It is so obvious that the NFL wants the Steelers in the playoffs

Waah waah waah. Don't forget the recent Super Bowl victories - the Stillers didn't win those either, did they? No, those were gifts from the refs.

Awww. You poor thing! You poor, victimized, football fan.

What's the next cruel injustice in the athletic world - a leading weekly skipping over a dominant distance runner in favor of a charismatic sprinter?

This has been going on ever since the Refs *won* that super bowl against the Seahawks.

F*** the steelers. Harder than RothlesF***er F***ed that hotel bitch.

refs suck wrote:

This has been going on ever since the Refs *won* that super bowl against the Seahawks.

No kidding. I am a 49er fan, and seeing the Seahawks get jobbed in that SB made me lose a ton of respect for the NFL.

I just don't care about it as much any more; and pretty much refuse to spend any money on games/products etc., related to the NFL.

I'd rather buy a new hat from my University, than buy and NFL logo wear and give them a dime until they can get their officiating truly professional.

To wit; tonight the non face mask penalty that resulted in the fumble that gave Chicago the win over the Vikes.

It just takes the believability out of the game.

1. Pay the officials enough to be truly pro's

2. Hire younger, more fit officials.

3. Allow replay officials to call an obvious penalty if seen in a review.*

It should have at least been a 5 yard face masking penalty, and nullified the "fumble." Vikes should have retained the ball. The non call tarnished an otherwise exciting game.

Total BS.

What's even better is how once the announcers realize that the call hasn't been made, and replay can't call the penalty...they just ignore it.

Lame, lame, lame.

Nothing can be as bad as MLB or NBA

Ummm...Pittsburgh is a small market.

How did the referees factor into Derrick Mason letting a pass hit his helment when he was 5 yards wide open in the end zone?

If anything, the league wants as many different teams in the playoffs each year (Cincy, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Houston) as it builds fan bases and grows the game as a whole.

Step up in Class wrote:

It should have at least been a 5 yard face masking penalty, and nullified the "fumble."

Not saying you're wrong - just that there aren't any 5-yard incidental face masking penalties anymore. They are all the 15-yard, automatic first down variety.

I don't recall seeing the face mask (neither was I looking for it nor really cared either way) so I can't comment on that specifically, but a lot of times it won't get called if there isn't any pull or push motion made - meaning, if the player gets his hand on the face mask but gets it away before grabbing and "using" it then it won't get called (as it shouldn't). Again, I can't comment on this specifically, all I'm saying is "obvious" face masks sometimes aren't.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell went to school in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh owner Dan Rooney was the most influential owner in getting Goodell selected as NFL commissioner. The NFL officials know Roger Goodell is a Steelers fan and they don't want to bring attention to "bad calls" against the Steelers.

The Steelers have been getting more favorable calls since the 2006 season. Their 2006 superbowl was gift to Jerome Fat Furt Bettis because the Superbowl was in Detroit. Jerome Fat Furt Bettis is from Detroit and was planning on retiring that year. That game and may more after have been handed to the Steelers by the officials.

Do you remember the Colts/Steelers division round from that very same year? Talk about trying to "gift" the game to the Colts --- remember the Troy P. interception that was obvious but was called back via review? do you remember the Division round in 2008 when David Gerard of the Jags scampered down the field setting up the winning field goal but should have been called back for holding? The league even knew the referees screwed up that they issued an apology to the Steelers.

Calls go both ways...always have, always will be

There is no consipiracy...take the tin foil hat off!

PS Washington and Jefferson College is not located in Pittsburgh or Allegheny County

A lot of sore losers on this thread. You crybabies are almost enough to make me want to root FOR the Steelers

I think there may actually be something to this. I don't believe that there is a conspiracy to help the Steelers win games, but I do believe that officials can be affected by a team's reputation that has an effect on the way they call the game. For example, when Bill Bellichik (sp?)acquired a reputation for being a "defensive genius" all of a sudden the Patriots defenders could get away with blatant holding against the other teams receivers without incurring a penalty. This was a big factor in all of their Super Bowl victories (especially against the Rams in 2002) as well as in some of their playoff wins that got them there. It wasn't until Peyton Manning and others finally started making such an issue out of it that the NFL officials stopped what was a pretty obvious bias in favor of the Patriots. I think the Steelers are presently benefitting accordingly, although in a more general way.

The Rooneys are well-known for paying off the refs. Art did it for sixty years!!!

Leroy Kelly wrote:

Way to go 4 and 11 Brownies, way to go

Way to go 4 and 11 Brownies, way to go

Way to go 4 and 11 Brownies, way to go

Way to go 4 and 11 Brownies, way to go

Stillers still suck!!!

Hearing a Browns fan say the Steelers suck is kind of like hearing Rosie O'Donnell say that Eva Longoria is ugly!

Brian Siped wrote:

Leroy Kelly wrote:

Stillers still suck!!!

Hearing a Browns fan say the Steelers suck is kind of like hearing Rosie O'Donnell say that Eva Longoria is ugly!

Get back to me in a few years when the Brownies have won the last 8 in a row. How about the Bungels blowing up the Stillers twice this year and the Bearcats stomping on the pantherkitties. Looks like the Ohio domination has begun!!!

Those are some cute names.

Leroy Kelly wrote:

Brian Siped wrote:

Hearing a Browns fan say the Steelers suck is kind of like hearing Rosie O'Donnell say that Eva Longoria is ugly!

Get back to me in a few years when the Brownies have won the last 8 in a row. How about the Bungels blowing up the Stillers twice this year and the Bearcats stomping on the pantherkitties. Looks like the Ohio domination has begun!!!

Yeah, it's always the future for you Cleveland turds. You don't even know who your coach is going to be next year yet you want to talk about domination. Typical.

Congrats to the Bengals for making the playoffs...for the second time in 19 years! Wow, that's impressive. No wonder you're so proud.

Get back to me in a few years when the Brownies have won the last 8 in a row. [/quote]

This is hands down the dumbest thing posted on this board all year. We all know how much stupid shit is posted here every day but think about it. How totally f***ing retarded this statement is as is the poster who wrote it. Congratulations dumbass!

The Verdict Is In wrote:

Get back to me in a few years when the Brownies have won the last 8 in a row.

This is hands down the dumbest thing posted on this board all year. We all know how much stupid shit is posted here every day but think about it. How totally f***ing retarded this statement is as is the poster who wrote it. Congratulations dumbass![/quote]

Yet you skipped your Mensa meeting to respond .

Bengals are winning the whole thing this whole year!!!!

F*ck the Pittsburgh Squealers and the Cleveland Frowns