NFL 2012

[ghost]

That was a pretty insane series of shitty passblocking by the Packers at the end of the first half.  The Seahawks could be pretty decent by the end of the year if Wilson comes along.  Their defense looks stout.  Well, at home anyway.

[slog]

Yea anything is better than Tebow. 

[Nevermore]

And the last play of the game is Roger Goodell's worst nightmare.  

[Nebu]

Time to boycott the NFL.  That was a complete joke.

[Paelos]

I don't fucking believe what i just saw.

[Malakili]

I've got it figured out - this season is some kind of elaborate dada performance piece.

[Paelos]

This is a sham. I've never been physically ill over watching anything in sports. That did it. I am sick to my stomach.

This is going to be looked at as one of the darkest years in the NFL.

[Llyse]

This is a sham. I've never been physically ill over watching anything in sports. That did it. I am sick to my stomach.

This is going to be looked at as one of the darkest years in the NFL.

Someone mind linking/elaborating for our Non-US readers?

[Bunk]

Wow. Glad I'm a Seattle fan.

After the phantom PI that kept Greenbay's TD drive alive in the fourth, I was feeling ok about a couple of the goofy calls that went Seattle's way after it.
Then there were a couple more.
Then there was the last play.
Wow.

Devil's advocate, it was very close to a simultaneous catch - I'm assuming the official didn't get a good look at the catch at the top of the jump and made the ruling based on Tate having both hands around the ball on the ground.
That being said - it should have been ruled a pick. And probably offensive PI.

Normally anything that causes the Pack to lose makes me happy, but that was hard to swallow.

[Ingmar]

This is a sham. I've never been physically ill over watching anything in sports. That did it. I am sick to my stomach.

This is going to be looked at as one of the darkest years in the NFL.

Someone mind linking/elaborating for our Non-US readers?

Last play of GB-Seattle, a fairly clear interception was called as a touchdown reception instead, giving the wrong team the win. On the most watched game of the week.

[Nevermore]

It was the single worst, yet entertaining (for all the wrong reasons), end of an NFL game I've ever seen.  I would call it a total fiasco but that doesn't really seem strong enough to encompass the amount of 

[Paelos]

This is a sham. I've never been physically ill over watching anything in sports. That did it. I am sick to my stomach.

This is going to be looked at as one of the darkest years in the NFL.

Someone mind linking/elaborating for our Non-US readers?

I really can't. It's just insane. After 26 penalties, they ruled a simultaneous catch on a hail mary pass that was against a defender's chest after a guy had already been shoved out of the way by the offensive guy who had his arms on the ball. At worst, it's a pick. But the refs don't agree on the field. They go to review on replay, they don't overturn it. They then force the players from Green Bay they just jobbed out of a win to put their helmets back on, come back from the locker room. And stand there while the Seahawks make a meaningless extra point.

[WayAbvPar]

The victory might go in Seattle's column, but no one won that game. Football lost. Might have been a hell of a game, but we will never know. Goodell and the owners just took a drippy steaming shit all over the integrity and entertainment value of their own league. I won't watch another game with these refs.

[Nebu]

The NFL needs to give the regular refs ANYTHING THEY FUCKING WANT.   It's going to seriously start hurting them in the pocket if they don't. 

THIS. 

[MuffinMan]

I'd say the referees' union is the true winner of that game.

[sickrubik]

The refs aren't even fucking asking for much other than a "don't fuck with our pension" bit.

So disgusted. It finally cost someone a win.

[naum]

This game made Vince McMahon cry.

[WayAbvPar]

The refs aren't even fucking asking for much other than a "don't fuck with our pension" bit.

So disgusted. It finally cost someone a win.

While that may be technically true due to the last play, there was a drive extending phantom pass interference call on Green Bay's touchdown drive near midfield. So we really have no idea who would have won a game staffed by the normal incompetent refs and not this collection of clowns.

[Nebu]

While that may be technically true due to the last play, there was a drive extending phantom pass interference call on Green Bay's touchdown drive near midfield. So we really have no idea who would have won a game staffed by the normal incompetent refs and not this collection of clowns.

There were two OPI calls missed on Seattle's last drive as well.  (Rice and Tate)  The one on Rice was actually called against GB.

The second half was a disaster.  

[Nevermore]

Now imagine the Packers end up losing their division or even miss the playoffs completely by one game. 

[Abagadro]

I have a feeling the League is going to be getting calls tomorrow from the people who really have the power:  The Networks.  The product is basically unwatchable at this point and I imagine they are fairly steamed at the degradation of their multi-billion dollar investment in product.

[sickrubik]

I have a feeling the League is going to be getting calls tomorrow from the people who really have the power:  The Networks.  The product is basically unwatchable at this point and I imagine they are fairly steamed at the degradation of their multi-billion dollar investment in product.

I'm frustrated enough to call DirecTV and cancel my sunday ticket, but I'l sleep on it. I'm sure I would be one tiny voice in a sea of indifference.

[HaemishM]

Time to boycott the NFL.  That was a complete joke.

This. I am apoplectic with rage at this bullshit. It was bad enough that Sidney Rice wasn't called for fucking mugging the shit out of Sam Shields in the 4th quarter - bad enough they called Shields for pass interference when he had technically become the receiver since Rice was boxed out. No, that was fucking ridiculous enough. And all through the second half there were TERRIBLE penalties called. The roughing the passer on Erik Walden that kept a drive alive. The nothing pass interference calls that Green Bay got - and yes, Green Bay got a number of bullshit calls they absolutely had no business getting on that TD drive. Then the two really shitty spots of the ball on GB's TD drive that forced them to use a challenge on that 4th down spot. The Jennings TD that got overturned wasn't a TD, but it sure as shit was a fucking first down, but since they reviewed the play and got the spot a yard too short, then the clownshoes refs spot Rodgers scramble short - but at least they overturned that blind man's call.

But that play in the endzone... it just boggles the mind. Bad enough they don't see the blatant offensive PI in the endzone, I can understand that one. But to say that the wide receiver came down with the ball when he's on the bottom of the pile with barely one arm touching the fucking ball while Jennings had both hands and his chest practically smothering the pigskin was crazy. And then to REVIEW THAT SHIT and GET IT FUCKSTUPID WRONG.

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WAAARRRRGGGGGBBLLLLEELE in the world. I have never seen any shit so insane in my life. And to see Golden Tate in the interview talking about how they deserved that game and Pete Carroll's smug cuntface. Fuck the Seahawks. I can never root for them again.

I'm still undecided about an actual boycott but I certainly will think twice about wasting my time while these fucking Mickey Mouse refs are in the house.

[Zetleft]

This is the worst thing I have ever seen in an NFL game.  It's now a complete and utter joke.  Put an asterisks or whatever you want on this season cause it really doesn't matter now.  This is really the best thing that could have happened for the locked out refs but for the fans this is just a slap in the face. 

[Nevermore]

Fuck the Seahawks. I can never root for them again.

Your rage as a Packers fan is justified but misplaced.  It should be directed squarely at Goodell and the owners for setting up this kind of fail.

I personally am not a fan of either team nor do I particularly dislike either team so to be honest I'm happy the game ended like it did, because if the end of that game doesn't move those greedy fucking owners to get a deal done, nothing will.

[Malakili]

And then to REVIEW THAT SHIT and GET IT FUCKSTUPID WRONG.

I'm pretty sure the ruling on the field was that it was a simultaneous catch (which always go to the offense).  I'm WELL with you that it WASN'T actually.  However, the important point is that it was the ruling on the field, because you can't review it.  That part of the play is not up for review after the call has been made on the field. You can still rule if it was in bounds, or if the ball hit the turf, etc, but possession on a ruled simultaneous catch is not reviewable.

[WayAbvPar]

I saw a good comment on Facebook (believe me, I am as surprised as you!) saying the players need to stop crossing the line and playing in the games with scab refs. That would certainly get things moving. I don't know how much ALL the players cared until tonight. Almost every guy in the league keeps at least one eye on the MNF game, and they know damned well it could be them getting fucked over next week.

Won't ever happen, but I like the idea. Plus it would probably piss Scott Walker off. That might be the only good thing about tonight...I hope that cocksucker is a huge Packers fan.

[sickrubik]

And then to REVIEW THAT SHIT and GET IT FUCKSTUPID WRONG.

I'm pretty sure the ruling on the field was that it was a simultaneous catch (which always go to the offense).  I'm WELL with you that it WASN'T actually.  However, the important point is that it was the ruling on the field, because you can't review it.  That part of the play is not up for review after the call has been made on the field. You can still rule if it was in bounds, or if the ball hit the turf, etc, but possession on a ruled simultaneous catch is not reviewable.

Here is the text. Source: http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/11_Rule8_ForwardPass_BackPass_Fumble.pdf

If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players  retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an  opponent subsequently gains joint control. If the ball is muffed after simultaneous touching by two such players, all the players of the passing team become eligible to catch the loose ball.

One ref signaled touchdown, the other signaled that it was a touchback/dead play/whatever that signal ws supposed to be. Now, first off, it was absolutely NOT a simultaneous catch... and then it _WAS_ reviewd and upheld. The review is if it's a touchdown. If they are reviewing that information there is opportunity to say "nope, that was not a touchdown". The call was that it was a touchdown.

[Abagadro]

Was a real shitty call but lost in this is that that type of outcome is why dbs are taught to spike the ball down rather than try to catch it. Jennings didn't play it correctly.

[Nevermore]

Maybe the ref who signaled touchdown had Tate on his fantasy team. 

[Ingmar]

And the one who made them kick the extra point had Seattle -1.

[Malakili]

One ref signaled touchdown, the other signaled that it was a touchback/dead play/whatever that signal ws supposed to be. Now, first off, it was absolutely NOT a simultaneous catch... and then it _WAS_ reviewd and upheld. The review is if it's a touchdown. If they are reviewing that information there is opportunity to say "nope, that was not a touchdown". The call was that it was a touchdown.

One of those calls (touchdown) WAS the call on the field though.  If you've already called it a simultaneous catch (which it must have been to be a touchdown, (which ended up being confirmed as the "ruling on the field", because the ref ruled it as the ruling on the field standing) you can't "un call" it a simultaneous catch.  At that point it doesn't matter if it "really" was a simultaneous catch or not.  We all acknowledge it was an interception. Anyway...  And if you can't uncall it a simultaneous catch, then the call has to stand, because the ball clearly didn't hit the ground, and the players were clearly in bounds.  The problem is that they called it a simultaneous catch/touchdown to begin with  when it clearly wasn't, and they should have at least huddled up and made the officially "ruling on the field" very clear from the beginning.

They fucked up badly, but I don't think they had any wiggle room by the letter of the rules to un-fuck their mistake once it had been fucked in the first place.

[sickrubik]

The review is if it is a score or not, not if it is a simultaneous catch or not. AT the VERY LEAST the booth could have called it incomplete.

Apparently you can't cut and paste from the rulebook, but check out Rule 15, Section 9.

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook

[Cyrrex]

Can any of you imbed a little video of the play?  I don't think I'll be able to see it here from work in Euroland.

[MuffinMan]

Can any of you imbed a little video of the play?  I don't think I'll be able to see it here from work in Euroland.

Probably won't last long on YouTube.

Tate interview after the game.