I'm pretty sure the NFL is going to fine us for talking about the refs.

Maybe if they collect enough money we can have the real refs back.

Dear NFL,

Stop being such cheapskates and bring back the real officials. Maybe include a bowl of gruel with each paycheck.

Sincerely,

me

Flynn has to be eating nails.... I mean, it isn't like he was Jim Sorgi or something.... he made the move so he could start.

Slightly OT, but a WWII airman who stars in a documentary that I made will be featured during the opening ceremony of tonight's game. Don't know if they'll televise the part that he's in, though.

/they need to give the real refs what they want

I like the new officials they give out unlimited timeouts and challenges!

/Vikings fan

Because I have way too much fun digging through numbers, here's some odd stuff I noticed this week:

-Barring one or both of the Monday night teams scoring well over 50 points, the top two scoring teams in the NFL through Week 3 this season are the Washington Redskins (99 points) and the Baltimore Ravens (98). You might want to read that again so that the effect can truly sink in.
-There are only 3 remaining undefeated teams in the NFL (Arizona, Atlanta, Houston) and only two winless teams (Cleveland, New Orleans). The winless teams combined for the same number of playoff wins last season (one) as the unbeaten ones.
-Should Seattle allow more than 13 points tonight and score at least 2, the Arizona Cardinals will be #1 in fewest points allowed, at 40.
-In 2011, Green Bay was the worst team in the league defensively, allowing 411.6 yards/game, while Tampa Bay gave up the most points (30.9/game). So far this year, five teams are on pace to "beat" Green Bay's number, while 6 are surrendering more points/game than the Bucs last season.
-Last year all 4 AFC North teams finished in the top 10 defensively for yards allowed. This season, only the Pittsburgh Steelers (7th) are not in the bottom 10.
-While a high-scoring game tonight can change this, as it currently stands 8 of the top 10 scoring clubs in the league play in the Eastern time zone; Houston and New Orleans (Central) are the only exceptions.
-Twenty NFL teams have yet to miss a field goal attempt through 3 weeks (some New England fans might claim that number should be 19), including the New York Giants who are 10-10. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Miami's Dan Carpenter is just 3 of 5 (Adam Vinatieri and Rob Bironas, of IND & TEN respectively, are the only other kickers to miss 2).
-Tight End Anthony Fasano leads the Dolphins in receiving touchdowns, with 1. Yes, he is the recipient of Miami's only touchdown pass through three games.
-Eli Manning's 510-yard passing performance in week 2 is still higher than 4 teams' passing totals for the season (although Green Bay will definitely move past that tonight & Seattle can with a 239-yard effort).
-Using the admittedly imperfect QB rating, your top 5 passers through week 3 (in order): Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger, Kevin Kolb, Andy Dalton, and Christian Ponder. Only 9 signal-callers still hold a rating above 100; the others are Robert Griffin III, Alex Smith, Matt Schaub, and Joe Flacco.
-Buffalo's C.J. Spiller is currently third in the league in rushing, despite having only 33 carries. No other player in the top 10 has fewer than 45, and to find anyone with less runs you have to drop down to Robert Griffin III (currently 15th). Tennessee's Chris Johnson also has 33 carries, but has produced 263 fewer yards than Spiller.
-This deserved a new tick mark: Spiller has averaged 9.3 yards/attempt thus far. Of the 11 players with higher y/a numbers, 9 have only one carry apiece and the other two have only carried three times each.

I'm honestly more excited about the refereeing tonight than the actual game.

Harv72b: Because I have way too much fun digging through numbers, here's some odd stuff I noticed this week:

You didn't like that stat that the Saints are 0-3, and their opponents are 0-6 vs everyone but them?

IAmRight: You didn't like that stat that the Saints are 0-3, and their opponents are 0-6 vs everyone but them?

Ha! Didn't notice that one.

Unfortunately they don't have Cleveland next week, so that will be the end of that little streak.

ARE YOU NOT SPORTS ENTERTAINED?

/miss ya Ed

basemetal: [i369.photobucket.com image 640x360]

I got 99 problems, but a .....

/oh

Now that my niners have resurrected the Singletary years for one game, I must root for my beloved wife's Green Bay Packers.

GO PACK.... and such and so forth.

/still agitated

DamnYankees: I'm honestly more excited about the refereeing tonight than the actual game.

Me two. I want to see how bad bad can be, and hear Packer fans biatch about how they were embarrassed by Russel Wilson.

nvmac: basemetal: [i369.photobucket.com image 640x360]

I got 99 problems, but a .....

/oh

I'm just putting my jersey on and heading out to the second home game in a row that will feature a large number of enemy fans. Hopefully they will leave in the 3rd quarter like all the Dallas fans did....... GO HAWKS!!!!!

TheManofPA: [www.fancloud.com image 615x330]

ARE YOU NOT SPORTS ENTERTAINED?

/miss ya Ed

You just miss the gun show.

Go Pack

Please Cedric Benson, get at least 4.95 points

Contrabulous Flabtraption: Please Cedric Benson, get at least 49.5 points

Fixed.


/sigh

MeinRS6: I saw some bad calls yesterday, but I've seen the "real refs" make plenty of bad calls too.

I'm still not upset enough about the refs to think the NFL should give in to the union. The old refs have a sweet job and they should take their huge pay for this part-time gig and thank their lucky stars.

Looking forward to seeing the Seabirds play for the first time this season tonight.

Dude, the "real" refs make boneheaded calls fairly rarely. Yes, we all get into a tizzy over it, but it doesn't happen multiple times in games all around the league for 3 straight weeks. The Saints/KC game ALONE was a travesty, but at least no one was awarded an extra timeout.

It's cute that you'd rather see a lesser quality NFL product than to "give in to the union." And make no mistake, the NFL is devaluing it's own product in order make some stupid stand in a league where unfathomable sums of money are spent and far more meaningless sh*t. Keep the politics in that other tab, Mein.

ariseatex: FirstNationalBastard: TheManofPA: [www.fancloud.com image 615x330]

ARE YOU NOT SPORTS ENTERTAINED?

/miss ya Ed

You just miss the gun show.

[i.a.cnn.net image 300x557]

[www.nobodygoeshere.com image 253x750]

WhyteRaven74: dickfreckle: The Saints/KC game ALONE was a travesty, but at least no one was awarded an extra timeout.

Detroit game yesterday, line of scrimmage, Detroit's 44 yard line. Flag flies, 15 yard penalty called. Penalty is assessed from the other 44 yard line. So yeah in effect it became a 27 yard penalty.

Wait wait wait. What??

Nadie_AZ: Wait wait wait. What??

It's true. Initially ruled a catch + flag for hit on defenseless receiver, upon review the catch part was overturned. They then proceeded to walk the 15 yards off from the wrong 44 yard line & played from there.

Harv72b: Nadie_AZ: Wait wait wait. What??

It's true. Initially ruled a catch + flag for hit on defenseless receiver, upon review the catch part was overturned. They then proceeded to walk the 15 yards off from the wrong 44 yard line & played from there.

How did they not notice it was wrong? Did Jim Swartz not go insane?

Harv72b: Nadie_AZ: Wait wait wait. What??

It's true. Initially ruled a catch + flag for hit on defenseless receiver, upon review the catch part was overturned. They then proceeded to walk the 15 yards off from the wrong 44 yard line & played from there.

All those comments in the Pats thread make more sense. How can anyone not conclude that the NFL doesn't care about a quality product on the field?

DamnYankees: How did they not notice it was wrong? Did Jim Swartz not go insane?

I didn't actually see the game, just got that info from the nfl.com recap. I'd imagine that Schwartz was already insane given how his team was playing against the Titans.

BigJake: I'm mad about people being mad about things no one has brought up

I was mad about that stuff before you were even aware anger existed.

Come on Seattle, give us a bigger "manure" chant than last night. If not, you better believe that Philly is going to bring the awesome when it comes to these refs. It might turn into an ECW PPV with chairs getting thrown on the field if the refs let a Giants-Eagles game escalate and injury risks get high.

Di Atribe: Go Pack

I second this sentiment Lady Di. And now I have to gargle with Listerine.

Harv72b: BigJake: I'm mad about people being mad about things no one has brought up

I was mad about that stuff before you were even aware anger existed.

I want my 2 dollars.

BigJake: I'm mad about people being mad about things no one has brought up

I'm bringing up things no one is mad about having brought up.

As much as I want to watch this potential clusterf**k, I am not well this evening. Can't really focus. I even submitted this thread under the "Caturday" tab, for God's sake!

I'm going to bed. I'll see you guys later.

Avoid the fish!