How 'Bout That Officiating?

[Fritz]

It's games like these that make you wonder if someone in the league has a rooting interest - in this case, in the Chicago Cutler Bears. Let's take a quick stroll through some of the highlights:

Rodgers gets blasted by Urlacher after throwing a deep ball on a roll out early on. No call.

Kampman gets face-masked in the first half as he goes by an offensive lineman. His head is actually turned right by the blocker. No call.

Sitton gets called for a hold that snuffs a drive. Spitz gets called for another hold. Both holds are questionable at best, especially when compared to....

....the second half when Kampman looks like he's about to sack Cutler straight up the middle, but gets held and nearly spun around by the blocker hanging on to Kampman. No call.

Rodgers slides at the end of the game, and two - count 'em, two - Bears defenders go down to deliver blows on the already-sliding Rodgers. No call.

The Packers stop the Bears on 3rd and nine late in the game, but wait, there's a flag! It's illegal contact on Al Harris, who lightly made contact with a receiver five yards from the line of scrimmage.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but what in the hell was that officiating all about? It is hard not to wonder when the refs review an obviously good two point conversion. I couldn't figure out why they did it and why they were taking so long until I suddenly realized that the spread was four points...

[Tarlam!]

Don't the coaches get to score the zebras after each game? I think I remember reading that in M3's 1st year he was pretty scathing on some of the crews.

Maybe, it's payback?

[pbmax]

Re: How 'Bout That Officiating?

The Packers stop the Bears on 3rd and nine late in the game, but wait, there's a flag! It's illegal contact on Al Harris, who lightly made contact with a receiver five yards from the line of scrimmage.

Generally, I think referee complaints will even out. But this incident will get an explanation and a letter to the Packers. Collingsworth and Al had this one nailed. Nice they went back to it even after the next drive had started.

[SkinBasket]

Re: How 'Bout That Officiating?

The Packers stop the Bears on 3rd and nine late in the game, but wait, there's a flag! It's illegal contact on Al Harris, who lightly made contact with a receiver five yards from the line of scrimmage.

Generally, I think referee complaints will even out. But this incident will get an explanation and a letter to the Packers. Collingsworth and Al had this one nailed. Nice they went back to it even after the next drive had started.

To have a tv crew point out that there should have been a penalty the other way is kind of indicative of just how bad that was. Hester was lined up just feet from the official after all.

I thought the worst calls were the facemask on Kampman early, since it was clear the Bears wanted to come out playing nasty, the Packers weren't going to engage them on that level, but the officials are supposed to control that kind of shit - especially in the first quarter when the tone of the game's being set. The other was the shoulder check by Urlicker on Rodgers. Two steps, head lowered, defenseless QB. Kind of exactly what they've been trying to prevent in recent years.

[Bossman641]

That call on Harris was one of the worst calls I've ever seen. I know the Packer CB's have developed a reputation for being physical with WR at the line, but if that is illegal contact then it could have been called on every play.

[Waldo]

It was Ron Winters. Do you ever recall a Ron Winters reffed game where the calls seemed to be going the Packers way?

[pbmax]

It was Ron Winters. Do you ever recall a Ron Winters reffed game where the calls seemed to be going the Packers way?

He did get two challenges right, so I don't think its team specific for the ref. But the ones he blew weren't even.

[Fosco33]

I hate when we all get pissed about bad calls. If the Pack had done their job throughout the game, most of that would be meaningless.

I didn't like the Urlacher shot or the no call on the dive. Both were close plays - Urlacher was coming full speed and ARod did a very quick slide.

The holding calls are tough - but there are always holding calls missed (when I rewatched the first half, Barbre had at least one no-call).

The punch by Tillman after the Spitz call was also well after the whistle and unnecessary.

I saw a few other penalties that should've been called - multiple hands to the face by the Chicago RT, a forearm to ARod's head early in the 1st Q (on that tip by Payne).

Chicago always plays a little dirtier vs. the Packers and I'm sure ARod is feeling it this morning.

If the league wants to have a quality product on the field, they should make a few of those calls in ARod's favor next time -- with Barbre in there, he'll take enough legal hits as anyways.

[FritzDontBlitz]

Re: How 'Bout That Officiating?

Kampman gets face-masked in the first half as he goes by an offensive lineman. His head is actually turned right by the blocker. No call.

Well, on the same play Tramon Williams grabbed the receiver with both hands to pull him out of the way before he dropped a possible interception so it would have been offsetting penalties if the refs had their eyes open.

I watched the Minnesota game and there were plenty of missed calls there, too. Its opening day for the zebras too, so they start out sloppy just as the players do.

[MadScientist]

The zebras sucked, but they weren't totally against the Pack. The play where the Bear's punter got taken out should have been called as well. This crew wasn't even ready for the preseason.

[mission]

The zebras sucked, but they weren't totally against the Pack. The play where the Bear's punter got taken out should have been called as well. This crew wasn't even ready for the preseason.

Not at all. The rule on that is where they're diving to I guess you would say. Guy reached out to block the punt and extended out where the ball would have been and once he hit the ground went below the punter since he was coming forward... if you just dive and your aim point is off and you smash into the punter then it's a penalty. Ive seen it called both ways but that play was definitely clean. Good no call.

[Spaulding]

It was Ron Winters. Do you ever recall a Ron Winters reffed game where the calls seemed to be going the Packers way?

Winters have relation to Jerry "I'm going to screw the Packers" Markbright? Seemed we had a game or two annually where he impacted the outcome.

[green_bowl_packer]

At least they had a sense of humor.

[Packgator]

Three (accepted) penalties called against the Bears tied for fewest league wide on opening day.

[mraynrand]

The officials are employing a new 3-4 alignment. It will take some time for them to get comfortable.