I never thought I'd say it, but this season has really soured me on NFL football. After watching the referees basically hand the Cowboys a win tonight through no calls, phantom calls and reversed calls, I don't think I can take this anymore. There is now no doubt in my mind whatsoever that Goddell, other league brass, advertisers and television networks have all met and decided that it is in their best financial interests to see a Patriot-Cowboy, Brady-Romo Superbowl. To them, this will get the highest ratings, sell the most beer & toothpaste, and help to maintain the proper "order of things" in the league. But as a long time fan, this philosophy is ruining football in my opinion.
Although this is all quite obvious to me, many die hard fans can't and don't want to see this because as long as their team wins at any cost, they are happy. But is that a good thing? It's like baseball fans and steroids. No one cares when the player caught plays for their favorite team and helps them to win. Sports, just like American society has taken the "win and make money at all costs" to the brink.
As for football, the only people who have publicly shown their frustration with what is going on have been some of the announcers such as Madden and Cornheiser. Even Bryant Gumbell was as shocked as I when, time after time, the refs screwed over the Panthers. The no pass interference calls on the Cowboys and the Steve Smith no catch call (that was originally ruled a catch), basically sealed a win for the Cowboys. If you saw what happened, the ref first ruled it a catch. Then the head ref went over to him and admonished him publicly. Here is what I can bet he said: "Are you crazy? You got the Goddell memo...Do you want to work at the Superbowl or at Wendy’s?....Change the damn call!!".
I saw this all coming.
As we all know, for years, the NFL has unfortunately tried to keep Black players from playing the quarterback position, by either: a) not drafting them (even if they have won a National Championship or Heisman), b) changing their position from QB to WR, or c) by refusing to implement an offensive scheme to accent the talents of Randall "ultimate weapon" Cunningham prototypes. But at the turn of the century came the emergence of Vick, McNabb, McNair, Culpepper and Brooks. All of them were winning big and making the playoffs every year. The NFL was now becoming more exciting and took on a new "wide open", "street ball" type look. Blacks were now the leaders of their teams and the faces of their cities. They were also becoming the face of the NFL.
The watershed moment was the 2005 NFC Championship Game when the Eagles played the Falcons. The Vick vs. McNabb match up was up to that point, the most watched NFL game other than a Superbowl according to the Fox Sports TV ratings. Then all of a sudden, weird things began to happen. Rush Limbaugh becomes an NFL analyst, Michael Vick begins to be criticized for his style of play and his coaches try to make him into a pocket passer. Daunte is traded from the Vikings, Brooks is traded from Saints. McNair is traded from the Titans and barred from even using the facilities, etc. In one season, almost all of the starting Black quarterbacks were gone. Then in comes Goddell, the tough "COMMISH", who rides in on his "white" horse to rid the league of all this exciting Black QB play and entertaining end zone celebrations, and bring back good ole days of the traditional pocket passer QBs playing "pitch and catch" and "hand the ball to the ref after scoring a TD" style of play which made the league so popular (pun intended).
Now look what has occurred this season. First, Michael Vick, the most exciting player ever to play football is framed and sent to jail for 2 years for something that should have warranted a fine and community service.
Then, the spy gate scandal appeared and was quickly swept under the rug. The evidence was destroyed so that no one would ever see what Belichick did and for how long he did it. Since then, I have had to sit through a whole season of watching referees basically "throw" games for the Pats. Week after week I am flabbergasted at how blatant it is.
Then, after a few more weeks of closer scrutiny, I began to notice that a similar unexplainable phenomenon was happening for the Cowboys in the NFC. And tonight, it reached mystifying proportions, as I watched the refs give the game away to the Cowboys. The Panthers coach looked like he was about to poke one of the refs eyes out he was so mad. Bryant Gumbel was on the air, asking "what is going on here", but he and Collingsworth already knew.....The fix was in.
The only saving grace here is that Pro Football is so real and pure that it is very hard to plan an outcome of a game, even when the refs have a mandate from the COMMISH to do so. But I'll say this, if they actually get away with ensuring an undefeated season for the Pats in an attempt to nullify spy gate so that they meet up with the "dreamy" Tony Romo and his blond Hollywood girlfriend in the Superbowl, I may never watch another NFL game again.
That's until the incomparable Michael Vick makes his return.
Erin Carlisle
Anabel Dela Cerna
Hall of Fame ballot: Holdovers
Hall of Fame ballot: Newcomers
Comments (12) Add A Comment
Conspiracies and crooked games do exist in the NFL, but not to the degree that you are suggesting.
IFIWEREABETTINMAN
Total Comments (15)
I agree that the officiating was horrendous last night.
I think you take it to the extreme though about black QB's and using the "race" card against Goodell.
As for Vick? Im sorry, what part of the entire thing smelled of a frame up?
He admitted it. ADMITTED - pled guilty to all charges. He may have gotten less had he not failed a drug test and lied to the judge.
As for spygate. I think the NFL destroyed the tapes not because of what the Patriots may have had on themselves, but what they may have had about OTHERS doing things they shouldnt have.
You had me intrigued until the Vick part. Then it turned into a conspiracy theory to rival the grassy knoll.
You're a good writer though. I'll still read as long as Im allowed to debate the points with you ! :-)
KPKahder-rah rah…
Total Comments (39108)
too dramatic...brooks fell apart, culpepper's knee messed him up, mcnair became ineffective (see baltimore ravens), vick wasn't framed...he may have been used as an example, but he still was guilty. i do agree that officiating is a big factor in the nfl but i don't think the league has a memo to the effect of preventing new england & dallas from making the super bowl...i'll check to see if any of the current officials who "cause" a possible loss to the patriots or cowboys end up working at wendy's
picknrollal
Total Comments (1)
You really are stupid you know that. Plenty of black QBs are drafted well in the draft, SEE JaMarcus Russell, Vick, Akili Smith, McNabb, Andre Ware. And how many black QBs have changed positions, 2, Michael Robinson and Antwaan RandleEl.
Vick was not framed, he is guilty, whether his sentence was too harsh is another subject but he is guilty of what he did.
Your conspiracy over the treatment of black QBs is a joke, and let me explain something to you, all of this blaming the White Man is why black people are keeping themselves down in society. Blaming Whites is how blacks scapegoat others for thier problems and refuse to face certain realizations.
Bill5385
Philly, PA
Total Comments (67)
This is just a horribly biased and ridiculous posting. I have never heard someone (With the exception of Jack Murtha), ramble on about conspiracies without one shred of evidence to back it up. Black quarterbacks are NOT persecuted in the NFL!!! Get OVER IT!!! Incase you forgot, it's those very same black quarterbacks that never fail to remind us that they are black!! We see football for the game, not the color of the QB's skin, but unfortunately whenever certain quarterbacks are criticized for legitemately failing to perform, THEY remind us that they are black, and THAT must be why we are "picking on them"!! Get over it. Aaron Brooks couldn't win a big game, neither can Donovan, so do you blame people for trading or thinking about trading them? Kordell Stewart was a flop at QB, exciting yes (just like VICK), but in no way consistent or practical. Not to mention, I would like my QB to be a protected passer if I just offered him the richest friggin contract in NFL HISTORY!!!!! GET REAL DUDE!!! LEARN SOMETHING!
GruntUSA
Charleston , SC
Total Comments (8)
Everyone knows that the NFL's REAL front office is located at Area 51 and that the NFL actually arranged to crash those planes into the twin towers to make everyone forget that all the black QB's in the league must be taken out so that when the 2007 season rolls around the Patriots and Cowboys with their two golden boy (white) qb's can meet in the Super Bowl to keep the entire white community happy along with all the corporations and their all white executives who advertise in the Super Bowl. Give me a break.
1Hawkeye1 wants Vida
Clear Lake , IA
Total Comments (1977)
Poor you. Must suck to be so paranoid all the time.
xobwej
Alpharetta , GA
Total Comments (2)
As a Dallas Cowboy fan since 1960, actually four years before I was born, I hope your theory is correct. But you actually had me interested in your NFL conspiracy talk until you tangeted off with your black QB rants.
With all the "Favre is the best QB of all time" stuff we have been shoveled since his loss to the Cowboys, you would think the NFL wanted Favre vs. Brady. But, if the NFL was really pulling strings last night with the referee's calls, maybe they just didn't want the possible NFC title game to be in frigid Green Bay. Who wants that - a crappy game with lots of mistakes played in unbearable conditions? That is why the Super Bowl is usually scheduled for a climate that would afford an even playing field, with last years Super Bowl being the exception, not the rule.
Wouldn't "FAVRE FINALLY WINS IN DALLAS" be a storybook headline leading to a Favre - Brady Super Bowl? Maybe that is REALLY what the NFL is trying to do!
If you are going to accuse the Commissioner of generating a conspiracy to create a popular Super Bowl, which would generate hugely superior ratings, at least spell his name correctly.
thejobarules
Point Pleasant, NJ
Total Comments (149)
hey hawkeye Romo is mexican you goof. Any ways you win super bowls with white qb's not with the doug williams of the nfl.
theheat
Fredericksburg , VA
Total Comments (1)
Why when something doesn't go "your way" is it all of the sudden a black and white issue? It's idiots like you that keep that crap alive. I'll agree with the guy above you started on one point than turned it to the "black/white" issue. Besides did the Cowboys have a Black QB that was winning and wasn't on drugs? uh.... Noooooo... matter of fact he was caught more than once after the Cowboys cut him.. wanna blame that on the NFL too?
Did the NFL supply Vick with the dogs? NOOOO just the MONEY and I have to admit I think they knew all along... until the law got involved there was no problem... why? BECAUSE HE WAS MAKING THEM TONS OF MONEY....
Anyway... this ties into my REAL point...
Believe me I'm with it as much as the next guy and this isn't about winning it's always been about MONEY. Do I think they "choose" who wins the and goes to the Super Bowl and who wins that too... at times yes I've wondered HARD...
However.. there has been more than one call that has gone against Dallas..Green Bay as well. The Pats seem to be the only one NOT getting the BS calls against them... Think about that...
ONE more point... The NFL saw fit to take away NE's #1 pick in the draft .. tell me why didn't they either take the higher of the two or take them out of the 1st round [which is what was intended in the 1st place]...?
SO they may have cheated [who cares they all do it and I yes I mean ALL TEAMS]... and may still end up with the #1 RB in the draft... hummm justice...it's a tricky business.
So before you go ranting about color and bringing this fantasy of yours to life why don't you look at the BIG picture.. it's never and I mean NEVER been about anything other than MONEY.
Cowboysdude
Elmira , NY
Total Comments (1)
The higher of the two was actually the 49ers pick so they couldn't take it away Cowboysdude. Secondly, this guy is just an amusing black racist. It's really just quite funny. I love the name Zulubeat. Ever seen the movie Zulu with Michael Caine and Stanley Baker? One of the greatest movies ever.
Capitan K
Total Comments (256)
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