Some Questions for the Board Regarding the Super Bowl Officiating

detroitfan2

On most football weekends, I watch all or part of pretty much every NFL game that's televised in my area. So I'm a little puzzled why, if these are the finest officials the league has to offer, I did not recognize the head referee. Am I the only one who has never seen that guy before? I just kept thinking the guy was going to announce a penalty and then say "I'm not a referee, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night". He just looked like the kind of guy in those commercials.

Here's something else I'd like to see in regards to the use of replay. I want to know if you guys think I'm being stupid here or not: Allow coaches to challenge penalty calls just like any other play. The offensive interference play and the Hasselback "block below the waist" play come to mind. There was another play where Hasselback was sacked and I swear a guy was off-sides and it wasn't called. That would be another example. It doesn't seem that unreasonable to allow these plays to be challenged.

gemint

<< <i>There was another play where Hasselback was sacked and I swear a guy was off-sides and it wasn't called. >>



I think I know the play you're talking about. I'm not certain he was onsides, but the play clock was ticking to zero. They did this all day long against Peyton and his infinite audibling. When the clock ticks to zero, the defense jumps because it's either a great jump or delay of game. No risk of offsides.

Wabittwax

<< <i>I just kept thinking the guy was going to announce a penalty and then say "I'm not a referee, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night". He just looked like the kind of guy in those commercials. >>



Thanks for the laugh. That might deserve post of the week.

Gator5220

I don't believe it was a conspiracy, but I can certainly understand why a Seahawks fan would think that the officiating was slanted towards Pittsburgh.

It did seem like that every time Seattle made a big play or started to take control of the game, a drive-killing penalty was called.

The league should seriously consider utilizing full-time officials. There's just too much money at stake in these games to trust part-time officals.

bags05

Just to throw this into the equation. The sportsbooks in Vegas and the offshore books across the board had a very very successful day with SB XL and the Pittsburgh outcome.

How does that old saying go? "Just follow the money."

Knowing that hundreds of millions of dollars were hanging in the balance and that Vegas desperately needed a Pittsburgh win and cover of -4 really really really makes you think.

Gator5220

I thought the line was designed to get even money bet on both sides? Was it lopsided for Pittsburgh?

bags05

The books definitely want split action. But to understand this, you need to understand that the books lost a TON of money on the NFL this season due to favorites covering at a 63% clip. Squares and casual bettors love betting favorites and the books count on winning their share of money off of the squares. But this year was an exception and Vegas lost huge. Despite the huge amount of action that the SB attracts, just splitting the action 50/50 wasn't going to be nearly enough. They needed to hang a number out there that would attract lopsided action. A #1 seed being a 3 or 4 point underdog was more than enough to get the kind of action that they needed to get close to breaking even for the season.

Gator5220

So, Vegas was betting on the betting? That sounds like a scary proposition.

I'm glad I don't bet on sports.

bags05

Its called being "opinionated". Sportsbooks usually don't have to be "opinionated" and can just take action on both sides and keep the vig. But when they're taking a beating or really know something that the betting public doesn't (WINK WINK), then they expose themselves by putting an opinionated number out there hoping to clean up huge on the other side.

Woodwind

<< <i>I just kept thinking the guy was going to announce a penalty and then say "I'm not a referee, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night". He just looked like the kind of guy in those commercials. >>

gemint

<< <i>Just to throw this into the equation. The sportsbooks in Vegas and the offshore books across the board had a very very successful day with SB XL and the Pittsburgh outcome.

How does that old saying go? "Just follow the money."

Knowing that hundreds of millions of dollars were hanging in the balance and that Vegas desperately needed a Pittsburgh win and cover of -4 really really really makes you think. >>



Do you have a link on this? Last I heard, betting was heavily leaning toward Pittsburgh. They kept upping the spread to push more bets to Seattle. I guess it could have swung drastically in the other direction but I hadn't heard that.