Patriots vs Steelers
In contrast to last week, this was a better team winning. Last week's diatribe was not to say that the Patriots are not a great team led by a great coach and a great quarterback nor that games are fixed. Nevertheless, like any organization, the NFL develops "lines" on various issues and its employees second-guess what the executive originitors of the lines would like. In a game like yesterday there was no danger of the pats losing; no need for a helping hand. Last week they got one, admittedly after the Ravens doing their best to blow it. One almost perfect barometer of when a jobbing occurs is the player reaction. No-one knows better than pro players what the zebras are doing or what the league "buzz" is; being pros, with the exception of one or two flakes, they hew the company line. What we saw after last Monday was the genuine unsuppressed outrage of boy-men, who know the score but couldn't help themselves; they were jobbed and they know it. So do the Pats.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Does the NFL have to do this?
No wonder several Ravens players lost it at the end of this week’s MNF encounter against the Patriots. They had beaten the much-hyped Brady bunch but the zebras took it away from them.
This is how I think it works. The league lets it be known sotto voce that if there are any marginal calls they should go the way of the chosen team, which this year is NE. The example that was obvious to anyone willing to look was the Colts vs the Steelers in the semis two years ago - but the Colts were so inept, the zebras couldn’t deliver. This year it’s the hype about the perfect record and Brady being able to walk on water.
They don’t have top do this. The NFL is massively successful. It doesn’t need this kind of tawdry manipulation. Despite video replay, there is still a lot zebra discretion – mainly around varieties of holding, which is how they jobbed Billick’s boys on Monday.
I hold no brief whatever for the Ravens and have always had a soft spot the Pats and admiration for Bellichick. Moreover, there was no spread issue either way. But, fair do’s, MNF was a travesty.
The script for Sunday is really interesting though: Pats vs 9-3 Steelers who are being hyped. I get the sense that Philly broke the spell the week before. They found a way to get guys in Brady’s face; he’s really no better than anyone else when he doesn’t have half an hour to throw. The pats defence is not that good and vulnerable to inside routes (says Big John and I believe him).
No wonder several Ravens players lost it at the end of this week’s MNF encounter against the Patriots. They had beaten the much-hyped Brady bunch but the zebras took it away from them.
This is how I think it works. The league lets it be known sotto voce that if there are any marginal calls they should go the way of the chosen team, which this year is NE. The example that was obvious to anyone willing to look was the Colts vs the Steelers in the semis two years ago - but the Colts were so inept, the zebras couldn’t deliver. This year it’s the hype about the perfect record and Brady being able to walk on water.
They don’t have top do this. The NFL is massively successful. It doesn’t need this kind of tawdry manipulation. Despite video replay, there is still a lot zebra discretion – mainly around varieties of holding, which is how they jobbed Billick’s boys on Monday.
I hold no brief whatever for the Ravens and have always had a soft spot the Pats and admiration for Bellichick. Moreover, there was no spread issue either way. But, fair do’s, MNF was a travesty.
The script for Sunday is really interesting though: Pats vs 9-3 Steelers who are being hyped. I get the sense that Philly broke the spell the week before. They found a way to get guys in Brady’s face; he’s really no better than anyone else when he doesn’t have half an hour to throw. The pats defence is not that good and vulnerable to inside routes (says Big John and I believe him).
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