Consistency in officiating, it's all I ask for...

[Ravens2006]

What does this crucial TD remind you of? Maybe the Jacoby Jones over-turned TD from the Giants game?

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap20...ouchdown-catch

I remember being at the stadium and seeing the "Under the Hood" feed, where they showed us what the ref was looking at in the booth. That's the story anyway.

Every time they slo-mo'd it to SUPPOSEDLY show us what the ref was watching, it NEVER included the ball coming out as soon as his hands hit the ground. The focus wasn't on the "completion of the catch", it was all on his feet. Apparently NONE of the refs noticed the ball come out, so they didn't bother looking at that on review.

I frankly don't see any difference between the Miller game-tying TD (would have been 3rd-and-goal from the 7 if ruled incomplete) and the Jones incompletion today. Catch, two feet down, turn and stretch, break the plane, then drop the ball. Why is one a TD and the other an incompletion?

[Ravens2006]

Also in today's Saints / Cowboys game... Colston "caught" a pass for literally a fraction of a second, had it knocked loose faster than you can say the words "knocked loose", and eventually the Saints fell on it about 23 yards down-field (just short of the endzone, setting up a winning FG).

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201212...ghts&tab=recap

There was no "secondary action common to the game of football". Colston bobbled while trying to control it, had it for MAYBE two steps, then had it knocked out. But that was enough for possession???

[jessup270]

Almost no sport has consistency with officials. Low strike, high strike, personal fouls, technical fouls, the list is endless.

I think some very inventive high tech applications could solve some issues, but certainly not all.

[NYCRavenFAN]

It was a blown call......the makeup flags came out shortly after that. The rest of the crew was probably stupified after that.

[RavingManiac]

It wasn't a blown call, was it? I thought the player has to have complete control after they hit the ground.
I thought the game was called pretty consistent throughout the game.

[JohnnyUrulz]

They need to change the rule. There is some quirky rule on catches when the end zone is involved. But this did not qualify for that rule to be applied in my opinion cause the catch was made out of the EZ and run in. If the ball is handed off and run in its an indisputable TD once the ball breaks the plane in possession of the player.
But until they rewrite that rule it's just another place for the ref to insert his judgement to affect the game

[SinceU]

He had the ball long enough and had possession till he hit the ground and since the ground can't cause a fumble the play is over also because it crossed the line the play was over. This second motion, movement whatever must be the language of the gods. However, it must be understood because no one, including the players or coaches can explain it.

[SNAFU]

Obviously, you're not gonna get it. The NFL officiating is a mess, and until they start firing the culprits, it will not improve.

[DkBlue]

That was originally triggered by the Calvin Johnson play in the end zone. It does seem like a grey area.

Miller carried his ball in and the catch was not relevant.

[afan]

The pillion goes up and when the player crosses it with possession no matter what happens next is a TD,

[jessup270]

Obviously, you're not gonna get it. The NFL officiating is a mess, and until they start firing the culprits, it will not improve.

Its my understanding that the NFL reviews every game and grades the officials performance.

Maybe its time to assess points for mistakes and as the points mount, the refers should see a reduction in pay, similar to fines that players pay.

I am not talking about judgement calls, I am talking about true misapplications of the rules.

[DkBlue]

Its my understanding that the NFL reviews every game and grades the officials performance.

Maybe its time to assess points for mistakes and as the points mount, the refers should see a reduction in pay, similar to fines that players pay.

I am not talking about judgement calls, I am talking about true misapplications of the rules.

Rules applications should be easy to spot.

Judgement calls are another matter. The fan watching on TV has the benefit if many views and slow motion as well as expert analysis. In addition, most fans have no clue what constitutes holding or PI.

The Official is dealing with 22 large bodies on the field as well as five other officials and is being screamed at from both benches with more bodies moving around.

Yes we expect them to see everything at game speed and make an absolutely correct call.

Most fields are domed for drainage which hurts the view sideline to sideline. The old Pitt Stadium was astroturf and from one sideline you could see players on the other sideline only from the waist up.

There are always the idiot fans screaming that team X is holding on every play and yet the official allow the stranglehold on edge rushers in every game.

The conspiracy nut are a separate case as every fan base thinks their team is singled out and someone else is favored.

[Peej7245]

It wasn't a blown call, was it? I thought the player has to have complete control after they hit the ground.
I thought the game was called pretty consistent throughout the game.

If you watched the replay, you would have seen JJ not only catch the ball, but hold on when the defender swiped at his arm and finally turn and stretch the ball over the goal line.

Furthermore, his momentum was parallel to the goal line. He had to turn and lunge across the goal line. This was different form the "Calvin Johnson Rule" in that Calvin Johnson caught the ball and lost it when immediately falling to the ground.

How Jones' lunge across the goal line was not a football move, is a question beyond my ability to comprehend.

[jessup270]

Rules applications should be easy to spot.

Judgement calls are another matter. The fan watching on TV has the benefit if many views and slow motion as well as expert analysis. In addition, most fans have no clue what constitutes holding or PI.

The Official is dealing with 22 large bodies on the field as well as five other officials and is being screamed at from both benches with more bodies moving around.

Yes we expect them to see everything at game speed and make an absolutely correct call.

Most fields are domed for drainage which hurts the view sideline to sideline. The old Pitt Stadium was astroturf and from one sideline you could see players on the other sideline only from the waist up.

There are always the idiot fans screaming that team X is holding on every play and yet the official allow the stranglehold on edge rushers in every game.

The conspiracy nut are a separate case as every fan base thinks their team is singled out and someone else is favored.

I think there is zero bias among refs for or against any team.

However, I do feel that some refs like to inject themselves into a game, therefore become part of the game.

Refs should never consider themselves a part of the game under any circumstances.

[DkBlue]

I think there is zero bias among refs for or against any team.

However, I do feel that some refs like to inject themselves into a game, therefore become part of the game.

Refs should never consider themselves a part of the game under any circumstances.

Agree. They have times when they state they are not going to allow certain things but they usually tell the coaches.

[Peej7245]

I have two responses:

1) The football as played in the NFL is a very fast and physical game and officials are going to make mistakes. My concern is that the league does not do too well in admitting that mistakes were made and correcting them.

2) I suspect that the level of communication between coaches and the officials during the game has been limited due to the time constraints - especially if the officials know they blew a call!

[NYCRavenFAN]

There was at least one zebra who was watching the replays and knew that he had made the right call, and then got over-ruled by the crew chief.