NFL Nuggets : Once again, the refs are terrible
Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Well, here it is, my annual column about the subpar performance of NFL referees. Please bear with me.
I'm tired of hearing how the NFL has the best officials in the world. If that's true, then all referees everywhere must be terrible.
I know I always write about how bad officiating is after my Baltimore Ravens get jobbed on a call, and this year is no different. On Sunday, the refs blew it again late in the Ravens' loss to the Tennessee Titans.
With Baltimore nursing a late 10-6 lead, the refs flagged DE Terrell Suggs for roughing the passer when he slapped Titans QB Kerry Collins on the shoulder during a third down play that was blown dead by a false start.
What?
They called that just to make me throw chicken nuggets at my TV.
Hey, I'm not going to sit here and blubber about that awful, horrible, mind-numbingly bad call. The Ravens had several other chances to stop the Titans on that drive and they didn't. Such is football.
That doesn't make a game-deciding call like that any easier to stomach. Ask San Diego fans if they've gotten over Ed Hochuli's high-profile miscue against Denver in Week 2, or if New Orleans fans are OK with the "no call"on an offsides D.J. Williams in Week 3.
By the way, how does Denver keep getting all this help from the officials?
Seriously, the problem is that the refs are too involved. The league has tried to control the game so much that there seems to be an infraction on every other play.
I think I speak for most NFL fans when I say, let the players play.
Keep the flag in your pocket. Fans don't pay good money to see or hear the refs.
Only call holding -- offensive or defensive -- when it's egregious. And if the guys scuffle a little bit after the play, just break it up and go on.
And for the love of Sammy Baugh, stop treating quarterbacks like ballet dancers. These guys are football players, just like every other member of the team who doesn't kick.
General managers, coaches, players, even trainers, get fired for poor performances all the time. Why not refs, or even the head of officiating, Mike Pereira? Changes need to be made, so why not start at the top?
Human error is part of the game -- the worst part. Personally, I'm ready for robot officials. I don't care if a Fry Daddy is making the calls, as long as it's making the right calls.
* * *
Week 5 Golden Nugget: Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants. The Seattle Seahawks came out jawing, but Jacobs and the Giants quickly shut them up. The big fella was a runaway freight train through the Seahawks' defense, gaining 136 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries.
Other champs: Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams (20 carries, 123 yards, 2 TDs), Cowboys RB Felix Jones (9 carries, 96 yards, TD), Bears QB Kyle Orton (334 passing yards, 2 TDs).
Week 5 Chicken Nugget: Sage Rosenfels, QB, Houston. Rosenfels' stats from Sunday's loss to the Colts don't look that bad. It's how he finished the game that looked really, really bad. The Texans surrendered a 27-10 lead in the game's final 5 minutes, and Rosenfels had two fumbles and an interception in that span.
>His worst flub came when he was trying to scramble and pull off an Elway-esque leap for a first down. Rosenfels was spun around like a propeller, causing a fumble that was returned 68 yards for a touchdown by Colts LB Gary Brackett.
Other chumps: Jaguars RB Fred Taylor (10 carries, 19 yards), Chiefs QB Damon Huard (86 passing yards, 2 INT, fumble), Chiefs RB Larry Johnson (7 carries, 2 yards).
Joe West is the assistant sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.
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