2012 NFL Season Thread

[lucasa317]

If you watch the replay, it's clearly obvious... not that Jennings caught it, not that Tate caught it... but that Tate absolutely shoves Sam Shields (#37) down to the ground, which should be pass interference, which would end the game. Nobody's gonna talk about that, but it's very clear that Shields falls due to pass interference. Refs missed that worse than the actual catch.

[illwauk]

Oh, spare me the "integrity" crap. The commissioner doesn't have it, the regular refs don't have it, several of the league's most prominent coaches don't have it. Putting the regular refs back in won't restore this magical "integrity of the game" which hasn't existed in decades.

So why do you bother following the NFL (and giving them your money) if they have no integrity? I'll grant you that a fair amount of integrity has been lacking in pro sports in general for quite some time, but the NFL's lack of it has never been to a degree comparable to (say,) the NBA (...which I haven't followed for close to a decade now).

[Lights Out]

I've questioned it many a time myself, to be honest. The thing is, though, I'm still a Chargers fan, and not watching their games would not change any of the problems with the league and would only deprive me of seeing my favorite team. I support my team, but I don't like the direction the league is headed in.

[oldschoolvikings]

This is pretty much Goodell's reaction to the scab referee backlash:

I assume that everyone is aware that Goodell works for the owners, not the other way around? This demonizing (first by all the Saints folks, and now by pretty much everyone) of Goodell is pretty funny... I'm pretty sure that he isn't the one telling the refs to go stuff it.

[BBTV]

If you watch the replay, it's clearly obvious... not that Jennings caught it, not that Tate caught it... but that Tate absolutely shoves Sam Shields (#37) down to the ground, which should be pass interference, which would end the game. Nobody's gonna talk about that, but it's very clear that Shields falls due to pass interference. Refs missed that worse than the actual catch.

That's been mentioned many times - both on this board and by the league itself.

[NJTank]

could get serious players thinking of taking a knee every play

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/09/25/lang-says-players-could-take-action-if-nfl-refs-issue-continues/

[dfwabel]

could get serious players thinking of taking a knee every play

http://detroit.cbslo...ssue-continues/

See Article 3, Section 1 of the current CBA:

"neither the NFLPA nor any of its members will engage in any strike, work stoppage, or other concerted action interfering with the operations of the NFL or any Club for the duration of this Agreement..."

Article 46; Section 6 says that the players cannot strike unless the "security of the union to operate as a union is put into jeopardy".

Since 20% of the players live paycheck to paycheck, they will not risk anything to void the CBA and their income.

[winghaz]

Imagine how many pissed off people there were in Vegas.

[FiddySicks]

So, can anyone tell me what exactly Roger Goodell has done good for the NFL? I was a HUGE supporter of his when he first came into the league, but as the years go by, I find myself less and less interested in the NFL due to some of the insanity that has gone on during his tenure. I may be wrong, as I was young at the time, but it seems like none of this craziness ever went on during Paul Tagliabue's tenure. Sure there was a bit of looking the other way, but none of that was bad to the point where it turned a decent population of NFL fans away from the game.

[HedleyLamarr]

I just witnessed one of the worst calls in NFL history.

How can I not say that? Obvious pass interference...obviously intercepted, at least. It should have been called an interception. And the refs had the power to overturn that. Wow...just wow.

The thing is though, I'm not entirely convinced the real refs would have gotten that call right either. And the replay officials aren't even replacements, and they still got it wrong too.

The replay officials don't have any input for challenges/reviews in the NFL. The head on-field referee has that responsibility.

[dfwabel]

So, can anyone tell me what exactly Roger Goodell has done good for the NFL? I was a HUGE supporter of his when he first came into the league, but as the years go by, I find myself less and less interested in the NFL due to some of the insanity that has gone on during his tenure. I may be wrong, as I was young at the time, but it seems like none of this craziness ever went on during Paul Tagliabue's tenure. Sure there was a bit of looking the other way, but none of that was bad to the point where it turned a decent population of NFL fans away from the game.

Labor peace through the 2020 season including the 2021 draft with no opt-out by either side.

More manageable rookie contracts mandatory four years plus fifth-year club option for first-round picks; four years mandatory contract for rounds two through seven with a rookie salary pool to avoid holdouts.

Broadcast (free) TV contracts through 2022.

[IceCap]

could get serious players thinking of taking a knee every play

http://detroit.cbslo...ssue-continues/

See Article 3, Section 1 of the current CBA:

"neither the NFLPA nor any of its members will engage in any strike, work stoppage, or other concerted action interfering with the operations of the NFL or any Club for the duration of this Agreement..."

Article 46; Section 6 says that the players cannot strike unless the "security of the union to operate as a union is put into jeopardy".

Since 20% of the players live paycheck to paycheck, they will not risk anything to void the CBA and their income.

Kneeling on every play, however, wouldn't constitute a work stoppage or strike. "Kneeling" is a legal play. I highly doubt we'll see a team or teams do it, but it would be interesting to see.

[CS85]

You'd think the players would being to show signs of solidarity, ala before the lockout.

[IceCap]

So, can anyone tell me what exactly Roger Goodell has done good for the NFL? I was a HUGE supporter of his when he first came into the league, but as the years go by, I find myself less and less interested in the NFL due to some of the insanity that has gone on during his tenure. I may be wrong, as I was young at the time, but it seems like none of this craziness ever went on during Paul Tagliabue's tenure. Sure there was a bit of looking the other way, but none of that was bad to the point where it turned a decent population of NFL fans away from the game.

The referee situation aside, I think Goodell's been an effective commissioner. Whatever you think his motives are, his push for player safety is long overdue. Player safety was something the NFL, under Tagliabue, would rather not have discussed. Under Goodell serious suspensions have been laid out for hits that run the risk of seriously injuring or killing one or both parties, and as Bounty-gate showed Goodell's not going to handle disciplinary matters with kid gloves. Heck, under Tagliabue "discipline" was in short supply. Leonard Little got 8 games for killing someone.

Yeah the ref situation sucks, and yeah Goodell is rightfully taking the brunt of the blame for that. All in all though? I'd say he's done more good then bad.

[Lights Out]

His push for player safety has been executed horribly and reeks of covering his ass so he won't get sued instead of genuine concern for the players. He's also used player safety as an excuse for him to act like judge, jury, and executioner, handing out questionable fines like he's David freaking Stern. His obnoxious, hypocritical, and agenda-driven approach to running the league has angered fans, players, and coaches alike.

[IceCap]

His push for player safety has been executed horribly and reeks of covering his ass so he won't get sued instead of genuine concern for the players. He's also used player safety as an excuse for him to act like judge, jury, and executioner, handing out questionable fines like he's David freaking Stern. His obnoxious, hypocritical, and agenda-driven approach to running the league has angered fans, players, and coaches alike.

I don't really give a rat's a$$ about WHY he pushes player safety. If the end result is that fewer and fewer players suffer the ill effects of head trauma after they leave football, I'm all for it. People say it's self serving and hypocritical, and it may very well be. Again though, if it results in safer playing conditions I really don't care. It's football, not politics. Let the man be a dictator for the greater good. Again, the alternative from the supposed golden age of Tagliabue is a system where a player is simply suspended for eight games for killing someone.

As for Stern? His tenure saw the NBA's rise as a media and marketing juggernaut. His effectiveness at his job is really amplified when you look at where the NBA was before he took over. He's another unfairly maligned commissioner.

Oh, spare me the "integrity" crap. The commissioner doesn't have it, the regular refs don't have it, several of the league's most prominent coaches don't have it. Putting the regular refs back in won't restore this magical "integrity of the game" which hasn't existed in decades.

Please

Look, I'm a Chargers fan, and I'm telling you to let the Hochuli game go. The man admitted to making a mistake (something he wouldn't have done if he had any sort of agenda, as you've claimed). As for the integrity of the Commissioner? See above. I'd take Roger Goodell in a heartbeat. Sure, the ref situation is screwed up five ways from Sunday, but at least the NFL's actually playing games.

NFL officiating, and I mean in regards to the normal guys, is among the worst in pro sports. The often-subjective nature of most of the calls, combined with the NFL rulebook's own over-complications (we need a "process" to determine whether or not someone catches a football?) lead to games that are bogged down with flags or riddled with calls that probably shouldn't have been made.

That being said, as bad as NFL officiating is under normal circumstances, the replacement refs are worse. I'll take the normal guys over the crap we've been stuck with thus far any day of the week.

Give the "THE NFL HAS AN AGENDA TO SCREW OVER TEAMS I LIKE SO LOL GO TROLL REFS" shtick a break. A good football trolling moment is the 7-9 Seahawks winning the division and then ousting the defending champs in the playoffs. The replacement ref situation? It's just a disgrace to a game and league I genuinely enjoy watching.

[rainmaker17]

Plus he ruined the coolness of Super Bowl logos.

[ninersdd]

His push for player safety has been executed horribly and reeks of covering his ass so he won't get sued instead of genuine concern for the players. He's also used player safety as an excuse for him to act like judge, jury, and executioner, handing out questionable fines like he's David freaking Stern. His obnoxious, hypocritical, and agenda-driven approach to running the league has angered fans, players, and coaches alike.

To his credit, at least he is handing out fines for potentially dangerous hits and programs like the Saints bountygate, unlike Stern who will coaches and players up to wazoo for sane comments about the officiating. Think about that: Golden Tate got fined 21,000 for a hard hit against the Cowboys, while simply stating you disagreed with the referees in the NBA it's 25-35,000. That's a huge joke. What's saving me from hating Stern completely is that he hates the Maloofs. I will say that if more games are stolen from like last night thanks to the bad referees, then Goodell's rep will deservedly so take a huge hit. Still though, compared to the others Goodell's ain't that bad. (I admit that I overreacted a tad last night, but this needs to be worked out ASAP)

[CS85]

Cujo tweeted this, I'm ripping him off.

Google, now sponsored by the NFL:

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[BlueSky]

nm