I think the NFL is rigged

[Jetstream Green]

Fixing any sporting event is against the law. Our opinions don't matter in a court room.

I may be wrong then but it would only be illegal if people associated with the NFL would then be gambling on the event which they are not allowed to do from my thinking. If I want to start having electric train races and posting it on Youtube and the gambling community wants to start betting on it, but I rig the winner and do not bet on my races or accept money from their act, it's their fault and not mine

 

[Cards_Campos]

It means we're making excuses.

I will admit though, I watched the game in about 30 minutes through fast forward due to stuff happening at home. So if I'm wrong, then my bad.

Yea your bad. It was 7 penalties on Arizona zero on Atlanta. Many of the calls stopped huge gains by us or have Atlanta first downs on 3rd down. Unfair calls on Peterson when Jones is pushing and shoving.

 

[Fiasco]

Fixing any sporting event is against the law. Our opinions don't matter in a court room.

Uh, no, it's perfectly legal for the NFL to manipulate results for entertainment purposes.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Fixing any sporting event is against the law. Our opinions don't matter in a court room.

Then why isn't pro wrestling illegal?

 

[WisconsinCard]

Uh, no, it's perfectly legal for the NFL to manipulate results for entertainment purposes.

UM...No, it falls under fraud and/or truth in advertising laws. The reason wrestling is ok to have a predetermined winner is everyone knows.

 

[WisconsinCard]

Then why isn't pro wrestling illegal?

Again pro wrestling isn't a sport it's entertainment, and advertised as such.

 

[Jetstream Green]

UM...No, it falls under fraud and/or truth in advertising laws. The reason wrestling is ok to have a predetermined winner is everyone knows.

That does not hold water if that is the argument because wrestling never promotes itself as rigged either, and because it is obvious and accepted does not get the NFL off in comparison but merely stresses the point that the NFL has achieved wrestling levels of "what the hell did I just see" and "yeah, right"... and all sports are a form of entertainment too

 

[WisconsinCard]

That does not hold water if that is the argument because wrestling never promotes itself as rigged either, and because it is obvious and accepted does not get the NFL off in comparison but merely stresses the point that the NFL has achieved wrestling levels of "what the hell did I just see" and "yeah, right"... and all sports are a form of entertainment too

Go to a sports book or even an on-line betting service and find me a line on the next WWE hillbilly smack down. While you at it find me a line on the next Harlem globetrotter's match against the New Jersey Generals. Seriously read a book or something you guys sound like a bunch of people huddled in a basement with tin foil hats on.

 

[jbeecham]

This is a little OT, but I saw a little of the Carolina game yesterday & Cam Newton throws a pass & then is tackled right after throwing it. There's no helmet to helmet, it's not a late hit, he's not hit low.... it's the same kind of hit that Carson Palmer took 10+ times yesterday, but the refs throw a flag for roughing Cam Newton because he had a talk with Goodell & now they're protecting him. Sure, Carolina still lost the game, but it just shows what's wrong with the league... the refs don't enforce all of the rules equally for all of the players. When teams have to research what penalties each ref is known for calling (& what they never call) then that is a broken system. When the two teams playing have to play by completely different sets of rules.. as was the case in our game yesterday with no flags on Atlanta until 2 min left in the 3rd qtr, the system is broken. When crap like that happens then it sure looks intentional.

 

[Lorenzo]

Well there are too separate cases here. If you think the NFL are rigged (which I do not). And there is NFL rule enforcement problems(which I do think there is a major problem there).

NFL rules are too complex. That is their problem. There are too many rules and the refs are asked to do too much. Now as fans we expect all the calls for our team and don't always accept them when they call them the other way especially when the game is on the line or if they are inconsistent. NFL needs to simplify the rules but are in too deep because of player safety.
There is holding and PI on almost every play so if we want them to be consistent then we should ask them to throw even more flags...

I think maybe they should make the penalties less harsh for PI and maybe certain other calls so they don't change the outcome of the game so much. IDK what else can be done though.

 

[speedy]

If one doesn't think referees can't steer the outcome of a game, you're the one living in a fantasy world.

I remember being at a game in SDS sometime around 03 or 04 (I think we may have been playing Carolina) and watching a flag fly for phantom PI against Adrian Wilson in the waning minutes (with the game on the line). AW did nothing AND the ball sailed 10-12 feet over the receivers head.

I remember another game where a phantom false start was called against Leonard Davis in the final minutes of the game (inside the 10, game on the line) which lead to a 10 second runoff and end of regulation. Game over. There was no such movement on the line.

And who can forget Rob Moore being molested in the back corner of the end zone at SDS against Dallas in 1998 for the go-ahead TD in the final seconds, and none of the zebras on the field sharing the same perspective as everyone else in the free world?

I believe the league has had it out for the Cardinals as well as the Valley for quite some time. There is no doubt this team is playing below average, but I wholly believe they have also been playing against the zebras in nearly every game this year. I played a lot of football and watch a lot of football- the NFL has some of the most deplorable and shameful officiating of any other league. I don't care if these officials are part time- I don't think that is as much of a factor as its being drummed up to be. I have seen more consistent officiating in PW/JPW games on the weekends, from guys making about $40 a game, who are normally construction workers and school teachers during the week.

BA calling them out has only produced more severe blow-back. This is the nature of the league- this is how they roll.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Go to a sports book or even an on-line betting service and find me a line on the next WWE hillbilly smack down. While you at it find me a line on the next Harlem globetrotter's match against the New Jersey Generals. Seriously read a book or something you guys sound like a bunch of people huddled in a basement with tin foil hats on.

Because there are still a lot of people with tin foil hats who think football is not rigged in anyway

 

[Lorenzo]

bumping this one due to the games as of this past week as well. A lot of ref blaming still happening. the obvious one is the cowboys/vikes game on Thursday night the no call that ended that one. and I know most of you probably did not watch the giants/steelers, but yesterday the giants fans I know where blaming the refs as well for their loss. don't understand how they can when they got beat as badly as they did and they cannot run the ball, but I guess there are still bad calls. I felt like there was PI on almost every third down play in that game that involved an Incomplete pass(for both teams) yet it seemed like the refs were much more keen to call offensive PI in the game. is it me or they are allowing a lot more holding and PI this year from the defense.

 

[speedy]

I see a lot of defensive holding within the 5 yard rule; receivers being held from breaking into a quick slant, out, or wheel. To be fair, it happened to fitz yesterday and norman drew a flag for it. Norman was jawing and throwing a tantrum about it, and in all fairness, it was very benign compared to what else I have been seeing, so I can see his point. It made me wonder if BA had a constructful conversation with the refs prior to the game and said it has been happening a lot this season and we aren't getting that call. Smoke was held at the line and it lead to a pick 6 in Minnesota.

 

[NJCardFan]

That does not hold water if that is the argument because wrestling never promotes itself as rigged either, and because it is obvious and accepted does not get the NFL off in comparison but merely stresses the point that the NFL has achieved wrestling levels of "what the hell did I just see" and "yeah, right"... and all sports are a form of entertainment too

Sure it does. Off the record. Not during a broadcast. There's reality and there's kayfabe but I have seen wrestling admit it's pre-determined even on camera. Case in point, when Owen Hart died, the next night on RAW they had little spots where wrestlers would give their memories of Owen. Bob Holly made mention that on an episode of RAW from Alabama, Holly's home state, that Owen had "put him over". To be put over is a term meaning that a wrestler allows himself to lose to another wrestler. Also, the WWE literally means World Wrestling Entertainment. And, no one in their right mind believes that one 6'5" 275lp wrestler can hit another wrestler in the head with a sledge hammer and not only not kill him but not put a mark on them. And finally, you can't bet on pro wrestling. You can bet on pro sports. Hell, even the act of point shaving is considered illegal even if the offending team or player wins.

 

[NJCardFan]

Go to a sports book or even an on-line betting service and find me a line on the next WWE hillbilly smack down. While you at it find me a line on the next Harlem globetrotter's match against the New Jersey Generals. Seriously read a book or something you guys sound like a bunch of people huddled in a basement with tin foil hats on.

Not to nitpick but it's the Washington Generals. The NJ Generals were in the USFL but I agree 100% of your point.

As for being rigged, don't know about rigged but it is possible that some officials might be steered in one direction or another. For example, it's publicized that in the NBA the officials are forbidden to foul out a star player. It is said that one official did foul a star player out and heard it from the league. Of course this comes from an anonymous source so take it for what it's worth but I digress. Let's look at yesterday. SF @ Chicago. SF blocks a punt and seemingly runs it back for a score but the ball carrier stepped out of bounds(which he did). No worries there, however, when he thought he scored, while out side the actual field of play behind the endzone, he flops on the ground to make a snow angel. Ref's throw a flag, SF gets hit for 15 yards bringing the ball to the 19 instead of the 4. They don't score and only get a FG. Now, Houston @ GB. GB scores and the ball carrier does the same exact snow angel while in the endzone, no flag. This is on top of the fact that the Lambeau Leap isn't considered excessive celebration. In short, as was said, the disparity is with the enforcement of the rules. It definitely isn't uniform.

 

[WisconsinCard]

bumping this one due to the games as of this past week as well. A lot of ref blaming still happening. the obvious one is the cowboys/vikes game on Thursday night the no call that ended that one. and I know most of you probably did not watch the giants/steelers, but yesterday the giants fans I know where blaming the refs as well for their loss. don't understand how they can when they got beat as badly as they did and they cannot run the ball, but I guess there are still bad calls. I felt like there was PI on almost every third down play in that game that involved an Incomplete pass(for both teams) yet it seemed like the refs were much more keen to call offensive PI in the game. is it me or they are allowing a lot more holding and PI this year from the defense.

I just think there is the official's are under a bigger microscope. Every play is replayed over and over so we get to see it several times to make our conclusions. The officials only get to see it once in live time, and they have to decide, then add in the fact that many rules are subjective and you'll create controversy. It's the same human element that has always been involved in the game, it's just on a larger stage now. I think most fans of any team feels like their team get screwed by the officials. All this BS about the NFL/officials have it out for BA and the Cards is pure crap. If the NFL/officials had it out for us how did we get so far last year?

 

[Lorenzo]

I just think there is the official's are under a bigger microscope. Every play is replayed over and over so we get to see it several times to make our conclusions. The officials only get to see it once in live time, and they have to decide, then add in the fact that many rules are subjective and you'll create controversy. It's the same human element that has always been involved in the game, it's just on a larger stage now. I think most fans of any team feels like their team get screwed by the officials. All this BS about the NFL/officials have it out for BA and the Cards is pure crap. If the NFL/officials had it out for us how did we get so far last year?

Agreed well stated!

 

[Darkside]

I find the idea that it's rigged not only irritating, but whine-ish. When you lose it's rigged, when you win it's all hard work and dedication.

I do want to preface this by saying my wife and I watched a special about Sumo Wrestling and it being rigged. Sounds unrelated, but bear with me. I know nothing about Sumo Wrestling. It's been a tradition with tremendous honor for thousands of years. It means more than just the sport, it's honorable to your province, your handler, your family, more honor than anything we currently have, going back thousands of years. They do these rituals before, during, and after. Supposedly very honorable, and I don't just mean Western ideas of honor which is weak, I mean thousands of years honor, like falling on your sword type honor. Yet this grandmaster sumo guy says it's fixed, that he threw matches, and he explained how they do it. It's a lot like officiating in the NFL believe it or not. There's grey areas, judgement calls, etc. He made it sound like nothing more than wrestling when we were done watching, and it was depressing.

My point is, if you think the NFL is rigged, why do you still watch? If I thought it was rigged, even slightly, I wouldn't watch. Never. Do you really believe what you're saying? And if so, why are you still here?

I choose not to believe that. If the NFL is nothing more than reality TV and all the fake entertainment and manufactured drama then why watch?

So my questions are:
1. Do you truly believe it's rigged, and if you do why do you still watch and comment on it? Because I wouldn't, I'd be done and spend my time elsewhere.
2. If you don't believe it's rigged but you're just pissed off, then what's your agenda?
3. If you think it's rigged but think it's also good entertainment...I really want to stab a fork in your face.

 

[Cards_Campos]

I do think refs make calls to help teams win or lose. Why I watch? Is because I'm hoping the refs and the nfl like the cards some day to get them back to the super bowl. Also I do believe you can out play the refs sometimes. Meaning they can't call holding every play so if you keep.making big plays. You can win. Just because I may think it's rigged doesn't make the games less entertaining. Just at times frustrating. But like any movie with a star in it...we watch knowing that star isn't going to die early..we know he will dodge whatever tries to get or kill him.

 

[Darkside]

I do think refs make calls to help teams win or lose. Why I watch? Is because I'm hoping the refs and the nfl like the cards some day to get them back to the super bowl. Also I do believe you can out play the refs sometimes. Meaning they can't call holding every play so if you keep.making big plays. You can win. Just because I may think it's rigged doesn't make the games less entertaining. Just at times frustrating. But like any movie with a star in it...we watch knowing that star isn't going to die early..we know he will dodge whatever tries to get or kill him.

So you think it's all fixed, but you hope we, or lesser franchises like us, can out-slick the refs enough to win? You're hoping they "like" us some day to get them back to the SB? That's your words and you believe that?

You're crazy man, who the F wants to win like that?

 

[Darkside]

You know, I just gotta say, we have some quality guys on this roster, and if we do win I want it to be because they worked hard and took losses hard and cared. Like we do.

There's been a long, very long argument in this community and on this board about selecting character guys over premium players. This argument and discussion has been ongoing for decades.

I'd rather lose with the character guys we have than win the way you're talking.

I'm old fashioned, but you can suck that one. Not everyone gets a participation trophy, teams lose all the time, so do players. There's tons of great players and teams that never won poo. Frank Tarkenton never won anything. Dan Marino. Dan Fouts. Jesus, the Vikings with Moss and Cunningham, and a FG kicker that hadn't missed all year. Shank. There's no fix on that. No fix on the Bills missing that kick in their 1st of 4 SB appearances in a row!!!!...in a freaking row!!

The fix isn't in, you're just freaking mental.