I wonder if the Patriots' play calling is too predictable.  Too many fourth down plays aren't going anywhere.  Also, everyone is cutting through the prevent defense. Is it Dean Pees making a boring defense?  Is someone stealing signals? Is the whole play tree too predictable?  This was a short week so the Pats probably prepared nothing new. --- Something else really bothered me today.  60 minutes had an NBA referee who had a friend bet on games.  His friend won 70% to 80% of the time, and raked in about $100 grand altogether.  This particular betting ref used all of his inside ref prejudice dirt to make and win NBA bets. Then after 3 years of betting his friend told some mobster that his tips were coming through an NBA ref. The mob then picked up the wayward ref in a car and made the guy an offer he didn't refuse.  The mob then made millions off of the ref's tips in the fourth year, and then the feds investigating this same crime family took down the ref as part of a bigger sting.  Otherwise the ref and his friend would still be betting today.  Refs across the NBA had special relationships with players, with teams, with owners.  For example, the entire referees' union went straight after Latrell Sprewell, calling absolutely anything against him, calling nothing when he was fouled, ruining his game.  The NBA ordered the refs to manufacture makeup calls for Kobe Bryant after the Lakers proved 22 bad ref calls against the guy.  Finally, the NBA deliberately stretched many playoff series out towards seven games, because the extra games and drama boosted the league's ratings and income.  A sport?  Phooey!  Big time wrestling is more like it.  Now are you sick of NFL ref calls?  Are any patterns evident, such as a solid Indianapolis bias?  Is the league paying the Pats back because they're sick of the Patriots always winning and the lack of parity is bad for the NFL?  I remember an Indy home game years ago where at the end of the game Brady directly taunted the refs, got in their faces like they had cheated their best and lost to the Patriots' sheer talent.  Pats 1, refs 0. The Chicago Black Sox scandal broke because reporters were counting the deliberate Chicago errors in the field.  Who dares to count the gross NFL zebra errors and spot patterns in these slants?
Posted by Paul_K

I couldn't help but draw parallels to the Lakers and the Colts.  Lakers sent a tape in of Kobe not getting calls, then he knew Kobe would get every call.  Didn't the Colts do this in 2003 or 2004 for holding and PI?  All of a sudden they get every call.  The refs are human, they have bias and it can affect thier judgement.  I'm sure they try not to let it interfere but it's human nature.  This is why there needs to be more automation.  Sideline cameras and reviews, why wouldn't the NFL want this?
Posted by shenanigan

In Response to Re: Tells and Refs : And so does every other team.
Posted by underdoggg