Packers / Vikings - Game 3 of 4

[LMITOUT]

It is pure laziness and insecurity.

Who has or has not been a paid official is hogwash. Over the years since instant replay was initiated, the quality of officiating has noticibly declined.

They know they have instant replay to fall back on so they make the easy call and hope that I.R. bails them out.

[SkunkedAgain]

Correlation doesn't equal causation LMITOUT.

[james_walleye]

Skunked did you read my original post above. Im not blaming the officials for the loss. But you CANNOT argue that poor officiating isnt having a hand in way to many games. The Dolphins 100% got a check put in their loss column because of a bad call. What happens the other night if the Packers don't have a challenge left and that horrible TD call on Harvins catch can't be challenged? I'm sorry but when it is now coming down to these guys blowing calls on challenges it steps to a new level. You cannot even try and pretend that in a close game, that taking a TD off the board for a FG isnt having an outcome in a game. Whether its the officials, or the league needing to pay these guys to be full time referees, something needs to change. That refs explanation after reviewing Shiancoes TD.....it was pretty much like he didnt even know the rules after giving the explanation for a reversal.

I also know these guys get graded every week. It doesnt change the facts of what is going on.

[SkunkedAgain]

I didn't say that officiating doesn't affect games. It always has in every sport including football. Blame television and multiple camera angles. The game was easier back then. Bad calls happened, Bud Grant/Vince Lombardi would get mad, and then they went out and continued to coach.

My point is that officiating hasn't necessarily gotten worse but that we see 15 angles in review when the refs had a split second, and then we analyze and argue about it (like we are now) for a week.

[SkunkedAgain]

...and I did read your post where you said

I'm not one to ever blame the officials for a game

[james_walleye]

What part of that says the officials blew the game for the vikings?? I said they blew alot of calls, including calls that went the vikings way. The most blatant i believe was the Shiancoe TD. But im not blind, the no call on Frank Walker beating Jennings out of bounds was a horrible no call.

And I will say it again, the fact that they can't even get challenge calls correct is what puts this all over the edge for me. He had 90 seconds to see that the correct call was made on the field reguarding Shiancoe. And you said it yourself, these officials are told to eat the whistle and let the plays play out and then let coaches challenge. So why didnt the official eat the whistle on the Roethlesberger TD? Let it play out and being inside 2 minutes the booth would have called for a review. Its downright horrible.