Well folks, I have another rant against the N F L......its officiating crew and those who are employed to run the League. Remember: the N F L is made up by teams, 32 of them. The owners of these various teams meet at certain times throughout the year to determine what is and what is not penalties on the field; they also determine certain codes of conduct of ALL personnel within the League. During these meetings they have "elected" personnel to run the League in day to day operations. This is simplified, but it is how the League operates....with an "Executive Director", called the Commissioner who is "in charge". He and his "underlings" hire everyone else, from the secretaries, personnel directors and the officiating crews. There is more to it, but..........
Now to my rant.................They should now change the name of the N F L (National Football League) to the N F L (Neverending Fine League)....Jerry Granville used to call it the No Fun League, which was true...still is, but this new name fits more aptly. Why, you may, or not, ask........because things have gotten out of hand, from the officiating at the games to the fines that have been levied. There has been so many BAD noncalls and calls of late (only 6 games into the season) that I begin to wonder 1. Are the Officials being paid off. 2. Are the Officials really competent. 3. Do the Officials need more Officials on the field of play. 4. Do the Officials need to be retrained. 5. Do the Officials need to be issued good eyeglasses so that they can see what we see during the game.
I bring this up for several reasons, not the least of which is the fines being imposed by the LEAGUE even though during a game, no flags were thrown...........the OFFENDENT never even know he had done something wrong.....no yellow hanky was thrown (and you know they do this quite readily); the Offendent only becomes aware of the infraction when he receives a letter....in the mail....containing the BAD news AND a fine. The latest victim, er, Offendent has been identified as Pittsburgh's own, Hines Ward..........His latest "gaffe" was "Uneccessary Roughness" . For this....his second ALLEDGED penalty.......he is being fined 10 thousand dollars...the first "offense" cost him 5 grand. One coach...don't remember which ####...calls Ward a dirty player, however not many really do that........AND he has not, to date, INJURED any other player. He is, without a doubt, the premier blocking Wideout in the NFL, but dirty...no.
Now, before one begans to call me a "homer" and prejudice, allow me to explain....Ward's case and fines are the only ones I am aware of....there are others, maybe, I don't know. Point is: Ward was not flagged by Officials at the games, no one threw a yellow hanky at him...whomever he blocked or whatever did not complain.............NO ONE complained, not even the guys broadcasting the game, you know how they love to do that!
By the way.....there are plenty of late hits on Quarterbacks of late, some are called...most are not. There is, do I have this right, a one step rule..no flag if the tackler is within one step of the QB. I've seen Big Ben hit, pounded into the ground "long" after the ball was released...no flag. I have seen him driven into the ground time after time, the latest caused a "minor" separation to his right shoulder...no flags. AND these players never received a letter from the N F L. The same has occured in other games I have watched...QB'#### late, QB's driven into the ground...no flags, no fines. There are "vicious" blocks in the back, no flags, no fines, so.....................?? Doesn't that make the rest of you wonder. Where the hell is the League going? What the hell is Dodger Goodell doing?? His minions are acting like they are gods....one cannot even question the dingbat Officials, you WILL receive a fine.
I think it is time for the N F L to let the players play...if it is a blatant hit, throw the damn flag and fine the guy, otherwise......One further thing watch for the REAL late hits on all players...there are plenty to go around.
Finally...get someone to "police" the "hired help" that is what Dodger and his organization is after all. THE TEAMS ARE THE N F L..........not Goodell and his people, time for him to realize this.
what I am sick of seeing is the ticky tack calls, Harrison is called for pass interferance when a reciever runs into him, pushes off, and THEN turns around! how is that interferance? what ever happened to incidental contact? Big Baby throws a shoulder into Ben, and DOES'NT GET FINED? but Nate Washington holds the ball toword the sideline and gets $7500.00?
and NON fouls get fined? what did Ward do the FIRST time? much less the SECOND time! finally, teh NON CALLS! are they gonna fine the cowboys cornerback for running THRU larry Fitzgerald now? NO penalty was flagged, but how long until non penalties of THIS nature are fines? the NFL stands for NINTY FINES LEVIED!
No I definitely care about it. But it has been getting worse ever since Jack Lambert said all QBs should wear skirts. There is nothing we can do about it. The NFL is the most popular sport in the US and a money-making PR machine. It is the LAW of the land now and I don't like it.
Hines Ward plays football the way Papa Bear Halas and Curly Lambeau played and coached. He is a true warrior.
Moseby!! Thanks for coming by. I wonder if we cannot do anything about it...letter writing campaigns, something to call attention. Get the wonderful media involved cause it is out of hand.
I was beginning to wonder, since it seemed no one was reading this, so I have no way to judge....just like the "silent majority".
Fuzz - the "clique" is off reading/commenting only their buddies articles. Don't take it personally. There are still some of us around that read ALL articles that interst them.
Only way to change the NFL is to hit them in the wallet. That's it. They are no different then any firm on Wall Street. Make the stock price & P-E ratio decline and then they will take action. I know it is the cynical view, but after 20 years in the business and working for three large corporations - it is a fact. Sorry.
Moseby! I would agree with you, but the NFL isn't at fault...it is those who have been given the authority, carte blanch if you will, to do the day to day business...which it is.
These people have the authority, through the teams' owners to do whatever....guess there is no oversight from the owners...they have taken a "hands off" stance I can only assume. Dan Rooney sort of ensured that Goodell would be selected as the Commissioner....I wonder if now he regrets the choice?
It seems that the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing, even though it is right in front of their faces....Rooney is writing a letter to Goodell about the fines, especially in Ward's case.....I think the minions of Goodell have gotten a god-complex.
I mostly agree with you...and I'll defend your right to say it...
DF
Ps. Isn't this at least the third blog in this series? So, the best you can call this article is Article 2, Part 2, or, using your terminology, Deux-Deux...
I am sorry but I have seen QB use the no hit by faking going out of bounds and then scoot for a few more yeards down the side line. I say once they leave the pocket they are like any other runner with the ball, no hook slide allowed.
I have always said that is the dumbest thing that QB get special treatment, I know why its the rule cause the coaches are affraid of one getting hurt, why only him.lol
I hear you Fuzzboss, Like Photogr said it sounded like you were talking about NASCAR officials.
Cheers
I hate the QB slide rule and they treat them like prima donnas makes me sick and makes me appreciate the QBs from the days of yesterday even more they used to get pummeled and would get back up (sometimes) and do it all over again.
fuzz, I wish I had something funny to say, but I don't. You've known me for over two years now and you know I'm more about questions than answers. I fully understand what you are saying here. I read it yesterday, but I wanted to ask my hubby about his thoughts also. Here's my question to you: How can the fans really do anything? Shouldn't it be that the players go to the coaches, the coaches go to the owners, and the owners go to the league officials? fuzz, we agree with everything you've said, but who can really change the process? It has to be the owners doesn't it? Much respect to you from me. Look forward to your answer. vol
fuzzboss
Everything 'bout the NFL nowadays has to be circumspect. As it now has become more of a business first and an entertainment entity afterwards. Anything success that comes out of it is merely seen as a by product.
Hence the reasons we're now seeing some of the measures being addressed by the league head on.
Steveo: Thanks for the visit. Understand that, but as CEO he has to ensure he is putting out a good product...with his staff, he should the hell isn't.
Forensic! Thanks for coming over.... Yeah....the "system" can be abused, seen kickers do it too (but not recently). However some things should be called, some things not.......definitely a player should not be fined if there was no flag.
JW! Better late than never (at least in some things). Thanks for coming by. I know where you are coming from...I would agree except the Defense people have gotten so big and quick that a late hit or whatever could destroy a QB's career or worse. Can you imagine a Casey Hampton coming in full tilt on you, just as you are ready to release the ball...bloody stain on the turf>
Sishusker! Thanks for the read. One thing I think the Refs cannot get thru their collective heads.....a 350 pound (or more) player cannot stop on a dime either....especially if he has launched himself toward the QB. Like a train or a Semi it takes time and distance. That I understand, but.....
Volfan! Thanks! Fans CAN have an impact. Course they won't want to quit going to the games or watching it on the tube or whatever...a boycott would work, but.....we ARE blood and guts type. Look at boxing, wrestling (though we know it is fake) and NASCAR.....I think most spectators go kind of hoping for something to happen...then feel bad...
We are the only living thing in the Universe that kills things for SPORT...others do it for food or to survive. ANYWAT...I think a persistent letter writing campaign by fans to the NFL, Team owners, the Media would have an impact for change...but it is like the "Silent Majority"....complain and complain, but never vote.
Top! Thanks for your read. Yep....it is a business more than anything now. Profit is the end product of all things, otherwise no one would engage in anything...we would be out eating nuts and berries and killing animals for food.
It is just that things have gone far afield of the beginning....lately it has been worse...fines without flags.
Super Post Fuzz! Now let's talk about Redskins vs. Steelers..Do you want to bet?? money...100 hits on your blog or mine...or write a post for the winning team...C'mon...
Papi: Man! I won't go there, not that I'm chicken, just sure of the cliche "On any given Sunday...."
Thanks for the visit..should be a great game, we gotta get by the Midgets first...think that is our first "real" test with good healthy players.
I am an old #### living in Southwestern Pennsylvania, about 60 miles or so southwest of Pittsburgh. AND I MEAN AN OLD ####!! Served over 35 years in Law Enforcement as a Police and Corrections' Officer.
