Proof the NFL favors the Steelers

[AzWins23]

While watching the Browns Steelers game yesterday. This play was 4th down and inches. Ben tried sneaking it, and he came up short...Well at least the video does. The referee called this a first down.

http://www.blitzcorner.com/NFL/Browns-vs-Steelers-Refs-Bad-Call-on-Fourth-Down-Video

 

[Buckybird]

I knew we were playing 11 against 17 in Super Bowl 43.



I saw that too, complete BS!!! How the refs get away with that crap blows my mind. I just hate the way THEY (the refs) can dictate a game with some of their horrid calls. It seems too often they call what they thought they saw instead of actually seeing it.

 

[CtCardinals78]

Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XLIII

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

"GHOST" calls...

That there is "favoritism" in the NFL is too obvious to ignore. I've come to this conclusion based on 41+ years of watching the game. I remember years ago reading a comment by Roy Green after a controversial call had gone against the Cards in a game against the Giants. He said, "losers" DON'T get calls! Chris Berman so much as said it again just last nite on Buffalo's Lee Evans "catch" (After "review" it was ruled a non-catch) at the Jets 4-yard line. The Steelers, the Cowboys (last years' game was a PERFECT example) GET the calls. PERIOD!

So, I've often wondered HOW does a "loser" EVER become a WINNER if the "calls" consistently go against them?? The ONLY conclusion I've come to is DO EVERYTHING you possibly can to WIN on the field and DON'T EVER get in a position where the refs' can DECIDE the game! I will say this, for MANY years the Cards got "hosed". BUT then things changed.... NEW stadium, NEW culture...AND add in GOOD-GUYS (image-wise) like Kurt & Larry and all of a sudden those "ghost" calls against us seemed to, well, disappear. I remember last year hearing a clip of a ref talking w/ Wes Welker of the Pats during a game. He said something like, "I really admire the way you play the game". Now, TELL ME that is NOT in that guys' head if he has to make a P.I. or holding call on Welker?? Refs' are human w/feelings and I believe sub-consciously they pull for some players/teams. They can't help it.

So, how will the rest of this year play-out?? SAINTS?? The NFL's feel-good story of the year?? Catch a few breaks?? UH-HUH! VIKINGS?? With the "living-legend" leading them?? UH-HUH! ...And, of course, you'll have your media favs. Steelers, Cowboys, Patriots as beneficiaries. As for the Cards?? Well, Kurt & Larry are GOOD for the league so I think we'll be okay. Things have changed! GO CARDS!

 

[Russ Smith]

Did they change the spot or something? I didn't see that but clearly by measurement it was short so seems impossible they could have ruled that a first down?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Did they change the spot or something? I didn't see that but clearly by measurement it was short so seems impossible they could have ruled that a first down?

Nope they ruled it a first down which gave the Steelers 3 points. Horrid call.

 

[Magoo]

Did they change the spot or something? I didn't see that but clearly by measurement it was short so seems impossible they could have ruled that a first down?

Just like everyone else, I thought it looked short. Walt Anderson (referee in the game) said the camera angle might have been deceptive. I don't recall ever seeing this happen in a game.

Nope they ruled it a first down which gave the Steelers 3 points. Horrid call.

They also missed a hold on Cribbs return TD which gave Cleveland 7 points. Not a good afternoon for the refs in Pittsburgh yesterday.

Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XLIII

Proof the NFL doesn't favor the Steelers:

2002 Divisional Playoff @ Tennessee
2005 Divisional Playoff @ Indianapolis (Pittsburgh still won)
2007 Wild Card vs. Jacksonville

Great teams overcome questionable/bad calls in the playoffs. Pittsburgh wasn't able to do that in 2002 or 2007.

As for the two Super Bowls:

Seattle wasn't able to overcome poor clock management at the end of both halves and Jerramy Stevens drops (after he opened his big mouth during the week). Not good enough to win an NFL Championship.

Arizona wasn't able to overcome a slow start or Warner's poor decision at the end of the first half. They still had the lead late in the game but couldn't stop Pittsburgh from driving 88 yards for a touchdown. Not good enough to win an NFL Championship.

 

[Rivercard]

Nope they ruled it a first down which gave the Steelers 3 points. Horrid call.

I hope they address this on the NFL Network when the head of officials is on there this week. I saw that happen and was confused at the time. There must be something else going on here. Maybe they placed the chains in the wrong spot initially and then moved it back? Would have been interesting if the Browns would have thrown the challenge flag there, assuming a measurement is a reviewable play.

 

[CardLogic]

That there is "favoritism" in the NFL is too obvious to ignore.

I agree it happens.

Now about this specific call, the Steelers first down - I am not positive about this, but I believe that the 10 yard measurement is not at the post but at the end of the chain, at the end of the clip you can even hear the guy talking mention that he's not sure about that very point...

The ONLY conclusion I've come to is DO EVERYTHING you possibly can to WIN on the field and DON'T EVER get in a position where the refs' can DECIDE the game!

I have been saying this for years.

 

[PoolBoy]

Arizona wasn't able to overcome a slow start or Warner's poor decision at the end of the first half. They still had the lead late in the game but couldn't stop Pittsburgh from driving 88 yards for a touchdown. Not good enough to win an NFL Championship.

its hard to bounce back from 2 wrong calls with 35 seconds left and the last play of the game.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Here is a Yahoo! article on this. Basically the ref is saying that the ball was past the stick, which is the first down marker (which is a load of horsepoop).

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/sh...nough-Hard-to-explain-th?urn=nfl,196646&cp=11

 

[Duckjake]

The ONLY conclusion I've come to is DO EVERYTHING you possibly can to WIN on the field and DON'T EVER get in a position where the refs' can DECIDE the game!

The problem is the refs are always in a position to decide the game with a holding call.

For years as a Cardinal fan the first thing I did whenever the Cards had a big play was start looking for the flag in the backfield. Seemed like for years the Cards would always get hit with one at a crucial time.

Never did that when Texas was playing.

 

[TJ]

As for the two Super Bowls:

Seattle wasn't able to overcome poor clock management at the end of both halves and Jerramy Stevens drops (after he opened his big mouth during the week). Not good enough to win an NFL Championship.

Arizona wasn't able to overcome a slow start or Warner's poor decision at the end of the first half. They still had the lead late in the game but couldn't stop Pittsburgh from driving 88 yards for a touchdown. Not good enough to win an NFL Championship.

Easy for you to say because you won those two games. Ill say that both games were officiated in Pittsburgh's favor. We could have overcome the imbalanced officiating with a last minute defensive drive but the officials gave Seattle no chance in SB XL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_to_officiating_in_Super_Bowl_XL

There are millions of articles from many outlets all around the US that called both Superbowls "tainted." I suggest you read them.

 

[joeshmo]

[.

Now about this specific call, the Steelers first down - I am not positive about this, but I believe that the 10 yard measurement is not at the post but at the end of the chain, at the end of the clip you can even hear the guy talking mention that he's not sure about that very point...

I have been saying this for years.

I know for a fact that is true for highschool football. First down is not the stick it is the end of the clip that is attached to the stick. Not sure what it is for the NFL though.

So according to that it was a first down. But even the Steelers who were on the field didnt think it was a first down, this from Center Hartwig -

"I have no idea how they gave us a first down, but we'll take it," Hartwig said. "I'd say (it was short) by two chain links. It was obvious to everybody playing on the field. I don't know how they called it the way they did, but ... we're not going to complain about it"

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2009/10/post_43.html

 

[CardLogic]

Here is a Yahoo! article on this. Basically the ref is saying that the ball was past the stick, which is the first down marker (which is a load of horsepoop).

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/sh...nough-Hard-to-explain-th?urn=nfl,196646&cp=11

The offical makes no mention of the "stick" and he shouldn't!

The picture in this article makes it clearer. This call was much closer than what most people believe. The stick is not the measurement point.
See the red arrow I have added to the picture, that is the 10-yard mark. It still looks a fraction of an inch short if you ask me, but it's not an egregious error on the officals part.

Edit - add picture, DUH!

 

[Early]

The angle is not the right as the one shown. Look at the hashmarks... Its tilted big time... So if you compare to that line of marks, it's clearly a first down, without discussion

Not to remove the theory of that big teams are favoured, i dont want to comment that. But this is clearly a first down, and the angle is just so wrong for direct observation

 

[dreamcastrocks]

looks like a first down to me.

 

[lobo]

Happens in ALL sports and certainly so obvious in basketball...i am not an nba fan at all...one of the many reasons is that the superstars get all the breaks as the league knows people come out to see the starts play....talk to the coach of the arkansas razorbacks and see how the refs gave the game to florida...that was pathetic...

 

[dreamcastrocks]

So according to that it was a first down. But even the Steelers who were on the field didnt think it was a first down, this from Center Hartwig -

"I have no idea how they gave us a first down, but we'll take it," Hartwig said. "I'd say (it was short) by two chain links. It was obvious to everybody playing on the field. I don't know how they called it the way they did, but ... we're not going to complain about it"

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2009/10/post_43.html

With that photo, there aren't two chain links left to be short?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I have been a chain guy for high school football in the past. You go by if the ball breaks the plane of the stick. Even the NFL official said that.

It was short.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

From questions directed to the referee.

(The official) Anderson told a pool reporter that the tip of the ball penetrated the plane of the marker's stake. He said the angle of the camera shot on TV might not have shown it, but he's sticking to his call.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

From questions directed to the referee.

It will be interesting to see what Mike Pereira says about this today during the 'Official Review' segment on NFL Network. It will surely be discussed.

 

[TJ]

It will be interesting to see what Mike Pereira says about this today during the 'Official Review' segment on NFL Network. It will surely be discussed.

Pereira agrees it was a first down. Citing camera angle

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I have been a chain guy for high school football in the past. You go by if the ball breaks the plane of the stick. Even the NFL official said that.

It was short.

Agreed. That is a horrible call. I have seen that called short about a bi-zillion times!!!!!!

Horrible. THAT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE OPENING OF PANDORA'S BOX. THIS IS THE 2009 TUCK RULE.

Wow! Sorry to Magoo, but I would be embarrassed by that call.

As for the NFL refs favoring teams ?

Without a doubt. Look no further than last year's Cowboys game. Yeah we won but it should not have been close. The early whistle to take away one sack/fumble, the tuck rule that took away a touch down, the bad call when Larry Fitzgerald caught TD pass (that he re-did two plays later anyway), and there were others I can't even remember.

Look at the Ravens-Pats game early this year where the Ravens got hosed AGAIN versus the Patriots (everyone remembers the Bart Scott incident two years before).

Plus there where some Colts vs. Texans games that I saw a few years ago where the Texans got screwed out of a couple games with some really horrible calls.

Favortism runs rampant in this league, and in my opinion any denial of it is just someone being niave, or stubborn.

But, it is part of the NFL. And as Darnell Dockett said, "Hey, this is America's Team, we are not going to get those calls today. We gotta overcome this, and win the game ourselves".

True Dat !