Selective Enforcement of NFL Rules

[GoDannyBoy]

Interesting take on the selective enforcement of rules. It is kinda down on the page, but a pretty good read. Sorry if it has already been posted.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm



Per PFT ... "We'd prefer to see something that actually addresses the problem. There's a rule on the books that isn't being enforced. Even worse, the enforcement apparently has been selective, given that the NFL and the NFLPA nailed the Redskins a year ago based on video containing images of linemen engaged in one-on-one drills.

Said tackle Chris Samuels at the time: "We're locking up, just working our hand placement and technique, but we're not, like, finishing guys or driving guys to the ground." Per a league source, the team's NFLPA player reps also told the union that the drills were no different than activities in which all other teams engage during the offseason.

So why do the Redskins get nailed in 2005, but not the Chiefs or the Eagles or the Packers or the Seahawks or the Colts in 2006?"

[The Skinsinator]

I commend PFT for having the guts to call out league as they penalized us for one of their rules but not other teams.

MESSAGE TO THE LEAGUE OFFICE: Enforce the rules for all teams or don't make them in the first place.

Stuff like this really irks me when it negatively effects my team and the league can't even figure out if they want to enforce them or not.

[redskin_rich]

So why do the Redskins get nailed in 2005, but not the Chiefs or the Eagles or the Packers or the Seahawks or the Colts in 2006?"
Maybe for being dumb enough to put the video of the activities on their site...?

[rskinsfan10]

Maybe for being dumb enough to put the video of the activities on their site...?DING DING DING!!!!!

[The Skinsinator]

Maybe for being dumb enough to put the video of the activities on their site...?Sure we showed our cards. But if they are going to make rules as these maybe they should take a look at the other teams also. If PFT knows it how can the nfl not?

[shally]

Maybe for being dumb enough to put the video of the activities on their site...?

true.. calling out the league on anything remotely like that is asking for trouble..

but the ref's are notorious for selective calling... then it changes even more as the playoffs come..
but this year's ref work in the playoffs was beyond abyssmal.. the pitts-indy game was especially memorable in that regard..

[shally]

Sure we showed our cards. But if they are going to make rules as these maybe they should take a look at the other teams also. If PFT knows it how can the nfl not?

it is not the league being unaware, it is simply turning the proverbial blind eye towards it... bringing it up is just being a lightning rod..

congrats for passing 4000 posts... terrific work !!!

[GoDannyBoy]

true.. calling out the league on anything remotely like that is asking for trouble..

but the ref's are notorious for selective calling... then it changes even more as the playoffs come..
but this year's ref work in the playoffs was beyond abyssmal.. the pitts-indy game was especially memorable in that regard..

True. With all the money in the league and they have part time refs. They need to make them full time and make them accountable for their bad calls.

[Red Bear]

Maybe for being dumb enough to put the video of the activities on their site...?

true we were dumb for putting them on the site, but if you been reading pft they posted pictures of this years OTAs with players engaged in live contact. they even posted a story about the chiefs having video on their site that was later removed and the videos edited to not include the very things the skins got busted for last season. the league needs to be fair about this and not selective, altho i imagine some sort of system needs to be set up for the league to review these practices and keep a closer eye on offseason workouts. if they have the rule they need to enforce it

[Death_Venom]

I think it was crap we got pegged last year for that "OTA Violations".................

[shally]

True. With all the money in the league and they have part time refs. They need to make them full time and make them accountable for their bad calls.

i agree with the full time concept.. this "all star" idea for the playoffs is just a bomb..

now baseball has pro umpires and they still seems to get calls wrong pretty often despite it all.. maybe it is a ref's union that the league really fears.. once you get pro refs they will unionize and that will change every thing..

if it is okay with the mods, i might pose that as a question.. do you want full time refs and do you think it would really make a difference inthe way the game is called... what do you think ?

[redskin_rich]

i agree with the full time concept.. this "all star" idea for the playoffs is just a bomb..

now baseball has pro umpires and they still seems to get calls wrong pretty often despite it all.. maybe it is a ref's union that the league really fears.. once you get pro refs they will unionize and that will change every thing..

if it is okay with the mods, i might pose that as a question.. do you want full time refs and do you think it would really make a difference inthe way the game is called... what do you think ?
I think you would have the most one-sided poll ever in the history of hR. I can't think of one semi decent reason for the refs not to be full time. I would like to see if anybody could come up with a legit reason for the refs not to be.

true we were dumb for putting them on the site, but if you been reading pft they posted pictures of this years OTAs with players engaged in live contact. they even posted a story about the chiefs having video on their site that was later removed and the videos edited to not include the very things the skins got busted for last season. the league needs to be fair about this and not selective, altho i imagine some sort of system needs to be set up for the league to review these practices and keep a closer eye on offseason workouts. if they have the rule they need to enforce it
I didn't know about these current examples but if they are true, I totally agree with you that these teams should get punished too.

My thinking is that lots, if not all teams, stretch and break the rules of the "involuntary" OTA's. The NFL knows this but only investigates when there are multiple complaints or if the team advertises it, putting the NFL in a position that they have to be punitive (which was the case with the Skins in '05).

[shally]

I think you would have the most one-sided poll ever in the history of hR. I can't think of one semi decent reason for the refs not to be full time. I would like to see if anybody could come up with a legit reason for the refs not to be.


I didn't know about these current examples but if they are true, I totally agree with you that these teams should get punished too.

My thinking is that lots, if not all teams, stretch and break the rules of the "involuntary" OTA's. The NFL knows this but only investigates when there are multiple complaints or if the team advertises it, putting the NFL in a position that they have to be punitive (which was the case with the Skins in '05).


no doubt you are correct...i think i might phrase it differently to get a different slant and no pose it as a poll, but rather a thought question

[redskin_rich]

no doubt you are correct...i think i might phrase it differently to get a different slant and no pose it as a poll, but rather a thought question
I have plenty of opinions to provide (shocker :D) on the topic of improving officiating and reducing the chance of blown calls determining outcomes. It would be an interesting topic to read everyone's opinion's on.

[shally]

I have plenty of opinions to provide (shocker :D) on the topic of improving officiating and reducing the chance of blown calls determining outcomes. It would be an interesting topic to read everyone's opinion's on.

"lay on, mcduff..."

i just posted a new thread on the subject... interested in your thoughts...

[PA Skins Girl]

I think you would have the most one-sided poll ever in the history of hR. I can't think of one semi decent reason for the refs not to be full time. I would like to see if anybody could come up with a legit reason for the refs not to be.

Does full time ref mean the NFL would prohibit them from doing anything else during the week or just that they would get paid more so they wouldnt have to hold another job. If it's the latter, I think many refs would still hold at least a part time job during the week.

Anyway, I'm not sure these guys would be home studying the rule book if they werent working. Secondly, I'm not sure it would make a marked difference if they were full time refs. They're still gonna make mistakes. Part of it is the rules dont allow certain calls to get reviewed. Those are the ones that burn me up.

[NamVet4]

...Secondly, I'm not sure it would make a marked difference if they were full time refs. They're still gonna make mistakes. Part of it is the rules dont allow certain calls to get reviewed. Those are the ones that burn me up.
Well said PA Skins Girl...., as usual :) And here in lies the issue! The Rules Committee has serious issues that impact the refs. As coaching and players evolve, the rules of the game must evolve. But.... there must be an honest effort to maintain the integrity of the game and the value of the game. $$$ have been a deciding factor, but need to be mitigated by owners on the committee who respect the history and integrity of the game....
just my 2 cents...........

[Red Bear]

i dont think fulltime refs will fix anything if much, theres only one day a week they get to make calls on the field regardless. but certain refs or game officials should be dismissed if theyve blown numerous calls that were obvious to all, excluding calls that could go either way. also the same crews need to work together throughout the entire season and postseason, as they would develop chemistry...

[redskinz#1fan]

So why do the Redskins get nailed in 2005, but not the Chiefs or the Eagles or the Packers or the Seahawks or the Colts in 2006?"



Maybe for being dumb enough to put the video of the activities on their site...?



DING DING DING!!!!!


Well Bob............Tell him what he's won!

[GoDannyBoy]

The NFL tracks every dollar and every statistic so I don't know why they couldn't track every call made by a ref. This would allow them to review each ref at least every season, if not more often.

It would be called quality control.

[shally]

The NFL tracks every dollar and every statistic so I don't know why they couldn't track every call made by a ref. This would allow them to review each ref at least every season, if not more often.

It would be called quality control.

make no mistake about it.. they do track every call made by every ref.. what they do with that information is another factor.. some are not asked back, but the overall ratings and percentage of correct calls is not available outside the league office..

[GoDannyBoy]

It kills them to admit a mistake. They cost us that Tampa game last year and it is hard to forget.

I guess in the past without all the cameras it was easier to hide a bad call, but today they really standout. It is getting pretty bad they need to do something about it. I

[shally]

It kills them to admit a mistake. They cost us that Tampa game last year and it is hard to forget.

I guess in the past without all the cameras it was easier to hide a bad call, but today they really standout. It is getting pretty bad they need to do something about it. I

the problem is that there is no way to erase the effect of a truly bad call once it goes into the books. games lost are games lost.. all a team can do is use it as a means to focus their energy on the next game

and, i am sure tampa fans are still steamed over what they see as a bad call or 2 that cost them the playoff game with us...you tend to forget bad calls that help you win a game, but never forget the bad ones that help you lose one

[OCSkinzFan]

Does full time ref mean the NFL would prohibit them from doing anything else during the week or just that they would get paid more so they wouldnt have to hold another job. If it's the latter, I think many refs would still hold at least a part time job during the week.

Anyway, I'm not sure these guys would be home studying the rule book if they werent working. Secondly, I'm not sure it would make a marked difference if they were full time refs. They're still gonna make mistakes. Part of it is the rules dont allow certain calls to get reviewed. Those are the ones that burn me up.
How about this:

Full time Refs that spend the other 39 hours a week at team practices, developing player knowledge of how rules are interpreted and enforced. The rest of the time, they could work at the zoo doing conflict resolution in the Zebra exhibit.

[IowaSkinsFan]

Maybe for being dumb enough to put the video of the activities on their site...?

Note that the video of offseason drills (OTA) this year is much more selective? All you see are QB's throwing or WR's running routes uncovered, O Line going through pad or hand drills....