DaveThePanther2008

After watching him yesterday, I would love to see him here.

After the first Qtr I thought we might get blown out.  TB moved down pretty easy on their TD.  

That pass to T-Mac was gorgerous.  T-Mac caught it as if he wasn't even covered.

41 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

Listening to him on the game now. It's amazing how much better he is at being an announcer than Tom Brady. It's crazy.

And it ain't even close.  I really enjoy listening to him.

On 12/19/2025 at 9:47 PM, Mr. Scot said:

Couple more things from last night... 

This is an absolute mess

This was a terrible call.  He wasn't downfield.  The refs are just getting worse and worse.  

On 12/19/2025 at 9:07 PM, kungfoodude said:

In general, Dave Canales tends to target his TE's the least frequently of any position group(WR/RB/TE) during his three years of running an NFL offense. 

However, if you notice this percentage has crept up over time. 2025 is the first year that TE has eclipsed RB in target percentage.

Production has also gone up in 2025. This is a percentage of total output in each category.

Canales has always used a very TE heavy offense. In fact, on average his offensive formations are 2 or 3 TE sets roughly 80% of all offensive formations.

So, the question may be, with this uptick in total TE output, could an elite or top tier TE make a significant impact? I believe there is some evidence this may be the case. Here are a look at TE snaps and Cade Otten specifically. These are the snap percentages for all rostered TE's in every Dave Canales offense.

The bolded cell is Cade Otten's whopping 96.46% of total snap counts in the single year he was in the Dave Canales offense in Tampa. This was overwhelmingly his career high. His production was higher with less utilization in 2024, however. 

 

In conclusion, while I don't anticipate ever seeing a top 5 producing/Pro Bowl caliber TE performance in a Dave Canales offense, there does appear to be some evidence that an actual upgrade in our TE room would actually lead to increasing overall offensive efficiency. I think Otten's utilization rate does indicate that the splitting of time between our relatively even TE group would cede significant snaps if a far superior option were available. I believe this is an area we could(and should have this past offseason/draft) made a more concerted effort to get a dynamic TE threat, after the apparent failure that J. Sanders appears to have been.

 

Signing maybe, Drafting, I wouldn't do it.  If we're not utilizing a TE very much why waste a top pick for a position we don't utilize very well.  Plus, I think we need to give Evans some time.  He's has shown potential to be a really good TE. 

Forth and inches.  You put the biggest MF on our team as a fullback and you bulldoze for the first down. Even give him the ball.  He's gonna get 1/4 inch.

22 hours ago, Panthro said:

Why the hell don’t we put a tremble like player back there under center to pick up a yard

hey we’re going to sneak it 

get fuged

Or bring in Derrick Brown to be a fullback and follow him for 1/4" of an Inch.  Good God

Going for it wasn't the problem but if you aren't going to QB sneak it.  Why line up like you are.  They know BY isn't going to take it.  Why not have a play that spreads the defense out and weigh your options then.  Just didn't make any sense.   I knew when we went for it we weren't going to get it.

Wouldn't be surprised but every single time we count them out they come back to get our hopes up again. 

Miami is no joke since we played them.  They are playing good football and IMO they are going to beat TB. 

I would love to Win this week against them and somehow pull a rabbit out of our hat against Darnold and Seattle and go into Week 18 nothing to play for. 

16 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

that literally makes no sense, if you think the games are predetermined then that has absolutely nothing to do with who I like or dislike playing qb for my favorite nfl team.  If I thought the games were decided beforehand there is no fuging way I am watching 18 weeks plus playoffs of this.  do better

Reading is fundamental.  I said some games are rigged to make the playoffs more exciting.

You can deny that they aren't rigged mostly because you don't agree with anything I post. 

6 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

so why watch if you firmly believe that?

The same reason you watch when you can't stand our QB.

18 hours ago, hepcat said:

The question of whether the NFL is "rigged" often conjures images of smoke-filled rooms where outcomes are scripted like a WWE match. While a pre-written script for every game is logistically impossible given the chaos of a live sport, a nuanced examination of the evidence suggests a more disturbing reality: the NFL is not a purely fair sporting competition, but rather a heavily managed entertainment product. Through the mechanisms of referee non-accountability, statistical anomalies in penalty data, and legal classifications that prioritize "spectacle" over "fairness," the league appears to "nudge" games—not necessarily to decide a winner, but to maximize engagement, revenue, and narrative intrigue.

I. The Shield of the Union: Lack of Accountability

The primary mechanism for any potential game manipulation—intentional or subconscious—is the officiating. The NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) operates as a powerful shield that insulates officials from true accountability.

• Part-Time Status: Unlike other major leagues, many NFL officials have historically been part-time employees, splitting focus between the league and other careers.

• The "Dead Period": Collective bargaining agreements often include "dead periods" or blackout windows where the league cannot negotiate or change officiating standards easily, locking in mediocrity.

• Resistance to Transparency: The union has consistently resisted technologies and transparency measures that would tie compensation directly to grading accuracy. While the league does grade officials, these grades are kept private. A bad call that alters a playoff outcome rarely results in a public firing; instead, that official often returns the next season, protected by a contract that prioritizes job security over game integrity.

II. Statistical Anomalies: The "Nudge" in the Numbers

If the games were purely fair, penalty data should be randomly distributed over large sample sizes. However, data analysis reveals patterns that suggest "game management"—the practice of keeping games close and entertaining.

• The "Make-Up Call" Phenomenon: Statistical studies have long shown that penalties are often called to balance the ledger rather than enforce the rules. If a team is penalized heavily in the first half, referees are statistically more likely to penalize the opposing team in the second half, regardless of the actual infractions. This artificially keeps scores close.

• Team-Specific Disparities: A 2024 analysis and previous academic studies (such as those from the University of Iowa and UTEP) have highlighted that certain franchises, like the Kansas City Chiefs, see statistically significant shifts in penalty benefits during the postseason compared to the regular season. Conversely, teams like the Raiders have historically remained among the most penalized regardless of coaching staff or roster changes, suggesting a bias baked into the officiating culture. 

• Home Field "Bias": Data consistently shows home teams receive fewer penalties. While crowd noise plays a role, the disparity often exceeds what can be explained by false starts, bleeding into subjective calls like holding or pass interference. 

III. The Vegas Connection: Managing the Spread

The most compelling argument for "soft rigging" lies not in who wins, but in who covers the spread.

• The "Bad Beat": Officiating decisions often seem to occur in moments that affect the betting line (the "spread") rather than the win/loss outcome. For example, a meaningless defensive holding call late in a blowout can extend a drive just long enough for a "garbage time" touchdown that allows a team to cover a +7.5 spread. 

• The Revenue Model: The NFL's embrace of gambling partners creates a structural conflict of interest. "Nudging" a game to ensure it finishes close (e.g., within one score) keeps viewers tuned in for commercials and keeps live-betting handle high. A blowout is bad for business; a controversy is good for engagement.

IV. The Legal "Entertainment" Defense

Perhaps the most damning evidence is not what happens on the field, but what happens in court. In the 2010 case Mayer v. Belichick (arising from the "Spygate" scandal), the arguments revealed the NFL's true nature.

• The Ruling: The court dismissed a lawsuit from a fan who claimed he was defrauded by a dishonest game. The dismissal was based on the legal principle that a ticket to an NFL game grants a license to view a spectacle, not a contract for a fair, competitive sporting event.

• The Implication: Legally, the NFL is classified closer to "entertainment" (like a concert or wrestling event) than a strictly regulated competitive meritocracy. This legal safety net essentially allows the league to prioritize entertainment value over competitive integrity without fear of being sued for fraud.

Conclusion

Is the NFL rigged? If "rigged" means a pre-written script, the answer is no. But if "rigged" means a system where referee accountability is stifled, penalties are used to manage game flow, and outcomes are nudged to ensure maximum entertainment value and betting engagement, then the answer is a persuasive yes. The NFL is a multi-billion dollar business that sells excitement, and it refuses to leave that product entirely to chance.

You know I've always wondered if the Ref's Union has a NDA on their contracts.  It seems to me that someone would come forward and say something. I have felt since Goodell became the commissioner that some games are rigged to make the playoffs more exciting.

Some Storylines that gives you something to think about.

The Patriots wins the SB right after 9/11

New Orleans wins right after Katrina

Denver wins the Super Bowl on one of the NFLs greatest QBs plays his last game.

It's too coincidental. 

Let's look at it this way.  We've been win one, lose one since October.  We lost this week so according to the schedule we should win next week and then the following week we lose to Seattle and game 17 we win to keep the Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde show going. 

What really boggles my mind is that he consistently stayed with Rico.  He should have given Chubba a couple of good carries to see what he can do.  

Weeks ago we were screaming Rico, Rico, Rico but today he wasn't the RB we need.  Canales should have given the ball to Chubba as see how he does. 

Canales sucks at in-game adjustments.  if we don't have a good gameplan coming into this game, it's over. There are ways to beat every defense but you have to be smart enough to see what they are doing and get it done. 

Just now, Pantherxtreme said:

Yes it was bogus. 

Bryce had a similar last minute slide where the Saints defender still laid a hit on him and it didnt get flagged. 

He slide with his feet but didn't get the call.  The flag on Brown was BS too.  Split second he goes down and gets that penalty.  Shough did the same thing to get them in FG position.

I've always believed that when it comes to Carolina we are always going to be on the wrong end of officiating.  I can go back to 2004 against Dallas when Smitty had a catch and it will nullified by the refs. The Super Bowl with another catch that was nullified that changed the whole game. 

IMO, the NFL wants TB in the playoffs, either that or they want us to have to beat them 2x.  I am just so irritated.  

For years we have seen the Refs continually give Mahomes gift after gift.

Same BS that Young had.

Just now, mrcompletely11 said:

He didn't slide

He sure did.  Feet first is a slide.

Where is the Fing flag. Young was sliding

Just now, T-Wazzle said:

That won't be a catch.

With these Refs I agree

Just now, CRA said:

This game is horrific to watch with those penalties 

What is it.  20+ penalties ?

Making the call now.  Refs say he's short

Just now, ForJimmy said:

??

That's a hater hating.

Yeah but Brice can't throw deep.  Pin point Rainbow.

Wholly Sh!T.  That ball had rain on it.