2010 proved one thing in football: the officiating stunk. I mean the worst I’ve ever seen. I’ve actually wondered if the refs aren’t betting on the games. Not so far-fetched is it when you witness some of the ridiculous calls allowed on the field. From bad spots to non-existent penalties to ignoring obvious fouls to just plain incompetent calls, it’s been a season of ugly policing on the football field, reminding me a lot of the politically correct skewed views of items which require common sense.
It’s one thing getting beat by the opposing team. It’s yet another thing when a defeat is aided and abetted by the officials. This isn’t just a rant for my team’s hapless experiences with the referees. I’ve seen it in multiple games this year where I couldn’t care less about either team on the field. Bad, bad calls. Costing victories. With no reprieves.
Either the powers that be need to simplify the convoluted rules or they need to refine them so that “opinion” and plain conjecture don’t play such major roles. I think the pass interference calls which give the receiving team the ball way down the field or at the one yard line need to be eliminated. Give them a first down and 5 or 10 yards but not at the point of the foul. There’s no guarantee a receiver would have caught the ball or not dropped the ball. This penalty is a killer and often subjective: it needs to go. It makes the role of the cornerbacks extremely difficult and ill-defined and creates hesitancy to defend. After so many bad calls that favor the offense, the defensive backs can only hope for a sure tackle and a possible no-catch or fumble. Occasionally good positioning and reads make for a great interception, but most of the time the receivers get a free ride. That’s why nearly all of them are throwing their invisible flags after even a touch by defensive backs—many of them influencing the officials to throw the real flags.
Would someone please clarify for me whatever happened to spotting the ball where the player’s knee, elbow, or hip hits the ground by contact?
And, let’s face it, holding could be called on every play—so it isn’t. What should be done about holding? Something certainly should happen because it’s arbitrary as it is, and it seems to get called on crucial plays when it isn’t apparent and ignored on other crucial plays when it’s blatant to anyone who understands the game of football. What can be done to improve the calls on holding?
And need we witness the “roughing the passer” call ad infinitum? Some legitimate, many not? Helmet to helmet intentionally. Okay. But contact in the process of making a tackle or sack? Geez. No one wants to see anyone get seriously hurt. But technology needs to replace penalties that protect the quarterback from the game itself. Build a better helmet!
Granted I’m just a fan, but the bad officiating has ruined more games for me. Like I said, it’s one thing to get beat. It’s yet another to have the refs help the opponent win.
My rant is over . . . for now.
Lord, I know there are all kinds of injustices in this world. A game shouldn’t mean so much. Help me to keep a clear perspective. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.