confused them too as they've confused us fans. Every year they change the catch rules and now we're to the point where we don't even know what PI is anymore. This year, holding calls spiked dramatically and now people are complaining about holding being called on offenses, but it goes back in hand with the old saying of 'you can call holding on almost every play'.

Vrillon82 · 10-17-2019, 04:18 AM

People who bet on sports and watched this mess for years has been saying.....

"You know they not going to let Detroit get out of there with a win, not in Green Bay".

I think most everyone knew that before the game started.

Detroit has been on the end of the some of the worst calls in history as well, NFL does not want Detroit to have any success. They actually look pretty lethal this year.

vpheughan · 10-17-2019, 12:42 PM

Lions 31, Packers 0 (December 30, 2018)
The Lions shutout the Packers for the first time since 1973 and at Lambeau Field for the first time since 1970. The Lions also swept the Packers for the second consecutive season. Aaron Rodgers got knocked out early in the game with a concussion, forcing backup Deshone Kizer to play most of the game. Lions kicker Matt Prater threw a touchdown pass to tight end Levine Toilolo and cornerback Quandre Diggs sealed the game with an interception of Kizer with five minutes left to play

burningmetal · 10-17-2019, 02:54 PM

Hang on now. This can't be right. I've been told for the last 9 months, or so, that only Saints fans ask for investigations into officiating. I thought Saints fans were the only people who "whine" about bad calls?

You mean to tell me that there are other human beings who, when their team gets totally screwed, get upset and want to see refs held accountable?

Nah, that can't be.

SmashMouth · 10-17-2019, 06:16 PM

CHA_CHING · 10-17-2019, 10:18 PM

Great article on Deadspin breaking this down.

https://deadspin.com/why-nfl-officia...now-1839105323

The league spent nearly two decades defining a catch into incoherence. Each year, it draws up what it calls points of emphasis—directives for the officiating crew to zero in on—only to change course after the officials begin the season by doing exactly what is asked of them. Last year, the helmet rule and roughing the passer left everyone confused, so out came directives to not enforce them so closely, and all of a sudden the officials didn’t. This year, offensive holding was supposed to be a focus, at least until it comically got flagged 10 times during a Thursday night game, after which a conference call was held two nights later, during which the officials were told to chill out. Most famously, pass interference (including no-calls) was added to this year’s list of challengeable infractions—a harsh overreaction to a disastrous no-call at the end of last year’s NFC championship game—but at some point after Week 2 or so, the NFL decided to raise the bar for what warranted a PI reversal. Coaches are now reluctant to attempt a challenge, as Patricia was Monday night, though that still didn’t stop four coaches from trying during Week 6.

“I say this half-jokingly, but it seems like that Saints-Rams play from the NFC championship game doesn’t get overturned the way it’s being administered today,” Blandino said.

I've been saying this all along - every year, they argue over what is a catch. It seems to go back longer than 2010 but the Calvin Johnson catch is what I remember being the tipping point of this now.

The Bert Emmanuel catch is definitely worth a debate. I rewatched the 1999 NFCCG a few years ago and that one call really changed the game and would've put Tampa right at the door to potentially upsetting the Rams and preventing the GSOT from reaching that first SB.

We're going to be remembered as the team who pushed to open the Pandora's box on the pass interference rules after all our overreacting, lawsuits and conspiracy theories about the NFCCG. And look where we're at now - they don't even enforce the rule.

For the record; bad calls become part of NFL lore. The Oilers once got screwed on an obvious touchdown vs Pittsburgh in the AFCCG back in 1979. No one really remembers it now cause the Oilers aren't even a team anymore and it was long before social media. (PIttsburgh has a HISTORY of getting favorable calls and stuff go their way. Go back to the 2005 SB of some of the most rigged looking officiating ever in a SB game, or the 1995 AFCCG where they needed a bunch of calls to barely get past a fluke Colts team that took to them to the wire).

Another conference title game with controversial officiating I can recall is the 1983 NFCCG between Washington and SF. The Niners were down 21-0 and stormed a comeback in the 4th quarter to tie that game, and then something crazy happened in the final minute leading to the Redskins getting the game winning field goal. I don't think anyone remembers that game anymore, but it was a huge deal back in the day.

This bit is important -

Then there’s this: A source told Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio that the responsibility for watching the left tackle was shifted from the referee to the umpire in recent years. The change was made because the ref’s job is to monitor the quarterback once the pocket collapses, which left no one watching the left tackle, which presumably allowed any number of infractions to be missed. Now, the ref is supposed to focus on the right side of the line until the pocket breaks down.

The NFL has changed the rules so much every year that it has completely confused the refs into not knowing what to call and then changing stuff like this compounds it.

Going into this year they were going to focus on holding calls and then they skyrocketed to the point everyone is losing their minds over them.

What's the NFL's solution now? Do they want to pay full time refs and actually enforce rules and stop confusing them with all this complexity? Oh hell no, SKY JUDGE is some how going to fix it all!

We're to a point now where NFL officiating is starting to look as bad as the NBA has since the 90s and 2000s. People ignorantly bring up the NBA like they haven't had scandals, but go back to the Lakers/Kings game 6 from 2002 and Heat/Mavs Finals (the one where D Wade had more free throw attempts than the entire Mavs team in 6 games) if you want to be proven wrong. TIM DONAGHY went to jail for gambling as an NBA ref and pretty much blew the whistle about some of the corruption that goes on in there. Go back and watch some of the Bulls games from the 90s. MJ got all the calls back in the day.

Audiotom · 10-18-2019, 12:07 PM

Ever since Roger Goodell has been comissioner he has picked winners and losers.

There are arcs, storylines and preceived national viewing ratings

Your team not only has to fight their opponent but also the referees.

They take key moments to throw flags or ignore glaring no-calls

You can make a holding call on every play and avoid a real hold whenever it is advantageous to do so

Sometimes they will even promote another team in your divisions games just to knock you off

It has gotten pathetic

10-16-2019, 12:44 PM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,210 Blog Entries: 29	Super Bowl MVP calls for investigation into NFL referees over calls during Lions-Packers game A Super Bowl MVP called for NFL referees to be “investigated” after Monday night's game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. Desmond Howard, who also won a Heisman Trophy during his career and is currently an ESPN college football analyst, tweeted his frustrations with the officiating Monday. Twitter more on FoxNews

10-16-2019, 12:54 PM	#2
stickman 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Gonzales, LA Posts: 1,692	Re: Super Bowl MVP calls for investigation into NFL referees over calls during Lions-Packers game I don't think they are being bribed. They are either incompetent or following league instruction.

10-16-2019, 03:55 PM	#3
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Re: Super Bowl MVP calls for investigation into NFL referees over calls during Lions-Packers game They're doing precisely and exactly what Roger is dictating. These refs don't just suck at what they do. They aren't seeing ghosts. They aren't missing calls two feet from their faces. They're not idiots. They're football refs at the highest level because they're good. Roger doesn't want Detroit to mess it up for Rogers, one of his golden boys. So, refs, when the time comes, do what you can to assure the outcome prescribed from on high. simple simple. SmashMouth and Audiotom like this.

10-16-2019, 04:59 PM	#4
CHA_CHING 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 1,159	Re: Super Bowl MVP calls for investigation into NFL referees over calls during Lions-Packers game Originally Posted by stickman I don't think they are being bribed. They are either incompetent or following league instruction. Yeah, same here. I think they are just incompetent. I don't believe it's some carefully orchestrated conspiracy. That is giving Roger Goodell WAY too much credit when the guy can't go a single month without some controversy making his league look laughable. Besides, there would be some disgruntled ref by now blow a whistle. Goodell can't even handle teams moving to new cities well. I highly doubt the guy is smart enough to pull off rigging. A Packers offensive lineman said he told the refs before one of those plays that they were missing calls on hands to the face. Next thing you know, the flags are flying. The NFL needs full time refs. These old guys aren't even getting paid well enough to officiate the games, hence why they went on strike a few years ago. All the rule changes have obviously confused them too as they've confused us fans. Every year they change the catch rules and now we're to the point where we don't even know what PI is anymore. This year, holding calls spiked dramatically and now people are complaining about holding being called on offenses, but it goes back in hand with the old saying of 'you can call holding on almost every play'.

10-17-2019, 04:18 AM	#5
Vrillon82 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,127	Re: Super Bowl MVP calls for investigation into NFL referees over calls during Lions-Packers game People who bet on sports and watched this mess for years has been saying..... "You know they not going to let Detroit get out of there with a win, not in Green Bay". I think most everyone knew that before the game started. Detroit has been on the end of the some of the worst calls in history as well, NFL does not want Detroit to have any success. They actually look pretty lethal this year.
Vrillon82 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,127

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10-17-2019, 12:42 PM	#6
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,525	Re: Super Bowl MVP calls for investigation into NFL referees over calls during Lions-Packers game Lions 31, Packers 0 (December 30, 2018) The Lions shutout the Packers for the first time since 1973 and at Lambeau Field for the first time since 1970. The Lions also swept the Packers for the second consecutive season. Aaron Rodgers got knocked out early in the game with a concussion, forcing backup Deshone Kizer to play most of the game. Lions kicker Matt Prater threw a touchdown pass to tight end Levine Toilolo and cornerback Quandre Diggs sealed the game with an interception of Kizer with five minutes left to play SmashMouth likes this.
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10-17-2019, 02:54 PM	#7
burningmetal 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,923 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Super Bowl MVP calls for investigation into NFL referees over calls during Lions-Packers game Hang on now. This can't be right. I've been told for the last 9 months, or so, that only Saints fans ask for investigations into officiating. I thought Saints fans were the only people who "whine" about bad calls? You mean to tell me that there are other human beings who, when their team gets totally screwed, get upset and want to see refs held accountable? Nah, that can't be. saintfan, Rueben Mayes and K Major like this.

10-17-2019, 06:16 PM	#8
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,210 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Super Bowl MVP calls for investigation into NFL referees over calls during Lions-Packers game RailBoss likes this.

10-17-2019, 10:18 PM	#9
CHA_CHING 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 1,159	Re: Super Bowl MVP calls for investigation into NFL referees over calls during Lions-Packers game Great article on Deadspin breaking this down. https://deadspin.com/why-nfl-officia...now-1839105323 The league spent nearly two decades defining a catch into incoherence. Each year, it draws up what it calls points of emphasis—directives for the officiating crew to zero in on—only to change course after the officials begin the season by doing exactly what is asked of them. Last year, the helmet rule and roughing the passer left everyone confused, so out came directives to not enforce them so closely, and all of a sudden the officials didn’t. This year, offensive holding was supposed to be a focus, at least until it comically got flagged 10 times during a Thursday night game, after which a conference call was held two nights later, during which the officials were told to chill out. Most famously, pass interference (including no-calls) was added to this year’s list of challengeable infractions—a harsh overreaction to a disastrous no-call at the end of last year’s NFC championship game—but at some point after Week 2 or so, the NFL decided to raise the bar for what warranted a PI reversal. Coaches are now reluctant to attempt a challenge, as Patricia was Monday night, though that still didn’t stop four coaches from trying during Week 6. “I say this half-jokingly, but it seems like that Saints-Rams play from the NFC championship game doesn’t get overturned the way it’s being administered today,” Blandino said. I've been saying this all along - every year, they argue over what is a catch. It seems to go back longer than 2010 but the Calvin Johnson catch is what I remember being the tipping point of this now. The Bert Emmanuel catch is definitely worth a debate. I rewatched the 1999 NFCCG a few years ago and that one call really changed the game and would've put Tampa right at the door to potentially upsetting the Rams and preventing the GSOT from reaching that first SB. We're going to be remembered as the team who pushed to open the Pandora's box on the pass interference rules after all our overreacting, lawsuits and conspiracy theories about the NFCCG. And look where we're at now - they don't even enforce the rule. For the record; bad calls become part of NFL lore. The Oilers once got screwed on an obvious touchdown vs Pittsburgh in the AFCCG back in 1979. No one really remembers it now cause the Oilers aren't even a team anymore and it was long before social media. (PIttsburgh has a HISTORY of getting favorable calls and stuff go their way. Go back to the 2005 SB of some of the most rigged looking officiating ever in a SB game, or the 1995 AFCCG where they needed a bunch of calls to barely get past a fluke Colts team that took to them to the wire). Another conference title game with controversial officiating I can recall is the 1983 NFCCG between Washington and SF. The Niners were down 21-0 and stormed a comeback in the 4th quarter to tie that game, and then something crazy happened in the final minute leading to the Redskins getting the game winning field goal. I don't think anyone remembers that game anymore, but it was a huge deal back in the day. This bit is important - Then there’s this: A source told Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio that the responsibility for watching the left tackle was shifted from the referee to the umpire in recent years. The change was made because the ref’s job is to monitor the quarterback once the pocket collapses, which left no one watching the left tackle, which presumably allowed any number of infractions to be missed. Now, the ref is supposed to focus on the right side of the line until the pocket breaks down. The NFL has changed the rules so much every year that it has completely confused the refs into not knowing what to call and then changing stuff like this compounds it. Going into this year they were going to focus on holding calls and then they skyrocketed to the point everyone is losing their minds over them. What's the NFL's solution now? Do they want to pay full time refs and actually enforce rules and stop confusing them with all this complexity? Oh hell no, SKY JUDGE is some how going to fix it all! We're to a point now where NFL officiating is starting to look as bad as the NBA has since the 90s and 2000s. People ignorantly bring up the NBA like they haven't had scandals, but go back to the Lakers/Kings game 6 from 2002 and Heat/Mavs Finals (the one where D Wade had more free throw attempts than the entire Mavs team in 6 games) if you want to be proven wrong. TIM DONAGHY went to jail for gambling as an NBA ref and pretty much blew the whistle about some of the corruption that goes on in there. Go back and watch some of the Bulls games from the 90s. MJ got all the calls back in the day.

10-18-2019, 12:07 PM	#10
Audiotom 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,094 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Super Bowl MVP calls for investigation into NFL referees over calls during Lions-Packers game Ever since Roger Goodell has been comissioner he has picked winners and losers. There are arcs, storylines and preceived national viewing ratings Your team not only has to fight their opponent but also the referees. They take key moments to throw flags or ignore glaring no-calls You can make a holding call on every play and avoid a real hold whenever it is advantageous to do so Sometimes they will even promote another team in your divisions games just to knock you off It has gotten pathetic