Re: Food For Thought
 

I look at it a different way. All four of these refs with ties to the greater L.A. area knew what a win by the Rams would mean to their community ... and I'm not talking about the same type of importance to fans as what Saints' success means to us as fans. I'm talking about marketing exposure. They have to all want this new resident of their area to be successful.

It isn't that they were avoiding a call that would have almost assuredly gave the Saints a win, it is that they didn't want to be known as that L.A. area resident that caused the Rams to lose. The community in which they live would never forgive them for making that call, whether it was valid or not. Their wives would be hassled at the gym. The children would be ridiculed at school.

I believe it was fear that kept that flag in their waistlines. It was a position in which they should have never been placed by the league. The league screwed the pooch on the naming of these officials to the game.

Now the question remains ... was this intentional or not?

Re: Food For Thought
 

These guys would forever be vilified in their communities. It is obtuse to think otherwise. They already were for the 2 RG season games. A SB denial would have been 100 fold.

They got what they wanted. They will not be vilified in their local community. Was it worth it? To me, no. Who wants their name connected to the worst NFL non call of all time and their integrity wiped out. Once a ref has no more integrity they are worthless unless it's the WWE or something which is where they all need to go.

NFL is partly to blame for putting them in a pressure cooker. They just need to come clean and admit changes need to be made. I can live with that eventually. We are all human. Correct it and move on but just stop with the denial of that is not what happened. We know what happened.

Re: Food For Thought
 

Well, I can't discount that as a possibility, but the call was so obvious that I don't know why they would have been vilified. A close, but justified call, I can see some irrational fans blaming the loss on the refs, anyway. But this call HAD to be made.

I agree that the league shouldn't have put them in that situation, but not just for the reason you mentioned. It's more that there shouldn't have been any possible bias with the officiating crew. Instead, they had not one, but FOUR L.A. guys officiating. This was clearly the wrong crew to send.

My argument to any possible fears the refs might have had is that if they felt there was pressure not to affect the outcome AGAINST the Rams, then that's something they would most certainly have thought of going INTO the game, and they should have requested to switch assignments with the AFC crew that day. But they choose to go forward with it. So if they can't officiate with integrity, I don't pity their plight.

Re: Food For Thought
 

We (sports fans in general) can't alter the outcome but we can continue to criticize the NFL for it's dishonest treatment, incompetent officiating & the failure to respond/answer to reasonable outrage that has followed.

Anyone remember when the league took a ref OFF the New Orleans game a few years ago because he was from the area? ... So the fact that they allowed 4 guys from LA California & surrounding areas officiate a NFCCG means that the league wanted em there.

I don't think this was a mistake.

Re: Food For Thought
 

But they claimed it was an oversight.

:clown:

Re: Food For Thought
 

Whatever it was it was intentional with no room for anything else that I do know. I do not know the reason but that is what happened. Deliberate observation of a clear mugging and disregard for the infraction(s). It ruined the game. It ruins all games of any sport.

Re: Food For Thought
 

People don’t worry bout ole Gary Cavaletto. His family has the biggest avocado farm and shipping company in California ole Gary don’t have to worry about losing anything but we can help him don’t buy cal raised cavaletto brand avocados