MattM

Personally, like the two members of the NFL Competition Committee who told a NYT reporter in 2008 "it's one team, really, over and over again" that (a) in the case of what the reporter was told, was the team others accused or suspected of cheating in various ways and (b) before Monday Night's game got the game changing calls or no calls late in the game over and over and over again. Funny co-in-ky-dink is that it's the SAME team! Who'd have thunk it? The Cheats* have gotten more ref favoritism over the last ten plus years than about the rest of the NFL combined, IMHO. I've asked their fans for years when they've lost a game on a late controversial call going against them, because we can all name about ten (literally) that went their way that way. Finally this season they'll be able to answer! Again, personally, my eyes really got opened in the AFCCG in 2004 against the Colts when on near successive plays Marcus Pollard was obviously and repeatedly held by a Pats* defender who literally had a fistful of jersey all in clear sight of a ref, who threw no flag. I had that one on the DZR for a while and was just amazed at how Pollard's neck jerked back violently each time he was held while the ref stared right at the play....

The difference in the NFL doesn't seem to be statistically significant. What I'd love to see is someone with "all 22, all angles" access watch and analyze games and determine what gets called on who vs what should have been called on who. A pipe dream, I know, but I have my suspicions as to what that would show....

In addition, I saw a former ref on ESPN yesterday say that this case is much like a tipped ball case--once the ball has been tipped/contacted by a defender, other defenders are allowed to make contact with a receiver. Here, the ref may have thought that the DB picked the ball at or before the time Gronkowski was touched. In real time motion, that's not an unreasonable view of things. Either way, the Pats* fans need to stop crying about this (although their tears are indeed sweet!), since they've done this to so many teams over the years that I've just about lost count (although the Monday nighter against the Ravens during the 2007 season came glaringly to mind on Monday--you know, the game where every single time the Pats* seemed to be stopped on that last drive the hanky came out, usually well late).....

Until Sunday night, when the Broncos stomp them a new one on national television. That insurmountable AFCE lead is looking less so every week--too bad it's more likely the Fins or Nyets that will be able to take advantage. Even if it was PI (which I'm not so sure about), they only need about 15 more of those games to go to even the karmic score over the years. I just had visions of that Ravens Monday nighter during the unbeaten season. Every time the Pats* got stopped on that final drive, out came the hanky. Good to see it finally catch up with those Cheaters*.....

That was an awful play. Of course, since it's the Cheats* there was no flag. In fact, he'll probably get a medal from Goodell next week instead of the fine and suspension he deserves....

On the Pats* off their bye 4 straight years, the odds are about 4000 to 1 that happens randomly. What some folks also forget is that over that span we were often considered the number 2 team in the division. There have been several prior threads on that. New England* has over the years also gotten other high value games post- bye, including Miami the year after the Fins won the division and the Ravens the year after the Ravens knocked the Cheats * out of the playoffs. Notice, too, how New England* has played one team coming off a bye or Thurs game in the last two seasons, I believe, while Buffalo has played something like ten or more ( we were a big loser on the 2012 schedule, too, IIRC). As I've said repeatedly, some NFL teams are more equal than others in the League's eyes. That's becoming increasingly clear to at least some of us. I personally applaud any move by the Bills to not let the NFL get away with that. After all, who wants to root for the Washington Generals every year when the League seems to pick (and help) its Globetrotters..,,,

The Toronto series is the price paid to even HAVE a team in WNY, one of the smallest markets and one of the most economically depressed parts of the country over the last 20 years. I find it hard to believe that people still don't get that. They need that money to remain competitive in revenue, particularly when you consider things like new stadiums with more (non-shared) luxury box revenue in places that actually have corporate HQs/sponsors in their towns. The NFL is about making $ (despite its non-profit status). If you'd prefer they just leave altogether (which may still happen when Ralph dies), then go ahead and take the Toronto series away from them.... PS I was born and raised in WNY and am not Canadian, but I understand modern sports and the need to access this additional revenue stream in order to stay in WNY.

Personally, I'm glad they're bringing it up. It's the only way to make sure we don't get screwed again next year (IIRC, it's been 2 years in a row we''ve played a ridiculous number of teams with extra rest, while the Cheats*, for ex., have played one over that span, I believe (and their opponent was coming off a Thursday game to boot)....

This. That said, I get the OP's vibe here--call me crazy, but I honestly thought we could make a go of this season if we won today, considering our upcoming soft schedule and EJ potentially coming back soon....

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/01/report-incognito-under-scrutiny-for-harassing-martin/ Looks like there may have been a reason the Bills let Richie I. walk a few years back, as did the Rams. I've lived long enough to understand by now that some folks are just jerks--perhaps Incognito's one of them....

Wow--isn't he a Stanford guy, too? I guess smarts is no insulation from mental health issues. Here's hoping that he gets the help he needs....

ESPN scroll reporting Graham unlikely to play.....

Commander's Palace is still excellent--went last night with my dad after the Quarter and WWII Museum. I haven't been back in about a decade, but good to see New Orleans is still a great city. Saw tons of Bills fans here yesterday. Here's hoping we bring our team some luck!

Speaking only for myself, I read or watch others before I criticize them--I don't set up my own straw man by putting words in their mouth.....

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/20/nfl-com-article-contributes-to-confusion-regarding-rule-that-burned-pats/ Some debunking for the conspiracy theorists....

Anyone else even more impressed with Pettine as a coach today on that last play? He had our D lineman all shift before the snap to overload the D's left side, which is what caused the pressure to chase Tannehill out of the pocket. I thought that was brilliant. Normally you wouldn't do that because you're opening up one whole side of the D, but in that situation, with 6 seconds and no TO left, that wasn't a worry, and he knew that and made the right call. Very impressive, IMHO....

It isn't just their D--Brady is not "Brady" this year. Did you see his stat line this week (or most weeks this year)? He's been quite pedestrian all around....

If you look at the actual rule (there are PFT articles on it) the play was a textbook example of that penalty. No ifs, ands or "butts".... Just poor coaching....

There's a first time for everything! Just think, only 20-30 more such losses and karma will be about even! I also disagree with your premise--the call against the Cheats* today was apparently a "good call" in the sense that the infraction called was a textbook example of the penalty in question. The fact that it's not consistently called perhaps is a different story than, say, missing a blatant penalty to let the Cheats* win a game (ie, a truly bad/missed no call). Have fun stewing this week!

Anyone have a definition of the rule in question before declaring it a bad call? Big difference between a bad/blown call or no call and a good call that's not always consistently made IMHO....

Puck the Fats*!!!

Now I've seen everything--the Pats* get flagged late in a game that might cost them the game!

Here come the hankies....

Yup--a Saints fan pointed out in a comment thread that there was a ref looking directly at it, too. As we know from our own experiences with the Cheaters* that's just bid'ness as usual for them. I was laughing my arse off at some of the Pats* fan board comments downplaying this, including several "fans" saying that this was legal 'because they'd seen it done many times before without being called' You can't make this stuff up. All of you saying that all star QB's get this treatment, I have to disagree--it's mainly one team, IMHO..... Link please, and to a game changing call. We all know those only go one way in Cheats* games. Want me to link to a bunch more screenshots of non-calls against Cheat* linemen vs the Bengals (you know, the game where the Cheats* weren't whistled once)?