That's weird because I know refs on the field watch the replays. They watch it like this: Maybe there's some truth to that, but I'm not sure how the replacements would be irrelevant to replay reviews.
I'm cautiously optimistic right now after today's game. I don't think they're a threat to make the playoffs but I don't think they're going to be a free win for their opponents either. I think 7-9 or 8-8 is a reachable goal for them.
There is an on the field review, and booth review. Booth review refs are not part of the strike. Wait, Vikings had stock in the first place?
Replay officials are the guys in the booth who watch the replays and decide whether or not the refs on the field need to take a second look (if it is a scoring play, within the last 2 minutes of a half, or OT). Usually, if it is even remotely close, they'll call for a replay and let the refs on the field sort it out. So, really, they have very, very little impact on the game, besides whether or not to review things, and more often than not they'll chose to review, just to be on the safe side.
After a dropped pass by Welker, "We've seen that before, obviously." Gold Al Michaels. Pure. D. Gold.
Bill Belichick in the past three minutes has summed up the reffing this season so far. NBC has repeatedly cut the camera away from him because of excessive, obvious swearing, quite hilarious. How they spotted that ball a full yard behind the first down marker is beyond me.
These refs are amazingly awful. Just unbelievable. Fuck the NFL for allowing this to happen over a pittance.
For teams like the Steelers, Saints, Broncos and Lions who are supposed to be on the opposite end of the standings, should we prepare to hear the officiating excuse more than we already do? "The refs caused our shitty year..." Or are these guys just that bad? Also: "Dear NFL teams who have spontaneously decided to stop sucking cock (Arizona ahem): Stop and resume smoking The Dick. Sincerely, All ESPN analysts who want to have a job next season, and every bandwagon fan of a championship team since 2005."
Am I the only one enjoying all these teams and upsets? I'm personally fucking loving it. Watching random football games are way more exciting. Even though I bet on the Colts/Jags game, watching it was pretty fucking exciting. The fact they dicked around with MJD is ridiculous, its not right to ask for more money with two years left by normal etiquette, but he literally is their entire goddamn offense. The only way the Jags score points is off play action or after 200 MJD runs and the defense is tired as shit. I don't know if anyone knew this but I'm going to hit you with something. Christian Ponder has the highest completion percentage in the league. I'll wait for you to process that.
It's been a good day to watch football. The Lions coming back just to lose in OT. The Saints/Chiefs and Phins/Jets OT games were cool too. Seems like its a wierd year so far. I'm waiting for teams to stabilize so we know who is going to be the favorites. I thought the 49's looked like they might have been but after today it looks like they are not quite what I thought they were. Or maybe it was an aberation, either way it makes for some fun games to watch.
Ponder benefits from having Adrian Peterson. People didn't think AP was going to be, you know, AP. Then he was, and once again, teams had to worry about the run, leaving the pass more open for Ponder. To his credit, Ponder has taken advantage and shown to be a very, very capable QB. Is he on a level with franchise guys like Rodgers and Brady? Nope, probably never will be, but he can be a successful 2nd tier QB (think Flacco), who can thrive with a strong running game and defense. Their win today was huge, though. I'm thinking it was a trap game. The 49ers just beat the Packers and the Lions, and they probably thought they'd just roll right past the Vikings without much effort, and then they ended up getting cocky and lazy. It happens a lot. I still think the Vikings finish in the cellar of the NFC North. I really didn't think Arizona was that good, but apparently Kevin Kolb forgot he was Kevin Kolb. I picture him getting hit on the head, likely by a frustrated Larry Fitzgerald, and waking up in his Cards uniform and suddenly thinking he is Kurt Warner. Detroit showed one of their major flaws today: they are fucking STUPID. 4th and 1, in OT, and you just need a FG to tie it and keep the game going, so you snap it? Every single person in that place knew they were just trying to draw them offsides except, apparently, the QB and the center. How the fuck could they snap that ball? God. Damn. Yes, that was the single dumbest play I have ever seen in a football game. Oh, and you lost Stafford, at least for a bit, not that he was lighting the world on fire anyway. I guess he remembered he is made of glass. Did anyone else laugh when Brady slid, had a huge Ravens player who was chasing him fall over him, then watching Pretty Boy Brady get up and scream that someone dared to hit him? I know he was giving himself up, but you can't reasonably expect a 300 pound guy chasing you to stop on a dime. Brady is one of the best QBs in the league at drawing penalties by bitching to the refs when someone so much as breathes on him, and I guarantee the NFL is in the scab refs ear to protect the stars (i.e. Brady, Manning, Rodgers). Speaking of hits, Matt Schaub had part of his ear ripped off today on the 2nd illegal QB hit in a row. THOSE were hits worthy of flags, not "oh noes, this big man tripped and fell on mes! I'm Tom Brady, he might've stained my jersey!" Oh, and the refs are not getting any better. Think it would be possible to organize a one week boycott of the NFL, so they bring back the real refs?
Two phantom penalties (one twenty yarder! Because the corner's hand brushed the receiver's when he was running!) and then a pushoff non-call for a TD. Is this season null and void yet? Because this shit is unbelievable.
Huh? Maybe I missed something since I was in a chaotic crowded bar and trying to watch other games, but from what I saw they just went for it. I mean, yes it didn't work, but I don't see why going for it on 4th and 1 to win the game is stupid. I would have done the same thing in that spot. Since when is going for the win stupid when it's only 1 yard? And it's not like the defenses were playing brilliant that game. They had plenty of reason to want to end it there. As for the conspiracy theories about protecting the stars, I think it's just that the refs suck. Remember last time you brought that up Campbell was getting the most late hit calls and Brady was receiving among the fewest in the league.
If the NFL doesn't make an agreement after this game, then we might see these refs for the whole year because it can't get worse than this.
After the game, when the Lions coach was questioned about the decision, he said it was a 'miscommunication,' and they were simply attempting to draw the Titans off sides, and if they failed to do so, they were going to call a time out and kick it. The coach said it was "too loud" and the ball ended up getting snapped by mistake. This is Schwartz's quote: "Miscommunication. We were trying to draw them offsides. We had no intention of going for it there," Schwartz told Lions Radio. It was stupid because they were the away team, because they were down by only 3 in overtime, because they had a time out to use, and because a field goal in that situation (which would've been from about 25-30 yards) ties it and keeps the game going. Going for it at home, where they could audible or communicate at all may have been one thing, but on the road where you KNOW it is going to be so loud that any audible will be impossible would have just been an absolutely moronic decision. Even the decision to try to draw them off sides was silly. Take the 3 points and count on your defense to make a stop. It was just awful, awful decision making from the coach to the QB (Shaun Hill, the backup) to the center. Do. Not. Snap. The. Ball.