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Originally Posted by Wisconsin_Chief
Yep, I recall every single one of these instances. It's exactly like you said, some people just simply don't want to see it. It really is just that simple. Countless NFL players have spoken out about it, books have been written about it, ect.
Also, the responses using the term 'rigged' constantly are a little redundant and deflective. Obviously every game and every play and every outcome is not scripted or rigged. That would be impossible to pull off and would be blatantly obvious.
However, anyone who can't see that certain games are manipulated by officiating isn't even really worth having a discussion with at this point. If you watched those calls handed to Brady in the Super Bowl as a Chiefs' fan and still can deny this stuff happens, you're just an extremely naive person. You watched Mahomes get sledgehammered into the ground play after play without a single penalty while people weren't allowed to breathe on Brady's receivers without a flag flying.
And believe it or not, it is still possible to enjoy NFL football while knowing in the back of your mind that games will be steered in certain directions from time to time. It actually makes it much easier to handle because you can clearly see when it's happening if you accept it and realize it's time to mentally check out. I was over our Super Bowl loss by halftime because of how it transpired.
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Refs have influence over the outcome of games.
That's a "no-shit". That's prevalent in any sport with a ref as the nature of it is subjective in itself. Anytime something is subjective you're going to have errors, inconsistency and outcomes that people disagree with
What's in question is the WHY and HOW.
The problem people like you have is the complete lack of consistency in these views and you can never competently defend them. Like, ever.
I do believe that refs are told to look for certain things in games. They're instructed by higher-ups to watch Team A as they often commit X-type of penalty.
Teams have input on such things. Certain coaches like BB are known for sending tape into league offices complaining about certain teams getting away with certain things.
Several years ago during the Alex Smith era i recall (IIRC, Mike Tomlin) openly complaining about the Chiefs getting away with so many rub-routes. If you think he didn't complain to the league about that before the game, you're kidding yourself.
Steven Nelson, for example, has a league wide reputation for being grabby. So why would anyone be surprised that refs are paying extra close attention to Steven Nelson grabbing onto receivers and getting called for it over and over again?
I do believe that refs are also told to lay off on penalties as well and at times, let players play. We've seen examples of "let them play" in the playoffs on a yearly basis. All of a sudden things that were penalties in the regular season aren't in the playoffs.
During last season's SB run, i made note several times during the playoffs that the Refs were letting the Chiefs DB's play physical and graby. BECAUSE THEY WERE.
Not one off you mother****ers seemed to have noticed or cared.
I even said in teh SB preview thread that the Chiefs should continue letting their DB's get grabby. I SAID that they would get penalized. I SAID that the Chiefs should keep being physical anyway.
So when the game starts and the refs come out with a twitchy trigger finger looking for DPI's, no one should've been surprised.
The refs spent two ****ing weeks studying, and being told that the Chiefs DB's are grabby. Lo and behold, they're getting flagged just like i said they would.