OT: Jerome Boger is Terrible at His Job
I'm not here to balme the refs for the Lions loss yesterday, because it goes further than that, obviously. What I am going to say is that his inompetence, on three separate occasions, deeply influenced the Lions ability to tie a game that could've gone either way.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
If all refs were like you Mark Cuban's private study (which the NBA went apeshit nuts over) wouldnt have yielded the results it did. If you remember he commission people to count fouls called by the same crew doing the same two teams and compared the results when officiating a team home and then away. Again - same two teams, same officiating crew. Not surprisingly (to any non-official) was that the results skewed wildly with Dallas getting far more favorable calls in Dallas and far less favorable calls on the road. And it held for each crew, and each opponent.
I know refs HATE hearing this. They all pride themselves on how objective they are (so do the media for that matter but that's a different debate for a different blog) and bristle when the subject of "home cooking" comes up. What's funny is that most will acknowledge it sometimes does exist but all refs claim it never happens with them - it's always one of the other guys who are influenced.
November 17th, 2014 at 11:59 AM ^
Many years ago, in the 1980's I think, I seem to remember Hubie Brown (while he was coaching) proclaiming that being a NBA ref is the hardest job in the world because you had to learn all the different rules.
- Home team calls
- Visiting team calls
- Superstar home/away calls
- Veteran home/away calls
- Rookie home/away calls
- And the hierarchy of all of the above when there is conflict
I mean we are talking about some heavy stuff here.
I wish I could have found the quote, but everyone knows the NBA is the most subjectively officiated sport around.
November 17th, 2014 at 1:30 PM ^
What's amazing to me is that the replay official should be exempt from all of that; he is in the pressbox, nobody knows who he is, and you never see his face. Theorectically, he should be able to make an unbiased interpretation of the rules, that's the point of the replay system.
But spots NEVER get overturned. I thought the Lions had as good of a chance as ever to get that overturned before the half, and even that didn't happen. It's pretty bad when Roy Periera (Fox's rules expert and formal official) even criticized the officiating and the terrible spots.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
This game kind of reminded me of a UM game. The D played good enough to produce a win and the offense layed an egg. On a positive note, I thought Bell played pretty good. The Cards got after and disrupted Stafford all game.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
My dad and I rewatched the Fitzgerald catch at the end frame-by-frame and realized that he really did make it right to the 1st down line. The frame you chose for that picture does not show how far he actually made it.
But I agree about the terrible spot in the first half that would have given the Lions a first down. That was just a terrible spot.
And the punt was just really weird but I think the refs actually did make the correct call (even if none of us have ever seen it called that way before). But he didn't bat the ball back into play. He caught it and then threw it back into play. According to the rules, they made the correct call. Gotta give Arians credit for even thinking to review it based on that technicality.
Bottom line--the refs screwed up only one of the three above. Lions blew it.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
I've seen multiple frames of the Fitzgerald catch, and he was driven back before he got to the line; even Mike Pereira agreed with that. He also agreed that Ebron got to the first down marker. The other problem with the spot Ebron got, is that the ball was placed behind even where his damn feet were!
November 17th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
You are wrong. I watched it frame by frame. Fitzgerald made it to the yellow line. Period. Pereira was speaking without the benefit of frame-by-frame.
I'm a huge Lions fan and wanted to be able to call foul on that call but they got it right. If you want to keep the lie going, go ahead. But you are just wrong.
And yes---they got the Ebron call wrong. Big time. But that's the only one they got wrong.
November 17th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^
I watched it closer than both of you but I watched it pixel by pixel.
I agree with one opinion - I just won't tell you who. I'm just enjoying you two compare penises.
November 17th, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^
As I've displayed evidence of my position, I'm still waiting for a frame supporting his.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
The punt call back was NOT the correct call. You can only blow it dead at the 1 yard line if he has possession AND isn't falling into the fucking endzone. If he doesn't throw it back into play he falls into the endzone and it's a touchback. If he threw it back and the cards downed it at the 4, the refs would've kept it at the 4, even if it was challenged for any reason.
That, and not moving the Ebron catch the the 9 yard line and re-measuring when it was crystal clear to everyone, were both egregious.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
Show me a frame that clearly indicates that Ebron didn't get to the marker. Also, show me a frame that clearly indicates a justification for the spot that Ebron actually got.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:35 AM ^
November 17th, 2014 at 10:59 AM ^
He doesn't need to get two feet down to establish forward progress. See the link below and look at example #2.
http://www.refstripes.com/forum/index.php?topic=10174.0
November 17th, 2014 at 11:00 AM ^
On the punt, if that call really is correct then that rule needs to be changed. By the logic of that ruling couldn't a player catch the ball on the 1, then fall into the endzone and because the ball was possessed before crossing the goal line they would spot the ball on the 1 yard line? Seems to me they should require the ball to be both possessed and stationary.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
Man show me a good game against New England and get out of this tough stretch with no injuries and I'll take it. The next four will be in Detroit's favor and we should be gold for the playoffs and working for a home game.
This offense will click here soon.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
it won't click now.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:24 AM ^
Almost every team in the NFL could point at a game and say the refs blew it for them. Yes, it's frustrating and it's no excuse for the refs to be incompetent at times, but it happens to everyone (although, fans always think it's their team that's special...).
In my case, the Jets lost a game to the Packers earlier this year because a ref decided to honor an ASSISTANT COACH'S timeout call (even though he wasn't even calling for a timeout nor are OC's authorized to call timeouts) after the Jet's had already scored a long, 4th down, tying touchdown during that play.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:27 AM ^
The Lions blew opportunities, but how the hell do the first TEN penalties go against the visitors? No, that's not suspicious at all.
Also, the first down we clearly got at the nine yard line, spotted at the ten, reviewed, and still FAILED to correct, was total bullshit. I agree with OP, the officials sucked hard.
Also agree with others that the Lions didn't help themselves at times.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
I'm not sure how much difference it would have made in the end, but goddamn that was awful reffing. The ruling on that spot towards the end was ludicrous. It was honestly one of the first times since the advent of reviews that a spot review where the ball was not on the ground actually had enough visual evidence to overturn the ruling on the field. It's mind boggling that they let that spot stand. Also, if the downing of the punt on the 1 yard line was actually considered possessing the ball, there are a lot of recievers out there who want an explanation as to why their reception was called incomplete. A <1 second game of hot potato =/= possession.
That was officiating incompetence at it's absolute finest.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:27 AM ^
Didn't see the whole game but those few call were pretty bad. Why didn't the Lions have any time outs left to challenge the spot on that catch? If it makes you feel any better, I'm sure Mr. Brady will make sure you don't lose due to some blown calls this Sunday.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
November 17th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
I didn't have a huge problem with the spot for Fitzgerald's catch. Thought it was decent enough. The one just before half however was turrible - like a full yard from being correct. Also I'd like to hear what a rules official would say about the "possession" that the AZ gunner had on that punt.
Obviously all these things are moot points if the Lions offense performs to their talent level. Hopefuily they can get it together soon. The defense is playing really good for the first time in forever. Would be a shame to waste it because Stafford and co. can't get it together. Quick question: Are people happy with Lombardi's play calling? Does anyone think Linehan could be doing a better job? It seems to me we were moving the ball better last year, but that's all I really know on the issue.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
compared to last year. I mean, we are nowhere close to how good we were at running the ball last year. Lacking creativity if you ask me. I'd take Linehan back in a HEARTBEAT!
November 17th, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^
November 17th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^
I tend to agree. Just didn't think the spot was as egregious as the others and since the Lions were out of timeouts and it wasn't after the two-minute warning there wasn't a lot the refs could do to amend the situation.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^
Our offense seems a little too vanilla this year and it surprises me. We went from a consistent top ten o to a bottom tier o. Matt stafford will not be Drew Bree's and this team won't be the saints. Let them/him use their tools.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
Each of those calls was a gamechanger.
Each of those calls, on its own, could have been the difference between a W and an L.
The only one was could possibly (and that's even a longshot) have been correct was the Fitzgerald call, but the spot they gave was still about one yard too far.
I don't know that I've ever seen a game with so many big calls screwed up so badly. Then, for the calls to stand upon replay? It just doesn't make a drop of sense. It's not like PHX is a fan favorite. No one ever cares about PHX. If Suh's actions in the past can warrant league inquiry, so can the officiating of this game.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
November 17th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^
but games should not be refereed like they were yesterday, regardless of the teams. If there wasn't a Cardinal bias yesterday, well I could understand how someone might feel that way. The only penalties called on the Cards were when they had the game under control, and some of those were due to stupidity, like the late hit on Stafford. It's just odd many of the Lions penalties were called - or not called - when they had a chance to get back into the game.
November 17th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
Because refs clearly have an influence on the game. If the game came down to being decided by a few plays, it's entirely reasonable to blame refs for biffing one of them. If a ref incorrectly calls the last play of the game and you lose because of it, can you blame the refs then? Why not?
November 17th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
Montana used to "fixate" on Rice, too.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^
November 17th, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^
Possession while falling into the endzone does not equal stationary possession to down a punt. If that was the case, gunners could catch it at the 1 yard line while running full speed into the endzone and it would be downed at the 1. This is not the case, the refs royally fucked it up.
November 17th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
and everythings fine
November 17th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
But rather a Bears fan and even I have to agree with the OP. Bad, bad calls.
November 17th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
Jerome sent it in
November 17th, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^
Let's have a discussion on why new UM softball recruit Alex Sobczak sucks.
November 17th, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^
What doesn't come through the TV is though is if the player said anything. Flexing alone isn't a penalty. One has to ask, what did that player say -- and us viewers will never know.
By way of comparison in 2009, Notre Dame goes up 34 - 31 and gets called for an unsportsmanlike penalty on the TD. What you saw on TV was the ND back putting his finger to his facemask in a shushing motion. BUT what you heard in person was a string of profanities directed at the fans which would make a sailor blush -- with the official standing right next to him.
Everyone on the interwebs and SportsCenter thought the Irish got screwed. Nope. They earned that penalty. I'm just sayin'.
November 17th, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^
November 17th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^
This looked like a BAMA game.....
November 17th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
I've never seen that before. That dude should be fired on the spot.
November 17th, 2014 at 6:28 PM ^
I'd say "Tell me that guy's fired" but in my heart I know he's still reffing the SEC somewhere. Probably got a raise.
Goodness that's bad
November 17th, 2014 at 11:34 AM ^
of course, that probably shouldn't be too surprising given their record of incompetence, but jeez. At some point you would think the refs would just feel sorry for them and give them a break,
November 17th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
I'll reiterate: "I'm not here to balme the officials"... in a thread that just bitches about the officials. People are entitled to doing so, but don't act like you're not.
November 17th, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^
November 17th, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
All instant replay has proven is that officials are just incompetent, period. They used to use the excuse that it was just hard to make observations when things happened so fast. But the truth is, these guys are so unbelievably bad at what they do that it doesn't matter what speed they see it at--they will NEVER get the calls right.
That is what happens when you hire morons. Until refs are immediately fired for unbelievably ridiculous calls like the Ebron spot, you will continue to have morons as officials.
Not as sure on the punt return, but that seemed like a gross misapplication of the rules. Someone should be suspended/fired over that too.
November 17th, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
It's gotten to the point where there needs to be a bird's eye camera 100 feet above the field that always stays directly above the ball no matter where it is. Then you can see exactly where the ball is when a receiver is pushed out of bounds or match it to when his knee is down. We have the technology.
November 17th, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
The Lions got screwed by poor officiating. They also didn't do much with their opportunities throughout the game. Both happened.