The NFL sucks plain and simple and it gets worse every year..maybe it's because the technology gets us the facts quicker than ever and maybe it's because the game is no longer the important part of the business but whatever it still sucks.
Unfortunately, you get used to it. You know going into the year there is going to be at least one game, usually in GB, that you're going to get the unusually short end of the stick. Its okay, though, because that apology letter midweek and the ensuing talk of reviewing those type of plays in the offseason makes us all feel much better about getting boned. Again.
Props to that old ref espn brought down at the last minute to explain the rule last night. Ray looked like he wanted to knock him out though.
The referee's union would never agree to this. However, as it's been mentioned, all refs are graded for every call or non-call they make - as a group and individual. They're all evaluated and ranked. This ref in the back of the endzone who stated he didn't think that Wright intentionally batted the ball out(he was 15 feet away looking right at him!!!!), will clearly be demoted for this.
Yes that's total justification for the wrong interpretation of a rule in the last seconds of a 3 point football game.
Yeah, just like he did time for his crime. His televised interview answer to the family of the murdered man of that fatal incident: Lewis said: "God has never made a mistake. That’s just who He is, you see.... To the family, if you knew, if you really knew the way God works, He don’t use people who commits anything like that for His glory." Just a reminder that we should never forget who and what Ray Lewis is.
He really is a scumbag. And he's a terrible analyst he's just on television because he's Ray Lewis which should be even more of a reason to take him off given his jaded past. "The Bears just need to hit harder, play faster, play with heart and god will come through for them on Sunday," is about the extent of his 'analysis' for every team.
It's not a justification of anything. It's an expression of a lack of surprise that something unfortunate occurred AFTER somebody fumbled the ball at the goal line, and a corresponding lack of sympathy therefor. Understand the distinction?
I understand many things. I wasn't attacking you. Just reminding everyone that Ray Lewis is a pc of shit, that's all.
Steve Young not much better. Last night in his smug tone "how come we don't see that penalty when a punter bats it out the back of his end zone?" uhhhhh well lets think about this for a second you fuckin idiot. Why would the defense choose a penalty and give the ball back to punting team (possession last) over a fuckin 2-point safety AND the ball.
Most analysts are going down hill because the networks move towards personalities rather than actual knowledge. The better analysts are the ones without much personality but the problem is that they get less air time. NFL networks coverage is unbearable. The players from the 70s and 80's are easily the best in the business. Tom Jackson and Boomer are the most knowledgeable in my mind. Cris Carter is terrible, Irvin, Deion, even Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner to an extent. I like Keyshawn and although that might be a bit of a bias assessment he seems to have a bigger clue than the rest of these guys. Trent Dilfer too although him constantly reminding us that he wasn't a very good player drives me nuts.
I was watching the post game where he was interviewing one of the Seahawks defenders, and actually asked how it felt to be surrounded with such a good defense where everyone was on the same page. Ray Lewis has been there and done that, so it was really funny watching Lewis' reactions to what he said as if he was genuinely interested in his answers (or lack thereof). Those guys are all fake. I wish Ray Lewis asked real questions about schemes and actual football stuff since he's familiar with that kind of thing, but you could seriously have a stuffed animal ask better questions than that.
I've read a bit online about the fallout from this non-call. Lots of damning stuff being said. Too much of this kind of thing goes on and the notion of "the integrity of the game" becomes a cause for smirking rather than head nodding.