[NotAJerry]

I think I'm done with the NFL except for occasional viewing at this point. The "officiating" in the Cowboys-Lions game was criminal whether it was intentional or not. I'm not even talking about the play where pass interference was correctly called, then picked up without explanation, while the refs ignored Dez Bryant coming onto the field with his helmet off to complain (automatic 15 yard penalty) and the Fox talking heads did the same. I'm looking directly at the defensive holding penalty on the Detroit LB grabbing the Cowboys RB that was called (correctly) while a blatant hold by the RT on the LDE was ignored despite happening right in the face of the referee.

It's as if the league is willingly heading the NBA route where the officiating is so bad that it's either a fraud or it's just so inconsistent that there's no reason to invest in something that will not be gotten right.

It was so bad today that that's the lead story on ESPN and former NFL ref Mike Perreira tweeted about how wrong it was.

I watch less and less NFL every year, and even the 2012 season where the Redskins pretended to have a pulse didn't get more than background TV play for me half the time. They'll keep being the dominant sport for a while, but I have a feeling a combination of apathy from fans who want some quality/consistency, more light being shed on what I'm betting is a massive culture of domestic abuse, and rule changes/head trauma injuries is going to eventually relegate them to horse racing/boxing level sooner or later.

At this point it hockey/soccer that get my more focused TV viewing with baseball still getting a lot of live viewing.

[thepostman]

The officiating was terrible but the Lions choke job was even worse.

[RubberMallet]

i turned on all 4 games and quickly became disinterested. started doing other things or watching something else. they were all pretty bad watches. i watched the 2nd half of the dallas/det game and it was so poorly officiated, i don't even know what to say.

that being said, hockey is unwatchable on television, playing soccer from 4 yrs old til college has not enabled me to find one lick of the professional sport interesting, and baseball has become way to slow (i'm also a cubs fan, oi vay). so i guess college football and ncaa/nba bball take the cake.

[ballcoach15]

Those refs should be fired.

[bluejacket]

Patriots vs. Colts in the AFC Championship Game
Seahawks vs. Packers in the NFC Championship Game

I'm picking Patriots-Seahawks for Super Bowl XLIX.

[thepostman]

Gutsy picks.

[bluejacket]

[VAGolf]

I love "league is rigged guy." If I was going to rig a league, Indianapolis, Green Bay, and Seattle are certainly markets I want playing in the conference championships. I'm sure the NBA is just thrilled that their two biggest brands are completely irrelevant. Bad calls couldn't possibly just be bad calls made by humans that we're able to see clearly because of 50 camera angles.

I think it's kind of ridiculous that the NFL isn't reviewing penalties but that day will come. This idea though that either league is "rigged" is just completely preposterous.

[thepostman]

But that makes too much sense.

[Purple Haize]

I can't watch the NFL anymore due to the excessive commercials. I posted on FB that over a 15 minute stretch of 'real world time' I saw more commercials than footbal

[ballcoach15]

The same way TV time outs are ruining college basketball. I believe TV folks are paying coaches under the table to call TOs just for commericals. I was at a game recently where in 2nd half there was 5 seconds to go before a TV time out. A coach called a TO, which resulted in a TV TO. They came back played 5 seconds or until next dead ball, then another TV time out.
With 8 TV time-outs, and 10 coaches TOs per game, that 18 stoppages of play.

On a side note, it makes one wonder why coaches substitute so much. Looks like starters could play all 40 minutes unless they get in foul trouble.

[thepostman]

There are tv timeouts. There is no money being exchanged under the table. Its called a lot of money being paid out by the networks to the leagues, they need to get the money back somehow. Not everything is a conspiracy.

[ballcoach15]

Why would a coach waste a TO, 5 seconds before he's gonna get a "free one" ? I have seen many games where first TO called by a coach in 2nd half was not needed, and appeared to be for TV.

[Purple Haize]

The difference is that in Basketball they are predetermined TO's and they don't always go to commercials during them

[Purple Haize]

Why would a coach waste a TO, 5 seconds before he's gonna get a "free one" ? I have seen many games where first TO called by a coach in 2nd half was not needed, and appeared to be for TV.

Do you not understand how TV Time outs work?

[ballcoach15]

First dead ball under 16, 12, 8 and 4 minute mark in each half and first called TO in 2nd half.

[Purple Haize]

First dead ball under 16, 12, 8 and 4 minute mark in each half and first called TO in 2nd half.

Nope. You got most of it right. And a coach would call a TO a few seconds before the scheduled media for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is because you don't know when the next dead ball will be.

[ballcoach15]

what part I miss ?

[ballcoach15]

Even worse than TV TOs, is the PA system noise during TOs. The moment a TO takes place something starts blaring over PA system as if there's a NCAA rule against quiet in the facility.
I much rather enjoy a couple minutes of quiet time to talk with people around me, rather than be distracted by PA system, that appears to be trying to pipe noise from Vines Center up the mountain to SnowFlex. (it's this way at all college arenas).

I dream of the day I go to a game and PA system goes out after starting lineups are given.

[bluejacket]

Super Bowl XLIX should be a good one.

[VAGolf]

This is probably my favorite Super Bowl in a long time.

2 of the most aggressive coaches in the NFL.

I think this is Brady's swan song and they'll win a really close one 31-27.

[lynchburgwildcats]

Was surprised to see the Seahawks open as a slim favorite after the Patriots put their throat down the Colts' neck and devoured their souls.

[TH Spangler]

Interesting fact .... The Super Bowl will have no 5 star recruits starting. But will feature 20 starters with a 2 star or lower rating.