The Pointless Rant Thread
 

[crazy rant]To me the corruption that is Bill Belechik is interesting as a metaphor for where the country is at a whole. The NFL has so many little specific rules that the spirit of the law (level playing field) is lost... like that catch they took from Dez Bryant. What would have been a celebrated catch gets thrown away due to an overly precise rule. It nests nicely with where our politics are. We're at a point where morality and law are far far apart.[/crazy rant]:dunce:


Your turn!

CBS Sports
I don’t get the controversy
… most who disagree with the final decision use the phrase “minor rule”.
Is a rule a rule, except when it’s "minor" ?

Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 1 reads:The entire play was video taped
The referee called it a valid catch on the 1 yard line
The Packers coach appealed the ref’s call
The replay videos were viewed
The referees changed the call to "incomplete pass".
The rules were followed.

Some fans liked, and some not so much… but so what ?
The only controversy is wishful thinking
… would the next play(s) at the 1 yd line or the kick-off have changed the score ?

When I watch the video in the above link, I see two events that are consistent with the final ruling.
1) The ball did hit the ground (and Bryant did not have control of the loose ball)
2) In the end zone, Bryant re-caught the loose ball from the air while on his side/back

I find it hard to believe this referee (call-> appeal-> decision) shows a corrupted spirit of the game.

Whoever's turn is next....

did you see an angle where you can ACTUALLY see the ball touching the ground? Or is the view of said ground occluded by the crook of Bryant's arm. Remember, the ruling on the field was a catch. To overturn a call, they must have conclusive evidence to the contrary. I've watched it a few times, and have not seen the ball actually touch down.

Hmmm... actually touching the ground? Not yet, and probably no still pic actually shows that.

This pic from USA Today ? may comes as close as I have seen...
SB Nation
Stephen White
1/15/15
Attachment 50143
And if you go to this National Post, you can stop/start the video.
National Post
Cam Cole
1/12/15
Here is a freeze-frame showing the loose ball while Bryant is rolling into the end zone.
Attachment 50144

So the Ref standing just outside the end zone had essentially perfect positioning
to see the ball, the ground, and the lack of ball control. And if lack of control is what the "Rule" is about...

right, and THAT ref held his right arm up and spotted the ball at the 1/2 yard mark. I assume because he thought he saw a catch.

http://cbssports.com/images/blogs/dez-pbp-catch-gb.jpg

if these shots are in chronological order from left to right, I don't see the ball hitting the ground. I see his wrist under the nose of the ball.

The talking heads always said when his knees hit he's down, and if he's got control when his knees hit it's a catch. Either they've changed the rules or the heads have been lying/full-of-shit, all along

Anyway. It was an awesome catch. I don't care what the rules are. I'm just as impressed.

OK, I found an angle where you can see the ball hit kind of.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/laces-o...rturned-011115

Good find, Jim.

New angle to me, that is as close to showing a ground touch as I've seen.

I actually find this fascinating. Even with the technology we have there are still going to be controversial calls. Thank FSM for that: I don't want to live in an exact world. Thanks for this thread, Griff.

:footballsmilie:

p.s. My mom was also not a big fan of the Belichick. Probably due to his tenure with the Browns. :)

If that game had been in At&t stadium, the 360° camera would have come in handy.

My rant: Not every guy in a striped shirt is a referee, even if he's on the field

"Football officials are commonly referred to as referees, but each position has specific duties and a specific name: Referee, Umpire, Head linesman, Line judge, Back judge, Side judge, and Field judge. Because the referee is responsible for the general supervision of the game, the position is sometimes referred to as head referee or crew chief"

The referee is the one wearing the white hat.

I used to have a line judge jersey because the back of that striped shirt reads "LJ" and those were my initials. Don't know where that got to over the years.

For me, in football they are all referees, in baseball they are all umpires,
and in soccer and basket ball they are all the father of the other team's Captain.

They should all be treated with courtesy, but in Sao Paulo, Brazil
where customs for soccer may be a bit different...

Huffington Post - 7/8/13
Soccer Referee Killed And Quartered By Fans In Brazil After Fatally Stabbing Player

that link never loads/displays the clip.

http://thebiglead.com/2015/01/11/dez...s-get-screwed/

This one does, and it sure looks like the ball bounces just before it crosses the goal line. it's cradled in his left arm, but it moves up toward his shoulder as though it hit the ground. it seems clear to me that the ball touched the ground.

It did, but he was already down when the ball broke loose. He doesn't have to be stopped motionless to be down.

Belechick's press conference on air pressure in footballs...

f'realz.

A lot of ex-players are condemning the whole episode, but I don't see the league doing anything. The Ravens may have a legit complaint... love the HH reference.

the league has had recent experience where acting first and gathering evidence later produced very bad results. I think they'll be more circumspect.

:lol: so true

Considering what happened to the Saints after their issue, Bill Belichick should be gone for at least a season.

My plan? STOP FUCKING AROUND.
Loss of complete 2015 draft, Beichick gone for a year, Brady suspended for 8 games and fines, lots of fines $1 million for Belichick, $1 milllion for Brady and $5 million for the ownership.
Also, have the Ravens and Colts playoff to see who gets destroyed by Seattle. (Yeh, I know.. Ain't nobody got time for that.)
Fuck the Cheaters! Worst part is, it was completely unnecessary.

wow, that's a little extreme.

I think they should be allowed to do whatever they want to the balls. If each team gets their own 12 balls for each game, they both oughta get them set just as they like them. I'm sure they ALWAYS deflate the balls a bit when it's raining. who cares?

people just want to lynch Bill because he's cheated before. I seriously doubt this was in his awareness before or during the game.

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, happens without him knowing about it. He's a dick. A brilliant coach, but a dick.
He cheated, There should be no room for this in the NFL. Killers, wifebeaters etc etc. Time to clean up the game.

Extreme? This may have cost one of two other teams their chance at a SB. Utter bullshit.

Oh, and the rule about how each team gets to play with balls they select? Thats done, just like the "what constitutes a catch" rule which cost the Cowboys. Both teams should be playing with the same footballs - period.

YOU PLAY WITH YOUR BALLS,
I'LL PLAY WITH MINE

Bill has handles dozens of balls this past week.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-...ot-a-scientist