agree with you to a certain extent, the Pats O wasn't that gr8 (2 TD's thanks to a bad punt and INT on the 20) but Denver got extra chances at winning the game to bogus calls. Plus the clock mess up. It wouldn't surprise me one bit the refs had money on Denver. At the same time the refs have been going against Denver a bunch this season. The Chicago game was a great example; zero flags thrown on the Bears and they covered the closing line.
Is the NFL fixing games? No, but some of these refs clearly have a bookie on speed dial.
I didn't see the call in the Bills game but I was watching Red Zone for a few minutes and did see that BS call in the Titans game. I can't believe they threw a flag on that. How does the official do that? You can't change the outcome of a game on a play where the ball is nowhere near your alleged foul. You just can't.
This is why I enjoy college football so much more. I can't stand watching an NFL game anymore.
This is why I enjoy college football so much more. I can't stand watching an NFL game anymore.
Oh I think your wrong bud! They are winning with injuries. I think they will have no trouble ASSUMING we get Edelman, Gronk, Collins, Hightower back (I can't believe they have this many top notch players hurt). That being said home field will be HUGE, so thats a necessity along with a first round bye.
With a healthy Pats team no one else in the AFC scares me in Foxboro.
I thought last night was a really good game. Yeah the refs sucked that happens. You can't win every game you play.
No one thought going to Denver down some key players would be easy. They started 3rd string guys on defense.
After Hightower left the Denver running game took over.
Exactly. NFL is strictly for entertainment purposes only. Just like wrestling. TV also plays an integral role into making the games interesting to sell products. Found these at http://thefixisin.net/theproof.html
While we call these leagues "sports," they are in fact businesses. Their business is entertainment. The NFL, for one, has actually argued this fact before the Supreme Court as recently as 2010. Being "entertainment," the leagues are legally entitled to do what is needed to entertain their audience, such as the creation and promotion of certain "storylines." Despite arguments to the contrary, this makes the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL on par with Roller Derby and Professional Wrestling.
There is no law preventing a league from fixing its own contest. The two closest federal laws on the books are these:The "Quiz Show" law which was passed after it was revealed that television networks had been fixing the outcome of nationally televised game shows including Twenty-One and the $64,000 Challenge. The law reads: "(a) Influencing, prearranging, or predetermining outcome
It shall be unlawful for any person, with intent to deceive the listening or viewing public—
(1) To supply to any contestant in a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge or intellectual skill any special and secret assistance whereby the outcome of such contest will be in whole or in part prearranged or predetermined.
(2) By means of persuasion, bribery, intimidation, or otherwise, to induce or cause any contestant in a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge or intellectual skill to refrain in any manner from using or displaying his knowledge or skill in such contest, whereby the outcome thereof will be in whole or in part prearranged or predetermined.
(3) To engage in any artifice or scheme for the purpose of prearranging or predetermining in whole or in part the outcome of a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge, intellectual skill, or chance.
(4) To produce or participate in the production for broadcasting of, to broadcast or participate in the broadcasting of, to offer to a licensee for broadcasting, or to sponsor, any radio program, knowing or having reasonable ground for believing that, in connection with a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge, intellectual skill, or chance constituting any part of such program, any person has done or is going to do any act or thing referred to in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection.
(5) To conspire with any other person or persons to do any act or thing prohibited by paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this subsection, if one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of such conspiracy."Note the repeated use of the word "intellectual" -- not physical. Therefore, this law does not apply to sports.
The Sports Bribery Act of 1964 which was passed to protect the "integrity" of sports from mafia and gambling interests. It reads: "Whoever carries into effect, attempts to carry into effect, or conspires with any other person to carry into effect any scheme in commerce to influence, in any way, by bribery any sporting contest, with knowledge that the purpose of such scheme is to influence by bribery that contest, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."The key word in this law being "bribery." If a league instructs one of its employees -- be it an official, coach or athlete -- to influence and/or manipulate an outcome in a certain manner, such action does not break this law.No one has been arrested for violating the Sports Bribery Act in relation to a professional sporting event -- ever.
It shall be unlawful for any person, with intent to deceive the listening or viewing public—
(1) To supply to any contestant in a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge or intellectual skill any special and secret assistance whereby the outcome of such contest will be in whole or in part prearranged or predetermined.
(2) By means of persuasion, bribery, intimidation, or otherwise, to induce or cause any contestant in a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge or intellectual skill to refrain in any manner from using or displaying his knowledge or skill in such contest, whereby the outcome thereof will be in whole or in part prearranged or predetermined.
(3) To engage in any artifice or scheme for the purpose of prearranging or predetermining in whole or in part the outcome of a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge, intellectual skill, or chance.
(4) To produce or participate in the production for broadcasting of, to broadcast or participate in the broadcasting of, to offer to a licensee for broadcasting, or to sponsor, any radio program, knowing or having reasonable ground for believing that, in connection with a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge, intellectual skill, or chance constituting any part of such program, any person has done or is going to do any act or thing referred to in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection.
(5) To conspire with any other person or persons to do any act or thing prohibited by paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this subsection, if one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of such conspiracy."Note the repeated use of the word "intellectual" -- not physical. Therefore, this law does not apply to sports.
The Sports Bribery Act of 1964 which was passed to protect the "integrity" of sports from mafia and gambling interests. It reads: "Whoever carries into effect, attempts to carry into effect, or conspires with any other person to carry into effect any scheme in commerce to influence, in any way, by bribery any sporting contest, with knowledge that the purpose of such scheme is to influence by bribery that contest, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."The key word in this law being "bribery." If a league instructs one of its employees -- be it an official, coach or athlete -- to influence and/or manipulate an outcome in a certain manner, such action does not break this law.No one has been arrested for violating the Sports Bribery Act in relation to a professional sporting event -- ever.
NFL is becoming a farce. It's said when betting and ad revenue dictate outcomes. Maybe the players aren't in on it, but coaches and refs sure are sketchy. Why does the replay review keep getting things wrong? Why are these things open to "interpretation"?
I'm sure there's more, but these 2 jumped out to me yesterday that huge implications on final result.
1. Kam Chancellor INT in final minutes. No way he ever "possessed" the ball.
2. Phantom holding call on TEN when OAK failed on 4th down.
I'm sure there's more, but these 2 jumped out to me yesterday that huge implications on final result.
1. Kam Chancellor INT in final minutes. No way he ever "possessed" the ball.
2. Phantom holding call on TEN when OAK failed on 4th down.
If Gronk is out, their road would be much tougher
with Gronk and Amendola, they will score. Edelman returning and being productive would make them explosive
losing Hightower and Collins kills them on defense, they need at least one to be great defensively
the Pats are still the class of the AFC, but they can't play with one hand tied behind their back
with Gronk and Amendola, they will score. Edelman returning and being productive would make them explosive
losing Hightower and Collins kills them on defense, they need at least one to be great defensively
the Pats are still the class of the AFC, but they can't play with one hand tied behind their back
I don't believe the games are fixed, I do believe officiating in every sport (save for maybe baseball) is becoming progressively worse and referees are now a third team on the field, they're often times game changing players
I think they need to roll back some of the idiocy they've implemented in recent years.
I think the most important factor in calling a penalty or a foul has to be "was there an advantage gained or lost"?. If not, no penalty (with the exception being personal fouls or injury preventing calls)
right now the only advantage being gained or lost is being created by officials and their whistles, that's just not the way it's supposed to be
I think they need to roll back some of the idiocy they've implemented in recent years.
I think the most important factor in calling a penalty or a foul has to be "was there an advantage gained or lost"?. If not, no penalty (with the exception being personal fouls or injury preventing calls)
right now the only advantage being gained or lost is being created by officials and their whistles, that's just not the way it's supposed to be
I understand as long as Brady is on your team, the Pats have a legitimate shot......but this year with all the injuries, unless everyone gets healthy by wee 17, then maybe, but I just don't see the Pats in the SB this year.
I would love to see the red hot Chiefs right now go into New England.......in fact, I want to see the Chiefs go in during the playoffs .
After seeing the Bengals go up 9-2......I thought, will Denver lose & go 8-3? They can't afford it......I do think the NFL keeps teams close for "ratings" & whatever else those greedy bastards do it for......
You guys do know Denver hosts the Bengals in week 16, last Monday night of the year, that's right, the same last Monday night last year where the Bengals beat Denver......can you say revenge, & Manning will be back.
Quoting the retired Chris Borland:
"It's like a spectacle of violence, for entertainment, and you're the actors in it. You're complicit in that: You put on the uniform. And it's a trivial thing at its core. It's make-believe, really. That's the truth about it."
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...s-chris-borland-retirement-change-nfl-forever
Quoting Joe Thomas, Tackle for Cleveland Browns:
"I'm not sure if he [Roger Goodell] realizes what he's doing is brilliant, but what he's doing is brilliant because he's made the NFL relevant 365 [days] by having these outrageous, ridiculous witch hunts [Deflategate]. It's made the game more popular than ever and it's become so much more of an entertainment business and it's making so much money. That's why I'm sure there's plenty of people saying this is embarrassing for the league. But it's an entertainment business when it comes right down to it. When the game gets eyeballs in newspapers and on TV, that's what in the end is the goal for everyone. And that's what this controversy is giving them....But I think we're talking about a different NFL now. Like I said, before it was more about the game. Now it's such an entertainment business. It's almost like the Kim Kardashian factor that any news is good news when you're in the NFL....It's an entertainment business. It's turning into the WWE really. It's like the Vince McMahon stuff. Basically Goodell is like Vince McMahon."
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...d-browns-backs-tom-brady-rips-nfl-witch-hunts
Quoting Cris Collingsworth, former WR-turned-broadcaster:
"Every Sunday we say, 'Oh, my goodness! Look at that!' That's a good thing. It's an entertainment business. Why not make it as entertaining as possible?"
http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-receiver-gloves-20150830-column.html
"It's like a spectacle of violence, for entertainment, and you're the actors in it. You're complicit in that: You put on the uniform. And it's a trivial thing at its core. It's make-believe, really. That's the truth about it."
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...s-chris-borland-retirement-change-nfl-forever
Quoting Joe Thomas, Tackle for Cleveland Browns:
"I'm not sure if he [Roger Goodell] realizes what he's doing is brilliant, but what he's doing is brilliant because he's made the NFL relevant 365 [days] by having these outrageous, ridiculous witch hunts [Deflategate]. It's made the game more popular than ever and it's become so much more of an entertainment business and it's making so much money. That's why I'm sure there's plenty of people saying this is embarrassing for the league. But it's an entertainment business when it comes right down to it. When the game gets eyeballs in newspapers and on TV, that's what in the end is the goal for everyone. And that's what this controversy is giving them....But I think we're talking about a different NFL now. Like I said, before it was more about the game. Now it's such an entertainment business. It's almost like the Kim Kardashian factor that any news is good news when you're in the NFL....It's an entertainment business. It's turning into the WWE really. It's like the Vince McMahon stuff. Basically Goodell is like Vince McMahon."
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...d-browns-backs-tom-brady-rips-nfl-witch-hunts
Quoting Cris Collingsworth, former WR-turned-broadcaster:
"Every Sunday we say, 'Oh, my goodness! Look at that!' That's a good thing. It's an entertainment business. Why not make it as entertaining as possible?"
http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-receiver-gloves-20150830-column.html
Like others mentioned there were 6 penalties called on Denver 5 against NE so it was not like the refs were being overly biased against the Patriots. It's ironic that a team who has benefited over the years from friendly calls going their way (Tuck Rule anyone?) will cry foul now that a couple calls go against them. Bottom line is that Tom Brady had his chances to win it on overtime and could not get it done. The refs did not let CJ Anderson run 50 yards virtually untouched for the game winning touchdown.
The Patriot's Chris Harper muffed the punt. They were up 21-7 getting the ball. Up until that point everything was great for the Patriots. In fact I remember a questionable roughing the passer call on Broncos Von Miller, where he just lightly dropped himself on Brady. After the muffed punt mistake, the momentum shifted.
It's also possible the refs were tired of being yelled at like little bitches by Brady. Everytime a flag gets thrown, Brady would march over to the refs like they stole his virginity and start yelling at them. If anyone or any team benefits from the refs over the years, it has definitely been the Patriots. I'm sorry for your loss guys. If the punt doesn't get muffed, it might of been a Patriots blowout.
It's also possible the refs were tired of being yelled at like little bitches by Brady. Everytime a flag gets thrown, Brady would march over to the refs like they stole his virginity and start yelling at them. If anyone or any team benefits from the refs over the years, it has definitely been the Patriots. I'm sorry for your loss guys. If the punt doesn't get muffed, it might of been a Patriots blowout.
http://espn.go.com/blog/tennessee-t...e-called-game-changing-play-poorly-officiated
But as always, nothing changes.
But as always, nothing changes.
