RF23 - In The Name of Integrity

RF23 – In The Name of Integrity..

I often wonder if we didn’t know that the referees were replacement referees, would we or I know the difference.   We often complain about the calls or no calls on the field with the regular referees so what would be the difference if the cast of usual characters are being played by understudies? 

None.

Everyone is in the uproar over the replacement referees and now longing for the same old refs to come in and muck up the game.  These are the same referees that sent a letter to the Seattle Seahawks for blowing the Super Bowl.  These are also the same referees that messed up a coin toss and San Diego is still fuming at one referee for blowing a call.   So why the need to bring back the old crew, when the new crew is doing the same thing?  Oh! it’s all about integrity..It’s in the name of integrity, the product, the league or shield.

I call bullbleep on this?  And like I posted on my facebook page, fans should look at why their teams lost instead of blaming the striped shirts and last night’s game is one of those examples.

Packer fans could be up in arms all they want, but the bottom line is that Packers stank up the Seattle joint in the first half and decided to play ball in the second half.  They also benefitted from questionable calls as well and if the shoe were on the other foot and the call was reversed.  Packer fan would take the victory and point out their improved play in the second half as to why they won.

The only thing the replacement refs are guilty of is losing control of the game.  The games are too long and the coaches are doing their best to intimidate the referees with their on television reputations.  And since we’re talking coaches, Bill Bellichick decided to reach out and grab a referee after his team lost to the Ravens on Sunday night.  Bellichick wanted to know if a field goal that looked good and was not that quite too far right, was, well good.  Maybe the Patriots coach should have wondered why he left the Ravens with so much time to drive down the field and kick said field goal.  It wasn’t the referees that left time on the clock and it damn sure wasn’t the refs that kicked the screwy field goal. 

While I’m still on coaches, the Denver Broncos called themselves being miffed at the referees from last Monday’s game.  Do I need to remind them that Peyton Manning threw three interceptions and Atlanta did what they were supposed to do.  Score and by the way, win.

I guess the one thing that bothers me about the call for integrity is from so called sports analysts and now sports columnists to accuse the league of doing something underhanded.  Last checked the NBA had a referee who was essentially dirty and fans til this day believe the NBA is WWE fixed.  It’s a subject that Commissioner David Stern abhors as evident as this run-in with Jim Rome, when Rome asked him if the Lottery was fixed.   So you have to excuse my dismay when Boomer Esiason expressed that since one referee was found out to be a New Orleans Saints fan and about to call a Saints’ game.  Esiason intimated that the referees calling the Denver/Atlanta might be a Falcon fan and thus the reason why the game got out of hand.   First, Esiason is paid to give his opinion and so called insight of the game he played for a number of years.  There are times, when he played I thought he was on the take or his in game integrity was in question.  See how easy that is?  Anyone can cast aspersions.  Especially when looking for integrity.