Xfinity Sports: Refs come through with tough non-call

[SkinsGuy]

I automatically discount anything Pereira says, so this article only serves to reinforce my feeling that it was an easy call that was missed.

I don't believe in contrails, the shooter on the grassy knoll, or bigfoot. However, I do believe we all got jobbed by the NFL so Ray could see his confetti again.

To believe this game was rigged, is to believe in bigfoot.

I saw nothing in this game that indicated that the 49ers were victims of a lot of bad calls (or non-calls).

It seemed like the refs stayed out of this match.

It is nearly impossible to rig a football game.

[HighOnHendrix]

Well, I didn't have a horse in this race, so I can't be biased. It seemed like the game was called one-sided to me. Like you said, the refs stayed out of it for the most part - too much IMO. Something's fishy from my point of view. And I've seen my own team get burned by bad calls/no calls too many times not to feel cheated by how this one turned out. I don't even mind that the Ravens won; it bothers me how they won. That's my opinion, I have no facts to back it up, but that's how I feel. First time for everything lol.

[techboy]

On the subject of the fade call, I heard on NFL radio that Kaepernick said that it was an audible he called when he saw that the Ravens were in cover 0. So I suppose one can blame him for switching to it, or the 49ers coaching staff for not having a better selection of audibles (remember when Marty apparently only had one, as in the quarterback called "the" audible? ), but if that's correct, it's not an issue of initial playcalling, at least on that 4th down.

[SkinsGuy]

Well, I didn't have a horse in this race, so I can't be biased. It seemed like the game was called one-sided to me. Like you said, the refs stayed out of it for the most part - too much IMO. Something's fishy from my point of view. And I've seen my own team get burned by bad calls/no calls too many times not to feel cheated by how this one turned out. I don't even mind that the Ravens won; it bothers me how they won. That's my opinion, I have no facts to back it up, but that's how I feel. First time for everything lol.

You can't say a game was called one-sided, when it was hardly called at all.

Just like you can't look at one non-penalty at the end of a game and contrive some grand plot by the NFL to make sure Lewis got his second ring (for what reason?).

It just doesn't make sense.

[DarkLadyRaven]

You can't say a game was called one-sided, when it was hardly called at all.

Just like you can't look at one non-penalty at the end of a game and contrive some grand plot by the NFL to make sure Lewis got his second ring (for what reason?).

It just doesn't make sense.

People were grabbing face masks all night-- that bothered me but that said. 49ers can complain all they want if it wasn't for that nicely timed power outage -- they would have been blown up anyway

[HighOnHendrix]

You can't say a game was called one-sided, when it was hardly called at all.

Just like you can't look at one non-penalty at the end of a game and contrive some grand plot by the NFL to make sure Lewis got his second ring (for what reason?).

It just doesn't make sense.

It doesn't have to make sense, it's a con-spear-ah-see! I'm a skeptic, I poke holes in them all the time. I'm probably wrong (I hope I'm wrong) but it doesn't change how I feel when I see the replays. As far as the one-sided thing, they called 7 penalties and 5 of them were on SF. I'll also point out that non-calls that should have been called can affect the outcome of a game just as much as penalties that were called or calls of the made-up variety.

If nothing else, I hope the controversy surrounding the officials in this game will convince the league to adopt a better system for selecting referees to preside over the most important game each year. To appoint a guy who has never worked so much as a Conference Championship game in any capacity to then work the Super Bowl is not effective leadership. Favoritism has been alleged (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--of...145832403.html), so let's not act like everything is always on level when it comes to the officiating. It's a far cry from what the NBA has dealt with recently (http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-sp...erview-part-3/) or what soccer (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_1...-match-fixing/) and cricket (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15247144) are dealing with overseas but things could be better, if for no other reason than to remove the semblance of any wrongdoing.

So I guess IF there's anything going on, it's more subtle than Goodell ordering up the outcome from on high.

[budussy]

It is nearly impossible to rig a football game.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/sp...ches.html?_r=0

Oh, the other football. Point being, it's actually ridiculously easy to rig sports.

[Jumbo]

Not as easy as registering a dupe account.

[pjfootballer]

People were grabbing face masks all night-- that bothered me but that said. 49ers can complain all they want if it wasn't for that nicely timed power outage -- they would have been blown up anyway

Niners have made it a habit of getting down early and coming back to win games. So your conspiracy theory about the power outage is just as bad as some blaming the refs for rigging the game.

My opinion is, I understand not making a call there. They were letting them play for the most part and nobody ever wants the outcome of the game to be in the hands of the refs, however, my opinion is, it was either holding or illegal contact and should have been a penalty. Some say the ball was not catchable, but when you are being held up, naturally the ball is going to further out of the players reach.

---------- Post added February-8th-2013 at 08:02 AM ----------

If nothing else, I hope the controversy surrounding the officials in this game will convince the league to adopt a better system for selecting referees to preside over the most important game each year. To appoint a guy who has never worked so much as a Conference Championship game in any capacity to then work the Super Bowl is not effective leadership.

My problem isn't with "who" is selected to referee a SB. My problem is, they took individual guys from all of the crews and meshed them together during the playoffs. Referee crews should be elected and not an "all-star" lineup. Problem is, crews work together all year, they get to know each other's tendacies, they know how to work together and what they are looking for in a call. When you take guys from different crews, they can be unfamiliar with how each calls a game and to me that interupts the flow of the game. Plus, the players and coaches know what to expect when a particular crew is doing their game and with the who's who of crews, it makes it tough.

[ouvan59]

As a ref, you should be aware of the consequences of your calls rather than just calling every rule in the book. If the ref makes that an illegal contact or PI, the 49ers go from a 2% chance of winning to a 90% chance of winning. As a ref, you can't make that kind of impact unless a blatant and obvious unfair advantage has been gained by one of the teams. That's just common sense..

By not making the call you are making the same impact. Either it is a penalty or it isn't.

[Taylor 36]

By not making the call you are making the same impact. Either it is a penalty or it isn't.

Thank you! The ref throwing a flag there is not him impacting the game; it is him enforcing the rules of the game. The DB who breaks the illegal contact rule just impacted the game by breaking the rule.

[LaxinFish29]

That's where my money lies.

At the end of the day, the refs missed some calls. It happens in every game.

But had the 49ers been the ones to jump out to an early lead they wouldn't have been in that position to begin with. Never a good reason to blame the refs (although I agree, they blew this one). The refs, like it or not, are part of the game. And the easiest way to make them a non-essential part is not to put yourself in a position where one bad call can affect the outcome of the game. The 49ers have no one to blame but themselves for letting the ref screw them.

I didn't complain about the calls because I agree...I'm talking about Cary pushing the official, only. For a player to get away with physically assaulting an official is a load of ****.

[HighOnHendrix]

My problem isn't with "who" is selected to referee a SB. My problem is, they took individual guys from all of the crews and meshed them together during the playoffs. Referee crews should be elected and not an "all-star" lineup. Problem is, crews work together all year, they get to know each other's tendacies, they know how to work together and what they are looking for in a call. When you take guys from different crews, they can be unfamiliar with how each calls a game and to me that interupts the flow of the game. Plus, the players and coaches know what to expect when a particular crew is doing their game and with the who's who of crews, it makes it tough.

Totally agree. I left that out b/c my post was getting kind of long and preachy. The league should definitely consider choosing the best graded crew work that game (& top 2 for Conf Champs?) AND set up an independent board to grade the crews so favoritism cannot be alleged. I would even be ok with peer-based grading, or the current way but without the mysterious grade changes.

---------- Post added February-8th-2013 at 11:09 PM ----------

Not as easy as registering a dupe account.

[budussy]

Not as easy as registering a dupe account.

Posting from the same devices is always a dead giveaway. I knew you guys would find out. I'm cool with whatever; however, let it be known that my love for Redskins nation will never waiver.

[AzSkinsFan63]

Everyone seems to forget the illegal contact and holding on Torrey Smith earlier in the game as Smith was going deep down the sideline for a TD that wasn't called...that's funny.

As far as Crabtree goes..he ran a bad route. Looks like he was expecting a behind the shoulder pass and not the fade. Legal contact was made inside of 5 yards and carried over 2 yards into the end zone. Refs could have called PI easily because there was holding when the ball was in the air. But it shouldn't have come down to that one play.

I think it evened out due to the Torry Smith play earlier which is good.

Technically it was a penalty..and it should have been called. Letting them play should never mean allowing illegal stuff to happen..I feel for the 49ers fans because I know I would have hated to lose like that as a Skins fan.