mayoclinic

So what if the media, coaches/players and fans are all screaming bloody murder. The replacement refs have turned the NFL into the Wild West with chaotic and unpredictable results. 10 games in week 3 were decided by 7 points or less, including 3 OT games and 3 more decided on the last play of the game:

OT: Tennessee 44-Detroit 41, NY Jets 23-Miami 20, KC 27-NO 24

Last play of regulion: Baltimore 31-NE 30, Seattle 14-GB 12 , Oakland 34-Pitt 31

Other: Dallas 16-TB 10, Jacksonville 22-Indy 17, Houston 31-Denver 25, Cincinnati 38-Washington 31

It's hard to remember a more exciting, or more controversial weekend of NFL action. And that's got to be a good thing as far as the league office is concerned. As the saying goes, there's no such thing as bad publicity. Everyone is talking about the NFL after last weekends games, and the unpredictability of games will attract more viewers than it will scare off. What does Goodell really care about how well the games are actually officiated or who wins? As football, it stinks. As WWE-style entertainment, it's produced great theatre.

The fans, coaches/players and media will ***** regardless of how good the refereeing is. The level of competition is so intense that a number of key plays each game will come down to a matter of inches and sometimes a judgment call. I can't remember a Pats-Ravens game in which there hasn't been an outcry about the officiating. No one will care down the road what happened during week 3, or whether it was "fair".

Everyone is calling for Goodell's head right now. But I wonder if he's secretly smiling.

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reflexblue

Its not what Vegas or the millions who bet want. This is a billion dollar industry and like they say money talks. I'm waiting for Vegas to speak.

Clonamery

I'm not interested in side-show entertainment. I want to see Professional Football played at the highest level. The current product is embarassing and NOT entertaining. My attention clock is winding down. They have one week left to make the right call. Otherwise their sport becomes baseball to me.

But I am one fan so does it even matter?

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The Gr8est

Well it could certainly usher in a new era of drinking games.

Everyone takes a shot whenever there is a bad call.

Of course, no one watching would be conscious by the start of the 2nd half.

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Bobs My Uncle

Make that two ..... but I'm giving it until after week 5 then, if not resolved, it's baseball to me as well.

resdubwhite

Would be astounded if a deal isn't done by Friday and that replacement refs are a thing of the past come next monday.

everlong

I'll be interested to see what the MNF ratings look like. I know of six other people that didn't watch out of disgust of the SNF suck-fest. If they're down 1% that's a lot of ad dollars. I know I'm in the vast minority but I won't watch any non Pats games until they fix this. Hopefully that sentiment grows and they see it in the ratings.

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aluminum seats

Well, I like baseball, so that part doesn't work for me, but I agree with what you're saying.

I happen to think a LOT of people will tune out, and sooner than they think. What seems unimaginable one minute--not watching football!?!--will quickly seem like the best alternative if this keeps up.

As I said in another thread, I felt it happening already in the Pats game. It was all such nonsense--so random what was happening. And we watch the Patriots, the gold standard of the league. A lesser team? With this stuff going on? Seriously, forget it.

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THELAWFIRM226

I wouldn't go as far as to say this is what Goodell wants, but I don't think this situation is really bothering him too much. We have been hearing about "the shield" and protecting the shield but at the end of the day the shield means absolutely nothing. If the NFL is generating revenue why should Goodell care what officials are on the field. If anything, having these replacement officials on the field is generating a buzz and INCREASING television ratings. The bottom line is money, it's all about money regardless of what you hear on ESPN.

Deus Irae

1.) Vegas just had a swing of over 200 million dollars because of one call. Lives were just significantly impacted by officials who weren't good enough for the Lingerie League.

2.) I'm an avid football fan, generally watching 7-10 games a week during their normal time, and often watching others during replays. The NFL just lost me as a viewer for all but one of those games, and will eventually lose me for that last game when the fake refs screw up another Patriots game.


I doubt this is what Goodell wants.

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