Is the NFL Fixed?

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Is the NFL fixed?

  • Yes

  • No


Results are only viewable after voting.

OnceARam

Hall of Fame
Joined
Oct 28, 2012
Messages
3,332
It's a simple, straight forward question. And you all know what I'm talking about. Please vote before you comment so that your opinion isn't influenced. I realize that by asking this question I am influencing your opinion. Sorry about that. But there is no way around it (ref: Goodell's Incompleteness Theorem).
 

blue4

Hall of Fame
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Jun 25, 2014
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blue4
I voted no. But there is a lot of favoritism shown for some teams and players, and some against. The Rams defense will get called for every thing they do. You can't go within a foot of elite QBs without getting a roughing, and so on.
 

Thordaddy

Binding you with ancient logic
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Apr 5, 2012
Messages
10,462
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Rich
I said no but I do think at times it is influenced by officiating, teams don't take dives like boxing ,but I do think that there are too many instances of what looks like biased officiating to suspend all disbelief in some influence.
Everyone has attitudes , I saw a home plate umpire throw a pitcher out of a game the other night who hadn't said a word ,he just didn't like the look on his face.
I've been penalized by officials for what I was saying to wrestlers after matches were over ,hell we could be getting hosed by refs now because Fisher is on the rules committee and some refs. are pissed about how hard he and the rest of the committee has made their jobs.
OBTW has anyone seen a running back be penalized for lowering his helmet in the open field yet?

In conclusion ,if it is it's through the refs. the players and coaches don't know and fixed may be too strong a word
 

Force16X

anti pedestrian
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Jun 19, 2014
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if it involves money, its probably fixed. one way or another.
 

brokeu91

The super shrink
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Jul 10, 2010
Messages
5,546
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Michael
I voted that it is fixed. What I mean by that is that there are favorite teams of refs and teams that refs automatically have bias against. For some reason they have a bias against the Rams. They tend to see everything as a wrong doing. In that regards the game is fixed and is very difficult for the Rams to overcome. It's a vicious circle. The Rams have a reputation for committing penalties, so the refs watch them closely. Other teams know this so they start telling the refs about every hold, push, trip, etc (the same way teams will go for the ball against RB/WR/QB known to fumble). So the refs watch it, throw more flags and the reputation of the team continues to grow.

The only way out it, in my opinion, is if people (like Fisher, Kroenke) start making a stink about it publicly
 

DaveFan'51

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Dave
I voted No, simply because I don't know weather it's, Incompetence, Stupidity, Bias, a combination of these or what. BUT I would Like to see one of these sports reporters, on ESPN OR NFLN, interview the Leagues Ref representative, and ask Him point blank, 1) What pre-game instructions do Ref's get, if any?...2) Are they instructed to look for specific things, from a given team!?...3) Do Coach's from opposing teams Talk to Ref's about 'What to look out for, from the other Team?...3) Why doesn't the public hear more about the "Complaints" they must get after games!?...........I'm sure there are a host of other questions that could be asked, IF someone would DARE to attempt such an 'ON AIR' interview!
 

LumberTubs

As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
1,424
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Phil
I voted no.

I haven't done this but I bet if you visit the equivalent of ROD for all other 31 teams, fans will be complaining (to varying degrees) about decisions made by refs. Even fans of those we perceive as the favoured teams will do this.

As an example, we lost Sunday's game all on our own and didn't need the refs help. The refs didn't drop a touchdown pass or fail to make the fourth and inches or leave bryant uncovered. If we make those plays, we win and aren't talking about the refs (as much). The good teams win in spite of poor decisions by refs and so the perception is that they get fewer bad calls against them. Just my view.
 

Philly5

Rookie
Joined
Jul 18, 2013
Messages
415
Is there a difference between bias and fixed?

All about the $$$$. Why wouldn't that influence some of the nonsense from Sunday?

Anybody seen a replay on national TV of some of the game changing crap calls? Would we be seeing them if it happened to Pats or Seahawks? Nothing new with the Rams.
 
Last edited:

Ballhawk

Please don't confuse my experience for pessimism!
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NPW
Absolutely! The bias is too organized and predictable to be just chance. In the first half I predicted that the refs would stop calling holding on the Cowboys in the second half and it happened like clockwork.
The blatant cheating in the 2001 Super Bowl opened my eyes for ever.
 
Joined
Aug 15, 2013
Messages
5,808
I voted no.

I haven't done this but I bet if you visit the equivalent of ROD for all other 31 teams, fans will be complaining (to varying degrees) about decisions made by refs. Even fans of those we perceive as the favoured teams will do this.

As an example, we lost Sunday's game all on our own and didn't need the refs help. The refs didn't drop a touchdown pass or fail to make the fourth and inches or leave bryant uncovered. If we make those plays, we win and aren't talking about the refs (as much). The good teams win in spite of poor decisions by refs and so the perception is that they get fewer bad calls against them. Just my view.

It just seems to me that every game there's confusion by the commentators why at least 1 (2 on Sunday) penalties were called, they aren't 50/50 decisions, but ones that no one in their right mind would make. But as you say maybe that happens in every game for ever team an the refs are just that damn incompetent.
 

So Ram

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Jun 18, 2014
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14,052
The replacement refs actually did a better job.They worked hard.
--I saw before the season Jerry Jones had D-No Evil(head Ref in NY) was in his abut RV.There were all kinds of hot chicks(escorts ) there(about 10) , you could see the girls trying to pull down a cover for windows.He was in Oxnard,ca.
A reporter ask him about that,and he said we were told to meet with d'lomdardi about rules and system.
Talk about being in bed with the Refs.Just bad all around.It was classless.It was like the Best Little Whore House in Texas on wheels.
 

So Ram

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Jun 18, 2014
Messages
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On Thursday Night Football the Refs won the game for Philly.Gruden showed the pass interference on an INT,then a horse collar on a huge tackle for loss on 3rd down.The guy had the jersey only.The first Philly TD was because of a bad pass INT call for 40 yards to goal line.You could see a couple that were not called against Philly.
 

PA Ram

Pro Bowler
Joined
Aug 12, 2012
Messages
1,339
It's a good question, really.

I voted "no" but part of that is that I really don't WANT to believe it's fixed. I love the game. I want it to be real as much as the kid who has doubts about Santa Claus wants that jolly fat guy to be real...but sometimes, you wonder. I guess I don't think it's any sort of mass fixing of games. There is always a possibility that "something" happens in one game or another--either by an official or player. At the same time if the LEAGUE was fixing games you'd probably have the Cowboys winning the SuperBowl most years.

Still, if games are not officiated fairly, the end result is pretty much the same as "fixing" a game.

What's the difference?

Burwell has a good article about the Rams being penalized because of some sort of Detroit Pistons "Bad Boy" image they embrace. the answer to that is always--"You want to be the 'bad boys" just play well enough to overcome the refs".

I don't buy it. A foul is a foul--or it isn't a foul.

My thoughts on that:

I get the whole “you have to play perfect football and you won’t have to worry about the penalties” argument–but that seems dismissive of the officials true responsibility and the integrity of the game itself. If one team plays with a different set of rules or standards that they are held to–it isn’t a legitimate contest, and yes–fans will notice.


I haven’t heard a lot about this by the national media because there is always shouting about poor officiating and the noise drowns out any legitimate complaints. The media tends to roll their eyes and say, “Sure–EVERYBODY complains. It’s just part of the game–you win some you lose some–happens to everyone.”

That does not help the game of football.

Shine a light on it.

Make it important.

“Bad Boys” or not–.call a foul when it’s a foul–period–for both teams.

Essentially what happens is that the refs watch one team close and just sort of glance at the other one from time to time.

You miss 2 play clocks? 2? What are you watching?

You miss a guy being tackled on his way to the quarterback?

What are you watching?

You are a quick draw on a roughing call that isn’t even debatable?

You’re watching one team too much–and missing everything else.

And yes–they should be called out for it.

I was thrilled Fisher did that and thank you Jim Thomas for asking the questions.

You won’t see it on ESPN. They’re too busy kissing Manning’s behind–or setting up their next game which they can claim now has the Dallas team with a winning record. Don’t tarnish that.

It’s bullshit.

The league has a lot of problems to clean up. Poor officiating is one of them.
 

brokeu91

The super shrink
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Messages
5,546
Name
Michael
The replacement refs actually did a better job.They worked hard.
--I saw before the season Jerry Jones had D-No Evil(head Ref in NY) was in his abut RV.There were all kinds of hot chicks(escorts ) there(about 10) , you could see the girls trying to pull down a cover for windows.He was in Oxnard,ca.
A reporter ask him about that,and he said we were told to meet with d'lomdardi about rules and system.
Talk about being in bed with the Refs.Just bad all around.It was classless.It was like the Best Little Whore House in Texas on wheels.
Is that true? Do you have a link?
 

Robocop

Pro Bowler
Joined
Jul 9, 2014
Messages
1,933
Name
J.
after everything Goodell has done in his tenure as commissioner idk how anyone could not think its a very real possibility considering he wont hesitate to cover up anything
 

Athos

Legend
Joined
May 19, 2014
Messages
5,933
I'm beginning to think so. Especially after the Ravens and God Goodell coverups.

If it isn't, that's even worse. Because these officials are horrendous and never punished correctly, if at all.