*IF* the Patriots win tonight *AND* the Panthers win on Thanksgiving...

[Ra's Al Ghul]

1 hour ago, pantherjack77 said:

ok but it was implied that these 'subtle' influences determine outcomes that the NFL wants...for instance the NFL wanted Harbaugh vs Harbaugh so through the 'subtle' influences the NFL got its matchup...idk...too many moving parts...too many people...too many plays...too many factors involved and circumstances...

if you are saying the refs are biased and make intentional bad calls then in all levels of competition there is that possibility...hell even the Olympics...think of gymnastic judges...that is part of sports...and I'm ok with that to the point that I don't even like instant replay overrules...ref made bad call...human element...part of the game

Yeah I get what your saying, I agree that it is no where near to the level of fixing games. I believe that there is an agenda, a goal to give certain teams an advantage over the course of the season.

Like you said, it could be just a matter of sociology. When you have seen certain teams get beneficial calls forever, it becomes the norm and expected.

In combination with the human element it could just seem that there may be an agenda.

 

[Cammmmm]

The black helicopters are definitely circling over head.

[csx]

Richardson is one of the most active and influencial owners in the league. I can't believe the angle that the league is out to get one of its most prominent owners. 

[SportsCrazie4172]

4 hours ago, chknwing said:

you realize the superbowl the panthers were in was one of the best SB's in history, right?

Depends on if you are talking about the actual game or Janet Jackson breast popping out for the world to see..

[JawnyBlaze]

There's no scripts, it's not WWF, but if you don't think there's action behind the scenes to benefit certain clubs/individuals you're not paying attention.  It's not outright fixing of games, but there are subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) instances of shady dealings to push the narrative desired by the league (aka gordell).  No one will ever convince me otherwise.

[JawnyBlaze]

33 minutes ago, csx said:

Richardson is one of the most active and influencial owners in the league. I can't believe the angle that the league is out to get one of its most prominent owners. 

Just speaking on my own beliefs, but I don't think the league is out to get the Panthers at all.  But Goodell has one job: making the NFL as profitable as possible, and building up the more money making teams is the obvious route to that goal.  Building on narratives like a team called the Patriots winning the SB four months after 9/11 is another.

[JawnyBlaze]

2 minutes ago, pantherjack77 said:

this may be about semantics...putting at that way I wouldn't necessarily disagree with you

I mean of course Godell wants the league to do well...he wants games played well...wants them competitive...wants an entertaining super bowl every year...but contriving storylines and fixing refs, which is what some are saying even though they are covering themselves somewhat, is logistically an improbability to the degree some are suggesting

 

I will let it go...agree to disagree

Yea, I get where you're coming from.  I agree with what you're saying there.  I'm saying it's not that blatant.  I don't think it's exactly fixing refs and whatnot, but much more subtle than that.  Things like Spygate happening for half a decade or more, and then when it's finally exposed, sweeping it under the rug with a slap on the wrist.  In a fair world, the Patriots' SB victories would have been vacated and those years would be recorded as having no champion.

[JawnyBlaze]

1 minute ago, pantherjack77 said:

you guys...

ok who was Patriots qb that year?...he any good?....who was their coach?...did the team do anything after?...

such a stretch that team won that year...

why didn't NFL have New York win?....or Washington?..

 

jesus the script writes itself doesn't it...my favorite is the New Orleans winning it in 2009 because of Katrina in 2005 with some lame qb Drew Brees...yeah who gonna believe that?

He wasn't that good that year.  The early Brady years he was one of the most overrated QBs in history.  He became a great QB later, but early Brady was a game manager.

And once again, it's not that blatant.  They're not writing scripts.  But the opportunity presented itself for the Patriots to be able to get to the SB with a little nudge, so the little nudge was given.

[JawnyBlaze]

Just now, pantherjack77 said:

talking about two different things...

spygate witchhunt was not an NFL inside job...it was an alleged team doing...the NFL certainly didn't have anything to do with that unless your saying it guilty by association...I chalk that up to competitive gamesmanship by the Patriots lol

Naw, Spygate was all on the Patriots without help from the league.  The league's decision to slap them on the wrist for it so not to tarnish the "dynasty" is all on the league.

[Zaximus]

It's funny because if we lost the Philly-Colts-Packers games you would be signing a different tune.  The calls in the second half of those games were blatantly terrible.  The NFL has a win-win situation.  The refs make bad calls and the team they want wins (Luck getting his season back on track, Rodgers showing how great he is) and if it doesn't work out, the team getting screwed completely forgets because they won.   If you look back on those calls, I implore you to, you'll realize how shady things were.    We just happened to fight through the garbage calls and still win, which is a testament to our team this year.

And as far as merch and whatnot goes, it doesn't matter, it's all profit sharing.  Richardson obviously loves his money and the NFL, and if you think he wouldn't fall in line you are crazy.  Like I said, if the league makes money, HE makes money.  We don't need another JR pie chart to know this fact.  

I don't think it's a crazy conspiracy between thousands of players and coaches and whatnot, but those refs continue to get worse, face no consequences, and somehow throw out calls that favor the more popular teams.   Sure, if you're one of those people that believe 50 coincidences can happen all at once, fine, ignorance is bliss, but for a lot of us, it's hard to do that with what is going on.  

Are the refs just bad?  Maybe I could believe that, if something would be done.  But each week there is the same terrible ones out there and year to year, the same ones.  Rules get more muddled, refs get worse.  Shouldn't it get better?  The only thing that makes sense is a) they are told to learn certain ways and are immune to the bad call coverage or b) the NFL just doesn't care, but seeing how much money the NFL rakes in I doubt they just "don't care".  

[Snake]

We are starting to cut our own path and the media is taking notice. Like Cam giving the ball to kids in the stands and him breaking records. Everyone talks about Brady but he is consistently in the playoffs and wins super bowls and that's why he gets that treatment. If we want that treatment we have to keep up our end.  We have to show upup in prime time and we have to pummel opponents. 

[Zaximus]

22 minutes ago, pantherjack77 said:

ok now I see...I assume your referring to the 4th down call against Colts ext...the incompletion that they called a catch?...you see that as a smoking gun example of league funny business- deliberate poor call to keep Colts alive or whatever...and I just don't believe that

it was a close call...not blatant (I will give you the Lions Cowboys call last year was awful call) and those kinds of calls have been going on since forever...in that moment you think the refs are plotting to make the call for the Colts?...I not sure about that kind of stuff...

There was a lot of calls over those games that were unreal, not just that one.  And for other teams, the Seattle vs Detroit game where Seattle kicked the ball out of the endzone but got it at the 1 instead of a touchback and Lions ball, yeah.

If the owners cared about officiating and thought Goodell was to blame, they'd fire him.  He works for them, not the players.  They keep him because they don't care about that, because business is good and better each year, despite what is happening.  

[Zaximus]

27 minutes ago, pantherjack77 said:

business is good but believe me they are aware that can change...if we can agree they are always looking at ways to expand the popularity and exposure of the game, then it stands to reason they are aware of what they stand to lose...

do they think in terms of long term investment?...believe they do...if you believe they don't care about poor officiating because business is good then you would have to believe they aren't thinking long term

believe me if scandals and bad press and a general negative air continues to surround the NFL then Godell gone...

Do you work for the NFL?  You sound great at towing the company line lol.

The NFL can do whatever they want, they will not lose ratings, only gain.  Bad press doesn't harm the NFL.  The NFL has so many homer fans (no offense, but like you) who would never believe anything bad is happening.  You are a clear example that they can do whatever they want to influence ratings and have no backlash.   The officiating has gotten worse every year the last 4 years.  At this point the replacement refs were just as competent as the refs right now.   The NFL handled the Rice incident terribly, but do you think it harmed their ratings?  Not one person probably stopped watching because of that.  They can't fail.

[Marguide]

You skeptics out there realize the refs have a union, right? It's a strong one, limiting the league's ability to just dump every ref that makes a bad call.

I can also guarantee you that a portion of every fanbase thinks the league is out to get them.

Many cite the Pats as a league favorite. Talk to a Pats fan about that, and they will talk about how Deflategate is proof the NFL is out to get them.

Just last week, many Washington fans, and at least one player, thought the officials screwed them out of a win.

Everybody thinks they're the ones getting jobbed. No one thinks the league is favoring their team.