So, what does this season mean to you?

[mraynrand]

There are a lot of owners in the NFC who are probably pretty happy that the Packers lost.*




*Won't hear them complaining much

[Smidgeon]

I wrote this after the 9ers game (http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...1#post682936):

4) I'm starting to think that all games with replacement refs need asterisks. No, I'm definitely not saying the refs cost the Pack the game. What I am saying is that games are often decided by a small number of big plays. Considering how many missed calls and wrong calls they had on big plays, who knows how it would have played out if they'd been consistent and accurate all the way through? I'm not bemoaning the loss. The 49ers played a great game and the Pack didn't. I just realized the impact of the refs is such that you don't know for sure--either way--if the correct calls would have changed the swing of things.

I'll still watch the Packers games because the NFL can't take that away from me. But there are asterisks on this season. I had just hoped the NFL wouldn't squander one of AR's and Clay's prime years... Too late.

[mraynrand]

Will be interesting to see if Jed York or Bill Bidwill get up in arms*







*they probably don't want Seattle winning

[mraynrand]

I wrote this after the 9ers game (http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...1#post682936):

[I]4) I'm starting to think that all games with replacement refs need asterisks. No, I'm definitely not saying the refs cost the Pack the game.

I stopped reading after the bolded bullshit*







*seriously, you don't think the refs cost them the game? What color is the sky in your world?

[Freak Out]

It truly appears to be incompetence on the refs part, but if it continues the whispers of "fix" will rise and then it's over. With the extra times outs and challenges...the numerous phantom calls to keep drives alive. At some point it will rear it's ugly head.

Like Harvey said....I'll keep watching the Packers but won't waste time on other games.

[ThunderDan]

It's being reported that the "touchdown" saved the bookies $150 Million last night.

[Fritz]

I thought that the replacement refs would not affect people's perception of the legitimacy of the season until or unless one specific call cost an NFL team a win. And it happened last night.

But PB brings up a good point. Will it have to happen a couple more times before people really do stop paying attention to the games?

This is the real problem. People can bitch all they want, but if they keep watching, the NFL has lost nothing tangible. Thus they have no reason to move toward the "real" refs' desires.

On the other hand, however, I have never heard television announcers so blatantly and genuinely disgusted by any aspect of the game as the two last night were about the refereeing, particularly the final two calls on the Packers. Surely Chucky Gruden's popped-balloon demeanor, his genuine disgust at the call, cannot be good for the NFL. Cuz the NFL needs t.v. - and needs t.v. to legitimize the product.

I wonder if the NFL will secretly send some directives to the networks who show the games, asking them to refrain from being so critical of the officials.

Me, I'm still watching. So in answer to Patler's question, while I am disappointed in the NFL's hardline tactics, if the Packers win it all I'll feel even better that they did so despite the Seattle ripoff.

And besides, with the "regular" refs, the Lions lost a game against da Bears - what, two years ago? - in which Calvin Johnson was not awarded a t.d. on an obvious t.d. catch. So the refs cost the Leos a game, there, too. Thus I do not discount the validity of this season, despite my disappointment in the shitty refereeing and the Packers' loss as a direct result of it.

[ThunderDan]

Fritz I disagree with your last point. The refs in the Leo's game properly enforced a shitty new rule. Just like the tuck game. This was a complete fuck up. The rules were not adhered to.

[mmmdk]

It's being reported that the "touchdown" saved the bookies $150 Million last night.

Watch Scorsese and you'll know how America was built and still is...BIG ITALY!

[mmmdk]

It's being reported that the "touchdown" saved the bookies $150 Million last night.

Capisce!

[wist43]

We might could make the playoffs, but it's going to be tough - I have 3 automatic losses already pencilled in, Houston, Arizona, and the Giants.

Those 3 losses have us at 5 losses. A split with Minnesota and Detroit are certainly possibilities - that's 7 losses... one more trip up after that, and you're looking at next years draft.

The Packers simply aren't a very good team. It's gonna be a long season.

[denverYooper]

We might could make the playoffs, but it's going to be tough - I have 3 automatic losses already pencilled in, Houston, Arizona, and the Giants.

Those 3 losses have us at 5 losses. A split with Minnesota and Detroit are certainly possibilities - that's 7 losses... one more trip up after that, and you're looking at next years draft.

The Packers simply aren't a very good team. It's gonna be a long season.

They'll win 2 of those.

[mmmdk]

They'll win 2 of those.

To what end?

[wist43]

They'll win 2 of those.

Houston is going to absolutely destroy us - don't even see that game being competitive. Don't see us having much of chance against the Giants either. The Giants are light years better than we are.

As for Arizona - they play hellish defense, we won't be able to move the ball against them at all... their offense isn't much, but then again our defense isn't either.

We might have a chance against Arizona, but beating them in Arizona will be a tall order for this Packers team.

[ThunderDan]

Houston is going to absolutely destroy us - don't even see that game being competitive. Don't see us having much of chance against the Giants either. The Giants are light years better than we are.

As for Arizona - they play hellish defense, we won't be able to move the ball against them at all... their offense isn't much, but then again our defense isn't either.

We might have a chance against Arizona, but beating them in Arizona will be a tall order for this Packers team.

The ARI game better be in GB because I have tickets at home for the game.