Do you wonder if the league is fixed?

[The Red King]

(Please don't merge this with the thread complaining about the Bills/Eagles officiating.  This is different, with wider scope, and not limited to the Bills.)

 

There have always been suspicions that the NFL is fixed, but this year seems almost blatent.  There have been a ton, a ton of badly officiated games this season, and not just involving the Bills.  The NFL is in bed with Vegas and the gambling apps, that much is fact.

 

So, my question is, what do you believe?  I don't believe the league is outright scripted.  But I do believe they have preferences, and are not afraid to unleash the officials to get the outcomes they want, based on trends.

 

I hate to be that guy.  I hate to think about conspiracy theories.  But the officiating all around the league has been laughably bad/questionable the whole season.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

You can’t do it. Too many people involved. But you can have 1-2 bad apples and they can do enough damage.

 

But no, I don’t believe the NFL is fixed. Officiating isnt getting worse, it’s always been bad. We just have more rules and more cameras now. Rules complicate an already difficult job. Cameras show every mistake they make in 4k ultra slow motion.

Edited November 27, 2023 by Buffalo_Stampede

[Billever76]

3 minutes ago, The Red King said:

(Please don't merge this with the thread complaining about the Bills/Eagles officiating.  This is different, with wider scope, and not limited to the Bills.)

 

There have always been suspicions that the NFL is fixed, but this year seems almost blatent.  There have been a ton, a ton of badly officiated games this season, and not just involving the Bills.  The NFL is in bed with Vegas and the gambling apps, that much is fact.

 

So, my question is, what do you believe?  I don't believe the league is outright scripted.  But I do believe they have preferences, and are not afraid to unleash the officials to get the outcomes they want, based on trends.

 

I hate to be that guy.  I hate to think about conspiracy theories.  But the officiating all around the league has been laughably bad/questionable the whole season.

Once vegas got involved it's absolutely a certainty it's skewed and teams are being guided by the refs and its being masqueraded as human error ....the refs are swaying games big time and it's obvious

1 minute ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

You can’t do it. Too many people involved. But you can have 1-2 bad apples and they can do enough damage.

How can't it be done? A few bad officials being paid $$$$ absolutely can make it happen....you get 6 or so refs throw a boatload of hush money at them and instruct them what to do....in the nfl a few key bad calls no calls are usually enough to change outcomes

Edited November 27, 2023 by Billever76

[Ralonzo]

I don’t wonder.

Edited November 27, 2023 by Ralonzo

[Nelius]

Agreed that it would be way too complex. Way too many moving pieces. These people prove themselves to be regularly incompetent, you can't then assume that they're such maniacal geniuses that they could pull something like that off in front of millions. I think that's largely what you're seeing with the refs - just regular every day incompetence and stupidity.

 

Although with the extreme rise in gambling you could get a few more bad apples Tim Donagy style. Not enough to fix anything, but lone wolf enough to do some weird damage to a game's outcome.

[Bferra13]

Remember the replacement refs in 2013 or whatever? Everyone made fun of those guys. Then when the union signed a deal I remember the first game where smug Steratore made the first call with the "real" refs back. He got a standing ovation. I puked in my mouth a bit at that moment. Those replacement refs would have been fine long term and drained the scum from the pond at the same time. Now Steratore is a schill for cbs and he still sickens me. Fixed or general incompetence, the NFL sees no reason to fix it or acknowledge it is a problem.

[Mikie2times]

I think it’s possible that officials ref games in such a way to make sure they stay close for long enough. Which really wouldn’t take some sort of conspiracy theory. You can call penalties on nearly every play and in doing so you can stop drives or start them with very little indication outside of “they’re only human”. It was certainly in the NFL’s interest for this to be a showcase event. It’s entertainment after all. As far as a literal attempt to work the calls towards one side, I don’t see the purpose. In this case the side that got the help was the side that needed it to stay close until they no longer did and magically the whistles slowed down. 

Edited November 27, 2023 by Mikie2times

[loyal2dagame]

4 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

You can’t do it. Too many people involved. But you can have 1-2 bad apples and they can do enough damage.

 

But no, I don’t believe the NFL is fixed. Officiating isnt getting worse, it’s always been bad. We just have more rules and cameras now. Rules complicate an already difficult job. Cameras show every mistake they make in 4k ultra slow motion.

Like my guy says, "You can do it!"

 

NFL is not classified as sport,  but rather entrainment. Like pro wrestling. And we all know that's real.....

[Dr.Sack]

Games have odds for a reason. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

2 minutes ago, loyal2dagame said:

Like my guy says, "You can do it!"

 

NFL is not classified as sport,  but rather entrainment. Like pro wrestling. And we all know that's real.....

Do you ever watch high school football or lower level college football? The craziest calls and plays happen in high school football. Just like players make mistakes in live action games so do refs.

 

I do believe there are refs that have cheated the game and made money on their calls. But I don’t believe it’s widespread.

Edited November 27, 2023 by Buffalo_Stampede

[CincyBillsFan]

I don't know but I buy into the idea that you don't blame this kind of stuff on malice or conspiracy when pure incompetence will usually suffice.  And NFL officiating is getting worse and worse.

 

[LABILLBACKER]

It wouldn't take much effort on the leagues part to gently infer that its crews "take care" of our big market blue blood teams.  

Edited November 27, 2023 by LABILLBACKER

[loyal2dagame]

Just now, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Do you ever watch high school football or lower level college football? The craziest calls and plays happen in high school football. Just like players make mistakes in live action games so do refs.

High school ball is still classified as sports.  Not sure about college.

But NFL is under the entertainment umbrella.

[The Red King]

7 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

I think it’s possible that officials ref games in such a way to make sure they stay close for long enough. Which really wouldn’t take some sort of conspiracy theory. You can call penalties on nearly every play and in doing so you can stop drives or start them with very little indication outside of “they’re only human”. It was certainly in the NFL’s interest for this to be a showcase event. It’s entertainment after all. As far as a literal attempt to work the calls towards one side, I don’t see the purpose. In this case the side that got the help was the side that needed it to stay close until they no longer did and magically the whistles slowed down. 

 

That's a good point.  The closer the game, the longer people watch.  Close games are more compelling then blowouts, better entertainment.

[LeGOATski]

Yeah, Vegas is ruining pro football like it did boxing. Just watch it for entertainment, but have low expectations regarding the season's outcome. Support the USFL/XFL to at least pressure the NFL's monopoly.

[paulmm3]

I will never bet on the NFL again after tonight. Seriously. That is by far the most biased officiating I have ever seen in 20 years. There's not much other explanation for how it could be so bad. I obviously can't prove games are fixed, but I'm also not going to bet on a league where I think they might be.

[BuffaloButt]

Probs, but what can we do?!!

[thewookie1]

I don't think its fixed but rather has an agenda.

 

There are certain teams week to week/season to season they want to see succeed and the refs are given the tools to manipulate.

 

This year they want KC and Philly to have a Kelce Rematch with Taylor Swift there. Now if KC or Philly fails even with friendly officiating they'll likely move to different narrative to play with but there's certainly some bias.

 

 

[SCBills]

I’m going to say no, not on a macro level.  
 

However, it’s a really bad look to have Shawn Hochuli’s crew go into a game where a HC is 4-0 in their games, then proceed to call a game that draws national attention to the one side officiating. 
 

Nevermind that there is zero consistency.   Keenan Allen had the same fumble we had in OT.  His was ruled a fumble.  In our game, incomplete pass. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Just now, loyal2dagame said:

High school ball is still classified as sports.  Not sure about college.

But NFL is under the entertainment umbrella.

The problem with fixing anything is keeping people quiet. You’d need thousands of people to stay quiet. It’s not happening. Thats why I don’t believe it’s possible. 
 

Heck, look what happened to Michigan. When too many people know about something it’ll always get out.

[Aussie Joe]

If it was rigged .. wouldn’t they want the Bills to win this game?

 

Eagles are 9-1 and cruising home ..

 

Bills still have some big games coming up.., so now they are going be “out” already…?

 

 

Edited November 27, 2023 by Aussie Joe

[The Red King]

1 minute ago, BuffaloButt said:

Probs, but what can we do?!!

 

That's the problem.  The NFL finally realized there's nothing we can do, which is why the bad officiating is so obvious this season, all around.

[Preds]

Nothing to wonder about IMO.  There is no doubt in my mind that gambling and the NFL are in bed with each other to a degree and influencing game results.

[Vod Kanockers]

6 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

The problem with fixing anything is keeping people quiet. You’d need thousands of people to stay quiet. It’s not happening. Thats why I don’t believe it’s possible. 
 

Heck, look what happened to Michigan. When too many people know about something it’ll always get out.

You don’t need thousands of people to be in on it. Only the owners, commissioner, and the refs. 
 

You can’t let the coaches or players in on it. They’ll start to not care and will start to half-ass it on the field. Which would be noticed by the fans, and would also lead to an inferior product.
 

You want a job as an NFL official? Here, sign this NDA, first. Now if we find out that you spoke about any of this, we take legal actions against you, and take everything you own. Or, you can shut up and get paid $250k per year to work 1 day per week for approximately 25 weeks.

 

Look at the league standings. It’s no surprise that most teams are right around .500. It keeps the fans interested in their teams, and keeps attendance up.

 

The owners are a collective unit of BILLIONAIRES. Most with very complex businesses besides their NFL team. Do you think that they don’t see “an officiating problem”? They have new rules every year for player safety and to tinker with the rules of the game, but they’re not going to bring up the officiating at all?? 

At what point do people start to connect the dots, follow the money, and see things for what they are, rather than just saying.. “It can’t be so”

[TheFunPolice]

If it is then the NFL script writers are sadistic when it comes to the Bills

[Dr.Sack]

24 minutes ago, SCBills said:

I’m going to say no, not on a macro level.  
 

However, it’s a really bad look to have Shawn Hochuli’s crew go into a game where a HC is 4-0 in their games, then proceed to call a game that draws national attention to the one side officiating. 
 

Nevermind that there is zero consistency.   Keenan Allen had the same fumble we had in OT.  His was ruled a fumble.  In our game, incomplete pass. 

I will have to find that play and if so I’m more pissed. 

[Virgil]

The cigarette smoking man wants this thread deleted 

[Nelius]

24 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

If it was rigged .. wouldn’t they want the Bills to win this game?

 

Eagles are 9-1 and cruising home ..

 

Bills still have some big games coming up.., so now they are going be “out” already…?

 

 

 

This is a great point. Wouldn't the production cabal in charge of the rigging want the Bills to not only win in the case of this game, but ideally, go on a mini run rather than fizzle out in Week 12? Seems like a pretty poor financial decision at least. They're a very popular team right now.

 

I suspect the answer will be something like they only rig a little bit.

[Comebackkid]

i dont they are fixed per se...like a predetermined winner of each game.   do think refs take a kick back from either cash or threats....absolutley

[Aussie Joe]

13 minutes ago, Nelius said:

 

This is a great point. Wouldn't the production cabal in charge of the rigging want the Bills to not only win in the case of this game, but ideally, go on a mini run rather than fizzle out in Week 12? Seems like a pretty poor financial decision at least. They're a very popular team right now.

 

I suspect the answer will be something like they only rig a little bit.

Seems most people saying “it’s  rigged” always thinks that the whole thing is a conspiracy to screw over the Bills …( like who cares about the Bills??lol…)

 

shouldn’t they do something every once in a while to help the Bills out if it’s really rigged? Even the goddam Jags and Bucs get a call occasionally ……When is it gunna be our turn ? 

Edited November 27, 2023 by Aussie Joe

[LABILLBACKER]

30 minutes ago, Preds said:

Nothing to wonder about IMO.  There is no doubt in my mind that gambling and the NFL are in bed with each other to a degree and influencing game results.

Completely agree.  Been saying this since the Brady years. The NFL can very easily steer games in any direction. And they've been doing it for years.  10 penalties to 1 half way through the 2nd qtr.

 

Seriously?

[Buffalo_Stampede]

13 minutes ago, Vod Kanockers said:

You don’t need thousands of people to be in on it. Only the owners, commissioner, and the refs. 
 

You can’t let the coaches or players in on it. They’ll start to not care and will start to half-ass it on the field. Which would be noticed by the fans, and would also lead to an inferior product.
 

You want a job as an NFL official? Here, sign this NDA, first. Now if we find out that you spoke about any of this, we take legal actions against you, and take everything you own. Or, you can shut up and get paid $250k per year to work 1 day per week for approximately 25 weeks.

 

Look at the league standings. It’s no surprise that most teams are right around .500. It keeps the fans interested in their teams, and keeps attendance up.

 

The owners are a collective unit of BILLIONAIRES. Most with very complex businesses besides their NFL team. Do you think that they don’t see “an officiating problem”? They have new rules every year for player safety and to tinker with the rules of the game, but they’re not going to bring up the officiating at all?? 

At what point do people start to connect the dots, follow the money, and see things for what they are, rather than just saying.. “It can’t be so”

You need more than owners and officials. What is the point of fixing a game? What money? Who is getting the money in your opinion?
 

People want a conspiracy badly. 

[Bruffalo]

Bigger markets always get the calls, and personal bias comes into play HARD when it comes to refereeing. 
 

The Bills likely have a reputation as undisciplined and they are being treated as such, unfairly so. Combine that with characters like Phillips, Dawkins, even Allen and you can see that they’ve made up their mind about penalties before the flags are even thrown. 
 

It’s the same problems with police and any other position of authority. Subjectivity and bias is going to make a huge difference in your perception of how to enforce the rules. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

1 minute ago, Bruffalo said:

Bigger markets always get the calls, and personal bias comes into play HARD when it comes to refereeing. 
 

The Bills likely have a reputation as undisciplined and they are being treated as such, unfairly so. Combine that with characters like Phillips, Dawkins, even Allen and you can see that they’ve made up their mind about penalties before the flags are even thrown. 
 

It’s the same problems with police and any other position of authority. Subjectivity and bias is going to make a huge difference in your perception of how to enforce the rules. 

That roughing the passer call should’ve ended the game in our favor. It was a brutally bad call also.

 

 

[ExiledInIllinois]

You have sons of ex-refs working the game.  Nepotism is real. Of course it's corrupted!

 

Fixed straight up, no. Buy they push outcomes. 

[billieve420]

Refs have been terrible across the board not just this game. However, good teams find a way to win. We instead find ways to lose and are overrated. So for me this starts with the HC who coaches scared and it permeates throughout the team who play soft. Like a dark cloud that hangs over team you just know something bad is going to happen.

[ExiledInIllinois]

10 minutes ago, Bruffalo said:

Bigger markets always get the calls, and personal bias comes into play HARD when it comes to refereeing. 
 

The Bills likely have a reputation as undisciplined and they are being treated as such, unfairly so. Combine that with characters like Phillips, Dawkins, even Allen and you can see that they’ve made up their mind about penalties before the flags are even thrown. 
 

It’s the same problems with police and any other position of authority. Subjectivity and bias is going to make a huge difference in your perception of how to enforce the rules. 

And they keep the wealth in house, amongst the family members... Hire from within.

[ToGoGo]

34 minutes ago, Vod Kanockers said:

You don’t need thousands of people to be in on it. Only the owners, commissioner, and the refs. 
 

You can’t let the coaches or players in on it. They’ll start to not care and will start to half-ass it on the field. Which would be noticed by the fans, and would also lead to an inferior product.
 

You want a job as an NFL official? Here, sign this NDA, first. Now if we find out that you spoke about any of this, we take legal actions against you, and take everything you own. Or, you can shut up and get paid $250k per year to work 1 day per week for approximately 25 weeks.

 

Look at the league standings. It’s no surprise that most teams are right around .500. It keeps the fans interested in their teams, and keeps attendance up.

 

The owners are a collective unit of BILLIONAIRES. Most with very complex businesses besides their NFL team. Do you think that they don’t see “an officiating problem”? They have new rules every year for player safety and to tinker with the rules of the game, but they’re not going to bring up the officiating at all?? 

At what point do people start to connect the dots, follow the money, and see things for what they are, rather than just saying.. “It can’t be so”

Bingo. 
 

Where are the owners complaining? Nowhere to be found. 
 

Cashing their revenue share checks. The only question that keeps me up at night is how karma doesn’t get back to these people? 

[ExiledInIllinois]

1 minute ago, billieve420 said:

Refs have been terrible across the board not just this game. However, good teams find a way to win. We instead find ways to lose and are overrated. So for me this starts with the HC who coaches scared and it permeates throughout the team who play soft. Like a dark cloud that hangs over team you just know something bad is going to happen.

Wrong.

 

Anything but scared.

 

Like the holding call that extended the Eagles first drive and directly led to 7 points where Bills had them stopped and ready to punt.  The team said: "F**k it, if you are going to penalize us on BS, what's the point? We might as well give you sh*t to actually penalize us for."

 

This team is anything BUT scared. They won't be broken. 

1 minute ago, ToGoGo said:

Bingo. 
 

Where are the owners complaining? Nowhere to be found. 
 

Cashing their revenue share checks. The only question that keeps me up at night is how karma doesn’t get back to these people? 

Ralph used to complain. Terry... The rest of owners treat him like a weirdo with progressive ideas, yet he won't say boo.

[JerseyBills]

I believe officials manipulate games for sure