ToGoGo

4th, 16th, 2nd, and 5th largest nationwide fanbases, respectively. Maybe "small nationwide fanbase" is a better term than "small-market". Bottom half of NFL popularity. I was talking about nationwide TV ratings (think night games and playoff games), not local television markets. A Patriots-Cowboys showdown will always have a higher rating than a Bills-Browns game no matter how good the Bills and Browns are. The revenues may be fixed today, but what about during the next negotiations? Is the NFL going to risk losing 1-2 billion dollars when it can do something about it? I have heard about contingencies during the Super Bowl where if the game is a blowout, commercial spots will cost half as much. Also, the value of 4th quarter ad spots increase if data shows that more NFL games come down to the wire. It's a funny coincidence that games are getting tighter and tighter. I agree with you there. Beerball closed the other referee thread because this one was already open. So I thought that I would repost something from that thread over here: : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1X-YPjOwG0 It's a Frontline documentary from 1983 about the NFL, gambling, and organized crime. Some cool tidbits: - Al Davis was close with a Vegas mafia frontman named Marty Glick who sold Davis part of a mall for $5,000. I wonder how he got such a good deal. - Ken Stabler was reported FIFTEEN times for being seen out with a prominent bookie and the NFL never did anything about it. - The owner of the San Diego Chargers owned a hotel in Acapulco that hosted a mafia gathering for Meyer Lansky. Yes, the owner was in attendance. - Two NFL players, including an OL from the Bills were forced to retire from the NFL after being caught fixing games in the 70's. - The famous Namath Super Bowl was most likely fixed to increase the value of the AFL before the merger. - Carroll Rosenbloom, owner of the LA Rams and involved with the mob in Cuba die mysteriously in 1979, apparently from drowning. - Owner of the Saints in the early 80's, along with the owner of the Chargers and Al Davis were attached to several joint real estate deals with organized crime members.

Haha, I'm not worried about what the Indian call center employees on this forum do to me.

One of the largest nationwide fanbases. Historic franchise. They get ratings. Fourth largest to be exact: http://deadspin.com/5980852/who-is-americas-favorite-nfl-team-facebook-data-offer-a-clear-winner

Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1X-YPjOwG0 It's a Frontline documentary from 1983 about the NFL, gambling, and organized crime. Some cool tidbits: - Al Davis was close with a Vegas mafia frontman named Marty Glick who sold Davis part of a mall for $5,000. I wonder how he got such a good deal. - Ken Stabler was reported FIFTEEN times for being seen out with a prominent bookie and the NFL never did anything about it. - The owner of the San Diego Chargers owned a hotel in Acapulco that hosted a mafia gathering for Meyer Lansky. Yes, the owner was in attendance. - Two NFL players, including an OL from the Bills were forced to retire from the NFL after being caught fixing games in the 70's. - The famous Namath Super Bowl was most likely fixed to increase the value of the AFL before the merger. - Carroll Rosenbloom, owner of the LA Rams and involved with the mob in Cuba die mysteriously in 1979, apparently from drowning. - Owner of the Saints in the early 80's, along with the owner of the Chargers and Al Davis were attached to several joint real estate deals with organized crime members.

Which are dependent on TV ratings. Small market teams bring less TV viewership. The NFL has to protect it's brand from lower ratings. It also needs to keep games close to ensure advertising in the 4th quarter is as valuable in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarter. Does it not seem strange to anyone that in a league of "parity" the worst teams year after year are the smaller market teams or the teams that bring the lowest TV viewership. Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Detroit, Oakland.

The owners are in on it. It's revenue share so it doesn't really matter if we win or lose to them. It's better for the owners if teams like the Cowboys or Patriots or Giants win since that would mean more revenue for everybody. If the Bills or Browns win a Super Bowl, everybody gets paid less since less TV viewers and lower advertising costs. For the Bills to win is literally a conflict of interest for the NFL and it's owners. Reality is right in front of everybody if you're ready to see it. It took me years before I was ready.

You didn't answer me. How's the weather in India?

By the way, I think it's funny how Mike Pereira doesn't have access to a better angle on the PI. They only have the angle where it looks like Robey MIGHT have done something wrong.

I always liked him and I was tar and feathered for defending him on places like Buffalo Rumblings. I'm beginning to think it's better to keep my opinions to myself and just agree with the crowd whether I agree with them or not. At least life will be less stressful. How's the weather in India?

Marrone wasn't a player's coach and he was run out of town.

Thank you. Somebody sees through this nonsense. Nothing is stretching it. http://www.thefixisin.net/nfl2015.html

They're harder to find now since the NFL banned vines and GIFs.

His name was Tim Donaghy and he was in the NBA. Unfortunately he was smeared and everyone move on like it never happened. Whistleblowers won't make a difference because NBC, FOX, ESPN, and CBS all have billion dollar NFL contracts. Can you say conflict of interest?

And that they don't get punished for making these kinds of mistakes. After all the awful calls across the league this year, the only referee to be punished is the once who screwed up the clock in the Steelers game. The question becomes: WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? What would it take? How BAD would the refs need to screw up? How consistently would they have to screw up without punishment? Before you would consider that perhaps they're not incompetent, but actually fixing games?

Nobody gets to that level by being incompetent. You're confusing competence with corruption and backroom deals. In my experience, true incompetence does not go much higher than mid-level manager. Anything higher is a result of nepotism or something similar. The executives that SEEM incompetent know damn well what they are doing and what the costs are. They just have different goals.

Can you give me an example of any corporation and business in any industry in the world that has stupid and incompetent employees at positions as crucial as NFL referees are in?

Do you really think the NFL would hire Neanderthal refs with the billions of dollars they have? That they would be satisfied with incompetent and stupid refs if they truly cared about the integrity of the game? I find this reasoning incredible. It's not fixed! The refs hired by a billion dollar organization and that are in one of the most crucial positions in the game are just stupid and incompetent. Teams spend millions of dollars SCOUTING players, and yet the NFL is comfortable with refs who make terrible calls in close games on a weekly basis. Come on.

I think it's obvious to any reasonable person that FireChan isn't a person who is strong in critical thinking and should be ignored.

He becomes a hero. This is why the NFL fixing games is so frustrating for those that appreciate true athletic competition. Part of what makes sorts great is seeing a player come out and play a disastrous 1st half and come back with all his strength to lead the team back. But if that goes against who the NFL wants to win (whoever it is), it gets erased by flags that wipe out entire plays. Then fans/shills come on this board to say "well the Bills shouldn't have been in the situation to let the refs decide the game". But how can they not be if refs can wipe out an entire play? Aren't most games decided on big plays?

Makes sense why they would want all the Vines gone, huh.

Trust your gut and what it's telling you.

This is assuming the NFL doesn't fix games and can be trusted.

Nothing to investigate. Fixing games is legal as long as gambling is not involved. That's how the WWE does it.

Another fixed game. Trying to keep the game close for the London market and the advertisers. This is what you get with the WWFL. Keep spending $100 bucks on jerseys though. It's for "family".

Same with the "stop blaming the refs" fallacy. Injuries and poor refereeing are arguably as influential as any play on the field. Organized crime and bookies have known this for decades.