Referees are the most necessary evil in the sports world. This year in the NFL, refs were the source of a massive controversy due to new rules. It seemed like almost every time a QB was sacked, a flag was thrown, but luckily this dwindled throughout the year. In professional leagues, people expect professional referees, especially in the playoffs. You expect to always be in control while playing a sport, and in ideal situations, you expect the win or the loss to be totally up to how you and your teammates have played. However, this weekend, that was not the case.
The Saints vs. Rams NFC Championship game was a prime example of how sometimes a game isn’t always up to how you played. With less than two minutes left in the game, Tommylee Lewis came streaking down the right side for what looked like an easy first down throw, until Nickell Robey-Coleman came screaming across from the middle and laid him out before he even had the opportunity to make a play on the ball. Not only is this blatant Pass Interference, but was also an obvious
helmet to helmet hit on a defenseless receiver, both of these penalties would have resulted in a first down for the Saints, and the opportunity to bring the game to less than 10 seconds. With so little time left on the clock, it would have been an easy win for the Saints and a trip to the Superbowl. Sean Payton was understandably livid, and the crowd went berserk, but the refs stuck to their guns and no flag was thrown. Payton has since called the league office and Saints have filed a lawsuit to have the game replayed. But it looks like no progress has been made for the Saints.
Referees making some seriously questionable calls in the past, much like this one, and it often spells controversy. Even America’s Team isn’t safe.
In the bottom half of the fourth quarter, the Cowboys found themselves down 26-21. Facing a fourth and two against the Packers in shockingly cold Wisconsin weather, the Boys had no other choice but to go for it. Romo threw an almost picture perfect pass in heavy coverage to arguably the best receiver in the league that season, Dez Bryant, who came down with the ball after an amazing catch on the one-yard line. Although looking like a clean catch, the Packers challenged. In true heartbreaking fashion, the refs overturned the catch, the Packers got the ball back, and the Cowboy’s season was over. Bryant was in disbelief and the Pack advanced to the NFC Championship game. Perhaps the most controversial moment before the blown call last weekend, the League has since ruled the infamous play a catch….shocking.
NFL Fans might not agree on much, but everyone comes together to riot against a blown call that cost a team a game. Referees might be some of the most unanimously hated forces in any professional league, and everyone athlete has a story to tell.
While your blog is focused on football, I think it would have been really interesting to take a look at other sports too in light of this conflict. It would have been pretty interesting to see if the opinion about refs was the same across all fields. I’m sure it is, but I think to have provided more examples would have made it a bit of a stronger argument as to just how much refs are basically widely hated. Otherwise, it’s a very interesting topic to take especially with the moments being so relevant to what’s happening right now in the sport!